M.A.R.S monitoring solutions for fuel sector operators

Metro Security’s versatile, innovative and award-winning M.A.R.S site management system combines effective loss prevention with exciting, wide ranging added-value functions.
M.A.R.S is the solution for forecourt owners/managers operating on tight margins – it increases security, improves operational efficiency and raises site revenues.
Winner of a 2019 Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Innovation), M.A.R.S effectively combats ‘bilking’ (non-payment drive-offs) and ‘shrinkage’ losses in forecourt site stores/kiosks.
M.A.R.S’ combination of loss reduction, operational and value-added revenue boosting features enables the system to pay for itself.
The multi-functional M.A.R.S solution easily and cost-effectively integrates with any forecourt site’s existing hardware and software systems.
M.A.R.S enables staffing costs to be eliminated by allowing unmanned forecourts to trade using alternative round-the-clock site monitoring and remote customer interaction.

M.A.R.S is used by forecourt operators including Shell, Certas Energy, Harvest Energy, George Hammond PLC, and Great Gas Petroleum in Ireland.
The system was first trialled at Ron Perry & Co’s A19 forecourt service stations in Hartlepool, proving the practical advantages of M.A.R.S’ integrated site solutions.
M.A.R.S can help all types and sizes of forecourt fuel sites, ranging from independents through to multiple-site operators.
Developed in-house by Metro Security’s R&D engineers, the ground breaking M.A.R.S system is continually being enhanced and expanded to address evolving forecourt requirements.

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Forecourt service stations operating on tight margins can use the award-winning M.A.R.S system to maximise their returns, improve site efficiency and successfully tackle losses including motorist drive-off fuel thefts

How it works

M.A.R.S is a digital software solution which seamlessly interfaces with hardware including pump delivery equipment, high-resolution CCTV cameras, electronic point-of-sale shop tills and other inputs, e.g. automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and facial recognition technology.
M.A.R.S provides the software ‘engine’ that controls on-site systems, allowing them to operate in a genuinely integrated, holistic way – improving their operational effectiveness.
The M.A.R.S system’s sophisticated software automatically analyses data outputs from on-site systems including pumps, store tills and site cameras to ‘flag up’ anomalies and automatically alert forecourt managers.
M.A.R.S’ sophisticated software data patterns/mining techniques highlight trends of concern and summarise these to forecourt owners/managers using easy-to-understand ‘dashboard’ information.

Benefits

M.A.R.S enables forecourt managers to tackle thefts and other losses, improve health and safety procedures, generate revenue increases through added-value applications, and monitor site operations – including via remote management tools.

The innovative M.A.R.S system cost-effectively combats a range of forecourt losses including ‘shrinkage’, theft, fraud and non-payment-for-fuel motorist drive-offs, which annually cost an average of up to £1680 per site (two-thirds of all forecourt crime).

The use of static and dynamic ANPR can be used to compile vehicle blacklist directories, providing automatic warnings to staff if the same vehicle returns to the site and allowing centralised intelligence schemes sharing such data to be alerted (e.g. the National Business Crime Solution and the British Oil Security Syndicate).

M.A.R.S improves forecourt site security, maximises loss prevention, assists operational management, helps train staff, improves marketing opportunities and boosts revenues.

The M.A.R.S system’s added-value features include customer relationship management (CRM) functionality to monitor/analyse customers’ buying habits and combine this with pump-mounted and in-shop target advertising – enabling forecourt operators to tailor their selection of goods.

M.A.R.S’ marketing-generated opportunities include customer care and loyalty generation/rewards, ranging from simple ‘Welcome back’ messages to arriving motorists through to more advanced alerts to staff reminding them that the customer’s birthday is imminent.

M.A.R.S’ data gathering and analysis allows optimization of store configuration, improves stock management, and allows staff training to help generate increased profit from faster selling and higher margin items.

M.A.R.S can be used by all types and sizes of forecourt sector sites, with the option of remote monitoring and management – including via PC, tablet or smartphone.

Operated in conjunction with Metro Security’s 24/7 monitoring centre, M.A.R.S applications include remote authorization of fuel for motorists using unmanned sites, as well as the monitoring of re-fuelling by commercial vehicle operators and associated health & safety checks to ensure compliance with relevant legislation.

The tokheim eye is a M.A.R.S variant especially designed to fully integrate with the tokheim fuel controller and tokheim epos

Initial trials at Ron Perry & Co’s A19 service stations near Hartlepool, in September 2012, proved the advantages of Metro Security’s integrated solutions and led to the full scale development of Metro’s range of fuel sector solutions.

A range of benefits are being realised by George Hammond plc, using Metro Security’s integrated technology at the company’s Deal Services forecourt site in Kent.

Certas Energy has already deployed M.A.R.S at 40 of its unmanned forecourt sites, in conjunction with 24/7 remote monitoring provided by Metro Security.

We approached Metro Security to design a bespoke system which matched the school’s and our teachers’ requirements. Metro’s knowledgeable, efficient and professional IT development team guided us in building the ideal system from scratch and the successful results have certainly exceeded our expectations.

Christina Raines

Deputy Headteacher, The Cumberland School

This is the first time we have commissioned Metro Security’s services, but as a result of this successful installation, and the favourable impression we’ve gained, it’s likely that Metro will replace our previous first choice of supplier. We look forward to working with Metro Security again on future contracts.

Scott Turley

Ignite Business Communications

The images and data provided by Metro Security have been invaluable in revealing operational management improvements we can make. For instance, reviewing staff activity after a recent drive-off incident showed we could introduce changes to maximise the chances of this being spotted.

Ron Perry

Ron Perry & Son Ltd

We’ve seen a marked reduction in drive-off thefts as a result of the Tokheim Eye system’s deterrent value, provided by Tokheim’s international partner and the systems’s developer – Metro Security. The system has also been actively helping us with a range of other hazards.

Simon Aubrey

George Hammond PLC’s Deal Services Manager

The M.A.R.S forecourt solution brings everything it into one system, has really helped my business and has cut fuel theft by 75 per cent. It helps me keep on top of an issue that is costing the industry a lot of money and I know the difference between those customers who genuinely forget to pay and those who have malicious intent. The cameras are great because more than 90 per cent of drive-offs are on false plates and the MARS system will tell me that the registration on the forecourt should be a black Vauxhall and I am looking at a blue BMW.

David Medcalf

Forecourt Owner

If I think security then I think Metro Security, because I have full confidence in the company and know my worries are their concerns and that any highlighted issues will be dealt with efficiently – leading to a professional and affordable solution.

David Sowoolu

Site and Facilities Manager, University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street (formerly the Heart Hospital)