Campbell Petroleum: A Case Study in Navigating Industry Challenges with Beacon POS  

Running an independent service station business in today’s competitive landscape is no small task. For Amanda Campbell, Retail Development Manager at Campbell Petroleum, the challenges are all too familiar: staffing shortages, rising operational costs, and unpredictable fuel margins. With multiple sites across New South Wales and a business spanning retail, wholesale, and haulage, Amanda has had to navigate a complex and ever-changing industry.  

But amid the hurdles, she’s found opportunities to streamline operations and drive growth – thanks in large part to Beacon POS, a point-of-sale system that’s become a cornerstone of her business. In this case study, we explore how Amanda is managing Campbell Petroleum, the challenges she faces, and how Beacon POS has helped her stay ahead.  

The State of the Industry: Challenges and Opportunities

Amanda is upfront about the difficulties facing independent service station owners. “It’s a tough market,” she says. “Finding and keeping skilled staff is one of the biggest challenges. Late last year, I was replacing people every week or two. You’d shortlist candidates, set up interviews, and half wouldn’t even show up – no communication, nothing.”  

Retention is particularly tough given the perception of service station jobs. “A lot of people see it as an ‘in-between’ job – something to do while at uni or between other roles,” Amanda explains. “It’s not seen as a career, which makes it hard to keep good staff, especially when there’s no clear path for growth unless they move into management.”  

Rising costs are another pressure point. “Wages keep going up, and electricity companies aren’t handing out discounts just because you’ve got multiple sites,” she says. “Then there’s the fuel margins – they’re all over the place. Some days they’re okay; others they’re razor-thin. It’s a full-time job just managing that.”  

Despite these challenges, Amanda sees opportunities in leveraging technology to improve efficiency. “You’ve got to find ways to work smarter, not harder,” she says. “There’s competition out there, but there’s also room to grow if you can streamline operations and cut costs. That’s where tools like Beacon POS have made a difference for us.”  

Campbell Petroleum: A Multi-Faceted Business  

Campbell Petroleum isn’t just a service station business – it’s a multi-faceted operation with three key arms: retail, wholesale, and haulage. “We’ve got our service station sites, but we also manage wholesale fuel distribution and cartage across New South Wales,” Amanda explains. “We deliver to other service stations, transport companies, agriculture, and small farms with rigid tankers for smaller deliveries.”  

Managing these diverse operations requires oversight and control, especially when margins are tight. “You can’t deliver to yourself at a loss,” Amanda says. “Each arm of the business needs to make money, and that’s where efficiency becomes critical. Technology helps us manage that – from pricing to reporting, it’s all about staying on top of the numbers.”  

Why Beacon POS Became a Game-Changer  

Campbell Petroleum has been using Beacon POS since late 2015, starting with a single site before rolling it out across all locations. The decision was driven by the need for a modern, integrated system. “Our old systems were outdated and clunky,” Amanda recalls. “They were blocking our back-office processes. We couldn’t add items to the right product files, which made stocktaking a nightmare. We needed something that worked for us, not against us.”  

Beacon POS offered the solution. “We needed a system that integrated with our fuel cards, minimised human error, and gave us oversight across all sites,” Amanda says. “Beacon ticked those boxes. It captures everything at the point of sale, and I can run reports from head office instead of relying on individual site data. That alone has saved us hours.”  

The ability to set prices centrally and send them to each site was another key benefit. “No site can override prices – it’s all directed from me. That gives us control and consistency, which we didn’t have before.”  

How Beacon POS Addresses Industry Challenges  

Amanda highlights several ways Beacon POS has helped Campbell Petroleum tackle industry challenges:  

Streamlining Operations: “The integration with Epay frees up counter space and simplifies operations. Some sites only do a few transactions a week, but having a separate terminal was costing us $50–$60 a month. Now, it’s integrated into Beacon for about $20. That’s real savings.”  

Automating Back-Office Processes: “They’ve just rolled out an integration with Accounts Flow, which reads supplier invoices and loads them into the back office. Staff used to spend hours manually inputting data – now it’s less than 20 minutes. That’s time they can spend on the floor serving customers.”  

Improving Compliance and Security: “Beacon’s one-click analysis reports for wet stock are a lifesaver. We submit weekly, and instead of pulling data from daily reports, it’s all there in one click. They’ve also got suspicious activity reports to help us track anything that doesn’t look right.”  

Supporting Staff Retention: “Retention is tough, but investing in training makes staff feel valued. Beacon helps us streamline processes so managers can focus on serving customers, not paperwork. That visibility matters – customers see staff, and staff see managers working alongside them.”  

Amanda’s team has seen the benefits firsthand. “Megan from Beacon came to our conference last year and trained our supervisors on ordering and reporting through the system,” she says. “Now, they’re running more efficiently, with less wastage. It’s made a big difference.”  

A Partnership for Growth

For Amanda, Beacon POS isn’t just a tool – it’s a partner in growth. “They’re always developing new features, and they listen to feedback,” she says. “If we have an idea, they’re open to developing it – even if it means paying for it, it’s worth it if it helps our business.”  

The support is another standout. “Things go wrong with technology – that’s life. But when it does, Beacon is there. Tim was on the phone constantly during our recent pin pad changeovers. That level of support makes all the difference.”  

Transparency is also key. “They share their roadmap once a year, so we know what’s coming,” Amanda says. “It’s not just about what they want – it’s about what we need. That connection – knowing they’re growing with us – is invaluable.”  

Lessons for Independent Service Station Owners

Amanda’s experience offers valuable lessons for other independent service station owners. “It’s a tough industry, but there’s room to grow if you can find efficiencies,” she says. “Beacon isn’t cheap to bring in, but the benefits over the long run are worth it. It’s easy to use, and they’re always developing new features.”  

Her advice? “Invest in tools that help you work smarter, not harder. And find partners who listen and grow with you. That’s what Beacon has done for us.”  

Final Thoughts: Navigating the Road Ahead

Campbell Petroleum’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience and smart technology in a challenging industry. For Amanda, it’s about more than just surviving – it’s about thriving. “We’ve got challenges, but we’ve also got opportunities,” she says. “Beacon has been a big part of that for us. It’s not just about managing the day-to-day – it’s about building a business that can grow, even in tough times.”  

For independent service station owners, Amanda’s story is a reminder that the right tools and partnerships can make all the difference. Beacon POS might just be the partner you need to navigate the road ahead.