--- title: "Turning Real-Time Data Into Results" url: https://burnaze.com/article/cd65d6ba-7587-4bc9-b6e7-e442fda04fff source: "CStore Decisions" original_url: https://cstoredecisions.com/turning-real-time-data-into-results/ author: "Emily Boes" category: "C-store & fuel" industry: "Retail" segment: "C-store & fuel" topics: ["Technology"] published: 2026-07-27T19:23:25.000Z modified: 2026-10-31T13:18:40.811Z image: https://cstoredecisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/data-unsplash-edit.jpg --- # Turning Real-Time Data Into Results **TL;DR:** Kayrouz Petroleum and Triumph Energy are leveraging AI and real-time data to modernize their back-office and POS systems, streamlining operations and improving customer experience. The retailers are using real-time data to make quicker decisions, optimize operations, and improve forecasting. *By Emily Boes, originally published in CStore Decisions on 2026-07-27. [Read the original](https://cstoredecisions.com/turning-real-time-data-into-results/).* ## Key facts - Triumph Energy accesses data in real time - Labor management is a key differentiator - Modernizing tech stack improves customer experience ## Story Retailers are taking advantage of live data, AI and mobile interfaces as they advance their back office and POS, streamlining operations chainwide. As technology becomes more sophisticated, the meaning of “modernization” is changing. Not long ago, back-office and point-of-sale (POS) modernization meant replacing bulky registers with tablets, migrating to the cloud and connecting previously siloed technologies. It now means leveraging mobile technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time data to optimize operations and improve forecasting. ## Operational Efficiency Along with refining operational efficiency and data visibility, updating the back office and POS can enhance the customer experience, and it supports faster decision-making and strengthened security. “You have to stay up to date on the POS and back office to stay competitive in our industry,” said Barry Ahern, chief retail and people officer of Kayrouz Petroleum, which operates 12 stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut and one recently acquired location that’s being remodeled. At press time, the remodeled location was slated to open early this month. “Being able to deliver on all features/benefits that customers are asking for is why updating your POS and back office is crucial to the c-store business,” added David Barkett, director of retail operations at Triumph Energy, operating 46 locations in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. When it makes business sense to update the back office and POS, the key is knowing what problems the update is meant to solve. Barkett noted that when a retailer is reviewing its current system, it needs to fully understand all capabilities available to best utilize the platform. ## Real Time Data Analysis “For Triumph Energy, we access our data in real time to make key decisions of staffing, product mix, promotional activity and loyalty offers. In reviewing different options, ease of use, cost and back-end support are three of the major factors in deciding on POS and back-office options,” he said. Accessing data in real time has been a game changer for the retail chain, which is now able to understand its data faster and more accurately. It no longer needs to wait to review different reports. The chain is also in the process of testing AI to analyze the data for the retailer and make recommendations. In addition, Triumph Energy’s new technology has streamlined employee scheduling. The chain maps out the busiest times of day with its data and staffs accordingly. It’s able to track customer traffic counts and sales data in real time. “This has drastically changed the level of service our customers receive and maximizes the efficiency of labor that is deployed,” said Barkett. Managing labor more effectively has been the biggest differentiator Triumph Energy found in utilizing its data. “Labor is one of the biggest expenses for operators, and it is imperative that it be deployed effectively to maximize service to customers and increase overall profitability,” Barkett said. At the stores, data entry has become more efficient: one hour per day saved during beta testing. This has also improved the customer experience because store teams become additional eyes and ears on the store floor rather than sitting in an office. Kayrouz Petroleum, too, schedules teams to better serve customers during the busier times through accessing customer counts and hour-by-hour sales. Modernizing its tech stack has allowed store leaders to perform tasks quicker and focus on other needs that make a larger impact on the store. “In some cases, during our slow times later at night, we are able to analyze whether or not it makes business sense to stay open as late and, at times, we have changed hours because the sales vs. payroll spent did not make sense for us to stay open,” said Ahern. Ahern pointed out that accessing data more quickly is not just important from a sales perspective but also from the point of view of category analysis. On the category management front, the category manager receives data more quickly and in more detail than in the past, allowing for an easier analysis that can be obtained by running fewer reports. In fact, one report can provide all the data they need, he explained. Like Triumph Energy, Kayrouz Petroleum uses real-time data to make quicker decisions. An example is remotely accessing the fuel it has in the ground, allowing the distribution department to react to inventory levels. The chain is also able to monitor waste more easily. “With us being at item-level inventory, we are able to accurately tell what items we might be short on during an inventory and then implement a cycle count plan for those or other items,” said Ahern. “Also, by doing cycle counts periodically for the category, we know at that time what we might be short on in a category or specific item. Cycle counts also allow us to cut back on the amount of inventories we have to pay a vendor to do, which provides savings to the company.” ## Modern Pos Systems Modern POS systems offer mobile ordering, tap-to-pay and other forms of self-checkout. At Kayrouz Petroleum, self-checkout has been implemented in stores, and although they are used, they are not used at the level initially expected. “But for those that use it, they like the quicker sales process. Tap-to-pay inside and outside is definitely a customer convenience and allows again for a quicker sale at the POS,” Ahern added. Barkett emphasized the importance of alternative payment methods besides cash and credit, as checkout must be quick and seamless. “Today’s retail environment, especially convenience, must be all about the customer experience,” he said, adding the better the experience, the more likely customers are to make a second visit and refer other potential customers. Upgraded equipment is needed now since the growth of mobile payments has changed retail. POS systems need to be able to work in sync with the retailer’s loyalty program. “Loyalty customers visit more often and spend more money at your stores, so making sure all aspects are working properly is a key point of success,” Barkett said. Retailers holding back from modernization might be scared by the “unknown,” according to Barkett, as older systems are reliable and have a well-trained user base, “but they lack the basic features to simplify operations and make them more efficient.” There is also a time investment in upgrading operational systems and the POS. Ahern pointed to cost as an initial stumbling block. “But the money you may make by having the data in order to do your category analysis and making sales decisions and saving on payroll efficiencies (and) store efficiencies help pay toward your investment.” At the end of the day, Barkett said, technology is both the present and the future of convenience retailing and will be critical for sustained success. ## Entities - customer experience (topic) - Technology (sector) - CStore Decisions (publication) - operational efficiency (topic) - data analysis (topic) - Emily Boes (person) - retail technology (topic) - pos systems (topic) - Kayrouz Petroleum (company) - Triumph Energy (company) - Barry Ahern (person) - David Barkett (person) --- Originally reported by Emily Boes, CStore Decisions (https://cstoredecisions.com/turning-real-time-data-into-results/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/cd65d6ba-7587-4bc9-b6e7-e442fda04fff).