Side by side
| Paper register | Excel sheet | Pump software | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lowest | Low (you may already have it) | Setup plus yearly or monthly fee |
| Calculation errors | Frequent | Fewer, but formulas can be broken | Calculated for you |
| Past days can be changed quietly | Yes | Yes | Not once the day is locked |
| Who changed what | Not known | Not known | Audit trail records it |
| Credit (Qarza) balances | Page by page | By hand, error-prone | One balance per party |
| Reports for your accountant | Rewritten by hand | Built by you | Ready to download |
| Several branches | Separate books | Separate files | One login, switch branches |
| Works without internet | Yes | Yes | Depends. PumpOS needs internet |
Where Excel is enough
- One pump, one trusted person making the entries
- Few credit customers
- You review the sheet yourself every day
If this is you, a good sheet is fine. Use our free Excel daily sheet and keep a copy of each day.
Signs it is time to switch
- Cash at close often does not match the meters, and you spend time hunting for the gap.
- You cannot say how much each credit customer owes without finding the right page or file.
- You discover tank losses at month end, not the same day.
- Your accountant rebuilds reports every month.
- More than one person edits the file, or you own more than one pump.
- You worry that old figures may have been changed.
What moving costs
The fear is retyping history. You do not need to. A supplier that sets up your pump should enter your opening balances: meters, tank stock, party balances, cash and bank. PumpOS does this during setup, so you start from the position you are in today.
PumpOS costs Rs 45,000 for setup and Rs 25,000 a year per pump, or Rs 2,500 a month. See pricing. A pump losing even a little fuel or recoverable credit each month can compare that with its own numbers using the fuel loss calculator.
Limits to know before you decide
PumpOS runs in a browser and needs internet. Screens are in English with familiar pump words such as Qarza, Wasuli and Kharcha. There is no app to install. If those are not right for you, an Excel sheet or another product may suit you better. How to choose petrol pump software lists the questions to ask any supplier.
Not sure? Compare with your own figures
Send us a daily sheet from your pump and we will show the same day in PumpOS.
Frequently asked questions
Is Excel good enough for a petrol pump?
For one pump with one careful person and few credit customers, yes. It becomes risky when cash does not match, balances are hard to find, or old days may have been edited.
Can I move from Excel to software without losing history?
You do not need to enter all history. Opening balances for meters, tank stock, party balances, cash and bank are enough to start. We do this during setup.
Does petrol pump software work without internet?
It depends on the product. PumpOS runs in a browser and needs a working internet connection.