New Zealand’s largest fuel supplier, Kiwi-owned Z Energy, today announced it has entered into an alliance agreement with Auckland-based transport technology company EROAD.
EROAD was established to modernise New Zealand’s paper based Road User Charge (RUC) regime. The EROAD solution encompasses a GPS/cellular product combined with an internet RUC management and payment gateway. In addition EROAD offers an extensive range of web based value-added services to commercial transport operators to monitor key business drivers including fuel consumption, driver compliance, fleet maintenance and road safety.
EROAD was established in 2000 and develops and manufactures both software and hardware in-house at its headquarters in Albany. CEO Steven Newman was previously the CEO of Navman and led EROAD to two New Zealand Hi-Tech awards in 2010. EROAD currently provides technology services to over 800 commercial fleets in New Zealand across a range of industries.
Z Energy Chief Executive Mike Bennetts said the alliance with EROAD was a part of Z’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and to finding new ways of adding value to commercial and retail customers and helping them cut their fuel bills.
“We’re really pleased to be partnering with an innovative, Kiwi company. EROAD have developed some incredibly smart technology and over the coming months we will be working closely together to develop better ways of doing business that can directly benefit our customers and make their lives easier,” he said.
“Additionally, as part of our position on sustainability, we’re committed to helping our customers reduce their fossil fuel use and the associated carbon emissions. To put it bluntly, we see this alliance with EROAD as a key to helping our customers use less of our existing products.”
EROAD Chief Executive Steven Newman said the alliance with Z was an acknowledgement of the potential future applications of the technology.
“We are already simplifying the business of road transport and making it safer and more efficient for trucking and freight companies across the country. We’re really excited at the opportunities this partnership provides for us to continue to develop customer transport technology across the commercial and retail markets.
“We have chosen to partner with another Kiwi company that is committed to delivering value to customers in new ways. There’s been a real lack of innovation in New Zealand in the road transport space and we’re confident that with Z’s commitment to New Zealand and willingness to think outside the square, we will soon be able to jointly deliver better customer offers and experiences on the forecourt, on the roads and in the workplace.”