Guidelines to keep your 2026 technology resolutions

February 3, 2026 By Christopher Caywood 0 Comments

The average person’s New Year’s resolutions start slipping within the first few weeks of January and are mostly abandoned by mid-February. Only 8 to 10 percent of us stick to our resolutions long term.

The best way to stick to your 2026 technology resolutions is to avoid chasing the latest technology and focus on executing and leveraging tools that are already proven in the industry.

Here are a few guidelines for 2026:

⦁ Make tank monitoring operational, not observational. Remote tank monitoring is not an emerging technology. But many propane marketers still treat it like one. Best-in-class propane marketers are using integrated tank data for forecasting, routing and delivery planning – not just manual review. Monitor data reduces runouts and emergency stops and improves route density.

⦁ Double down on routing and delivery optimization. Routing remains one of the fastest paths to measurable operating expense reduction. Even small improvements translate to fewer miles driven, lower overtime and better truck utilization. Best-in-class propane marketers are moving beyond daily or weekly optimization and focusing on shifting auto-fill deliveries from peak winter months into the September and April shoulder months. Highly efficient marketers are able to push increasing volume into the summer months.

⦁ Push more workflow into the truck. Mobile software for drivers and service technicians, like tank monitors, is now essential. High-performing marketers have shifted delivery capture, service notes, exceptions and signatures into mobile workflows that sync in near real time. This strategy reduces billing delays, improves data accuracy and lowers administrative burden. It also shortens the feedback loop between field activity and office decision-making.

⦁ Move beyond the degree-day. Traditional degree-day forecasting no longer meets the needs of modern propane operations. The best forecasting tools use weather, usage history, tank size, delivery patterns and monitored data. This modern forecasting requires clean data and strict operating discipline, but improved route density, fewer partial loads and reduced run-out risk can provide a big payoff.

⦁ Improve customer experience with self-service tools. Residential customers increasingly expect digital access to their propane accounts. Customer portals and smartphone apps that support online payments, delivery notifications and basic account management reduce call volume and improve customer satisfaction. Customer-facing tools don’t immediately, or even always, reduce operating costs, but they play an important role in retention and brand perception. Best-in-class propane marketers treat self-service tools as part of their core service offering.

⦁ Consolidate systems whenever practical. Many propane marketers still rely on disconnected systems and manual workarounds. As vendors continue expanding integrated platforms, retailers should look for opportunities to reduce duplicate data entry and human error and improve efficiency. Consolidation does not need to happen all at once. Instead, gradually move toward a process that uses fewer systems and fewer handoffs. Doing so will lead to better control and decision-making.

⦁ Focus on execution first. Advanced analytics and artificial intelligence-driven tools are beginning to appear in propane software, and this column has recently highlighted their increasing importance. However, near-term value remains in assistive capabilities rather than full automation. Propane marketers should stay informed, pilot selectively and prioritize execution over experimentation. In practice, most propane marketers don’t have a technology problem – they have an execution problem.

⦁ Stay focused on the bottom line. The highest returns for propane marketers will come from making operations more predictable and data driven. Tank monitoring, routing, mobile workflows, forecasting and customer self-service are proven areas because the software directly supports margins and improved customer service. Propane marketers who focus on turning existing data into action – not just collecting more of it – will be best positioned for long-term success.

Christopher Caywood until recently owned and operated Caywood Propane Gas Inc., which now is part of Crystal Flash Inc., a 100 percent employee-owned company. Contact him at chris@caywoodpropane.com.

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