Customer stories


Propane Resources

Partners in Enterprise

 Clean, efficient, affordable -- that's propane. And whether it's heating homes, generating electricity, or firing the backyard grill, it's big business for propane dealers and distributors. And helping those dealers and distributors stay organized, you'll find Propane Resources -- taking full advantage of the data-management power of FileMaker Pro, the award-winning database software application from FileMaker Inc.

From its headquarters in Mission, Kansas, Propane Resources reaches out a helping hand to an entire industry. They're a full service consulting firm providing propane dealers and distributors, and local electric cooperatives with assistance in marketing and communications, wholesale supply, product transportation, education and training, and business valuations. Created in 1991 by propane industry veteran Dwain Willingham, and headed up by Willingham and fellow propane expert Marty Lerum, the firm offers services to clients all across the United States and Canada. And accomplishing all that requires careful organization of information.

Enter Bonnie Walker of dbVisionWorks. She's a FileMaker Solutions Alliance Developer who's given Propane Resources exactly the data-wrangling tools it needs to keep the information -- and the propane -- flowing for its many clients. "Propane Resources uses FileMaker Pro in all aspects of the business," Bonnie comments, "and has been using FileMaker since the doors were first opened in 1991. The goal was -- and is -- to have a complete Business Management System in place where anyone can look up anything, and to have reports generated and decisions made based on that Business Management System."

Propane Resources uses FileMaker Pro 6.04 databases --over 120 of them, containing up to 50,000 records each, running on an assortment of G3 Macintosh computers, PCs, and a Gateway 6400 server -- in every aspect of its business. The system is deployed company-wide, serving five distinct workgroups: Accounting, Transportation, Supply and Marketing, Communications, and Consulting -- and there's up to 10 users connected per group. And in each and every one of those workgroups, jobs are getting done faster and better. "We're able to produce more with the same number of people -- or even fewer -- in each area," explains Bonnie. "Billing is faster, statements are electronic, and we have monthly to-do lists that track recurring contract information and other general to-do functions. Our customers receive reports from us they don't get from other suppliers that assist them with some of their business decisions -- we offer "Flash Reports" for all areas, and the reporting system is quite extensive. Transportation and Supply billing and statements are paperless -- dispatch is done from the database rather than from a chart on the wall, conference attendees are tracked and classes scheduled."

Every aspect of a complex business, every phase of a complex service, carefully organized and easily implemented.  And the results? Savings conservatively estimated at between $50,000 to $100,000 -- and that doesn't include operational efficiencies and personell savings. Like propane itself -- Propane Resources finds FileMaker Pro clean, efficient and affordable!



Contact information

Contact Info for Customer:

Bonnie Walker
FileMaker Solutions Alliance Developer
dbVisionWorks Inc.
913-381-1843
bonnie@e-dbvisionworks.com
bonnie@propaneresources.com


Filemaker Contact:

Kevin Mallon
Public Relations Manager
FileMaker Inc.
408-987-7227
kevin_mallon@filemaker.com
http://www.filemaker.com


Overview
  • From supplier to consumer, and every step of the way -- Propane Resources provides vital consulting services powered by FileMaker Pro.
Industry
  • Retail/Wholesale
  • Small Business
  • Utilities