Switzerland Valcora - going paperless in a pandemic By Jane Stanbury

Valcora, the Switzerland-based fuel reseller and supplier has shown its resilience in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Like many fuel companies we lost the bulk of our business, although we continued to support some of our existing customers that were still operating” says CEO Daniel Coetzer, “Being well-structured helped us ride the crisis out. In fact, we even gained a few new customers flying medevac, cargo or repatriation missions.”

Coetzer recognised early on that restrictions would be implemented and before the lockdowns became official, he asked his team to work from home. “This meant there was no break in service at any time, and when the shutdown came we were settled in our homes, ready to provide business as usual.”

Valcora already used communication technology to stay in touch with its international offices in Ireland, South Africa, Canada and Singapore and has used the last few months to improve its business efficiency.

Coetzer gives genuine credit to his team for the continuity. “Our very efficient staff embraced our procedures to ensure continuity, and our own fuel processing system allows us to operate normally with very little physical input from us.” The proprietary three-step digital fuel purchasing system is mostly automated, which gives the business the option to adapt and update the system in real time to manage an evolving situation. “It was a major advantage during this situation as it meant that we could continue to support customers during the pandemic with uninterrupted service.”

Coetzer also gives credit to his “exceptional” suppliers. “They all worked with us to ensure our customers have the best possible chance to get to the other side of this crisis.”

As aircraft return to the skies Coetzer sees business picking up. “I think people are cautious to travel at the moment and that will slow things down. But business aviation is the exception.” Valcora is currently working with his customers to support them as they return to flying.

Valcora is bolstering fuel emission offsetting in collaboration with Shell Aviation.

Valcora has continually focused on the imperative to reduce carbon emissions and Coetzer argues this will still be imperative post pandemic. Over the last two years Valcora has introduced a number of initiatives to support the aviation sector’s ambitious goals for carbon reduction. Customers can purchase biofuel through the platform and choose to contribute to global environmental projects. In a relationship with Shell Valcora optimises the nature-based carbon credits programme supplied by Shell Aviation.

Valcora has migrated over to a paperless environment these past 12 months. “I mean really paperless, no printers at all. With working from home, we finally achieved that overnight and are working on more procedures for our staff to be able to benefit from the experience. Going paperless in the pandemic has been an unexpected benefit for the environment.”

Jane Stanbury, ArenaGroup Associates.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 2nd July 2020 | Issue #564

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