Crossecom demonstrates a real-life unit at Gitex
Dubai October 15, 2002: Crossecom, a West Australian computer services company operating in the government departments, oil and gas and retail industries has developed a FastFill Fuel Control System, a new batteryless, paperless and cardless automated fuel control and payment system based on Microsoft .NET technology. The FastFill control system, the world’s most complete and foolproof fuel security system, functions through a tag on the vehicle, which stores the necessary information required for identification. Crossecom also demonstrated a real life unit at Gitex.
This deployment based on the .NET architecture, will facilitate speed and convenience to petrol service station customers, to minimize fuel theft and enable secure electronic payment. In addition, the overall fuelling time has been cut down by 30 per cent and minimized the fuel losses by up to 25 per cent. Microsoft.NET platform is a set of Microsoft software technologies that seamlessly connects information, people, systems and devices.
“We were looking for a robust, scaleable and a compatible technology solution to enhance our offerings to the fleet operators and the service station operators. We decided to develop a robust IT framework that would allow all our systems and applications to communicate seamlessly with each other while allowing for future scalability based on business needs. With the deployment of Microsoft .NET technologies we were able to achieve our predetermined objectives, increase our customer base and also experience a considerable reduction in the fuelling times,” said Crossecom Managing Director, Bill Crosse.
“Based on the Microsoft platform, FastFill system stores information in a tag on the vehicle, identifying the vehicle itself, their operators and respective fuelling requirements. The system automatically processes payment and, when used in conjunction with Crossecom’s Integrated Service Station Automation System (ISSAS), provides a comprehensive management and accounting system for all service station operational and management needs,” he added.
“It can also be connected by telephone to other stations and company locations. The system provides precise monitoring of fleet fuel consumption and minimizes the risk of non-authorized fuelling and eliminated plastic cards and paper coupons, which have usually been used by fuel stations in the past,” added Crosse.
“Microsoft is committed to providing the technology platform that supports a business move of this nature as we have started to deliver on our .NET vision for computing anytime, anyplace and on any device. We are working on a number of flagship initiatives with Crossecom and look forward to enabling Crossecom’s customers to take advantage of these initiatives”, said Ali Dalloul, Country Manager, Microsoft Middle East, North Gulf.
“This deployment provides benefits to fuel station operators and organizations with a large fleet of vehicles. They can now avail the advantages in the form of a 25 per cent reduction in fuel expenditures, as the system will ensure full accountability of each drop of fuel,” added Dalloul.
The technology has been adopted by the Singapore Defence Department for all its service vehicles. This new ‘FastFill’ system based on the .NET platform is fast, efficient, safe and secure and is currently being evaluated by Kuwait National Petroleum Company.
With the Rapid Fuel Identification (RFID) transponders, the Fastfill Control system offers exceptional security and reliability and for vehicle drivers, it means reduced queuing time and no delays for payment. An encapsulated RFID transponder is attached near the fuel filler pipe. When the filling nozzle is inserted, data stored on the tag is transferred via an antenna on the nozzle to a reader in the pump housing. This is read by the on-site computer, a standard PC that verifies the tag details. If correct, fuelling starts and if not, a warning light and a buzzer activate and fuel doesn’t flow.
The authentication and encryption functions of the used RFID transponders offer high system integrity; all FastFill system components are tamper proof and the tag will not work if an attempt is made to remove it from the vehicle. Fuel flow stops immediately when the nozzle is removed, preventing refuelling of unauthorized vehicles or storage containers.
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About Crossecom
Crossecom is a specialist computer services company, based in Australia, but operating mainly in South East Asia. The company was founded in 1979, and today has offices in Perth, Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines. It employs a staff of 70, working in systems installation, systems servicing, and research and development. The company has two mainstream products, both of which are world leaders in their respective fields. These are; The Crossecom Integrated Service Station Automation System (ISSAS), which provides a comprehensive, integrated management and accounting system for service stations and a recently released product, FastFill, which is a paperless automated fuel control and payment system, with significant security, safety and efficiency benefits over existing systems.
About Microsoft Corporation
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Microsoft opened its Dubai-based Middle East office in 1991, headquartered at Dubai Internet City and is responsible for all aspects of the company’s business in the region, covering UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, Cyprus, Malta, Egypt and Pakistan. Microsoft Corporation's address on the World Wide Web is: www.microsoft.com Microsoft Middle East's Web site is: www.microsoft.com/middleeast. Microsoft, Exchange 2000 and .NET Enterprise server are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
For further information contact:
Agency Contact:
Robin Duff/ Prem Ramchandran
ASDA’A Public Relations
Dubai, UAE
Tel: 00-9714-3344550
Fax: 00-9714-3344556
E-mail: info@asdaa.com
Microsoft Contact: Aimee Peters
Microsoft Middle East – South Gulf Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel: 00-9714 – 3917246
Fax: 00-9714 – 3971001
E-mail: i-aimeep@microsoft.com
© Press Release 2002
