Automated and Efficient

Spending a day at Valero revealed happy employees, company perks and a reliance on automation throughout the company.

After spending six and a half hours at the headquarters office of Valero Energy Corp. Wednesday in San Antonio, Texas, it became clear why the employees are all smiling -- and not just because the first quarter results showed retail and gas sales up.

Located in Building D at One Valero Way, Valero Retail Holdings Inc., the retail arm of the company, truly works as a team. Several times I saw different departments popping in and out of each other’s offices with questions and concerns, and you got the sense each person was willing to help out the department just down the hall.

I spent the day with accounting, IT and fuel pricing/transportation, and each person I spoke with talked about working closely with the other departments and the importance of keeping everyone in the loop. Two years ago, the company reorganized, and many departments are now located in the same building. Everyone I spoke to agreed it was a big benefit, making their time and work much more efficient since the retail operations were previously spread out among separate buildings. Before the move, there were not many visits to one another’s office. Most of the questions or issues required phone calls, according to employees. Considering how much we are always interacting (some might say screaming) with one another here at Convenience Store News, I could understand how difficult it must have been to be so far apart!

I was also impressed with the benefits given to all employees -- an amazing cafeteria; an in-house gym with weights, machines, exercise classes and trainers; and even a clinic on the campus for employees to use when they are feeling under the weather, or need a weekly allergy shot.

Even before lunch, I realized the importance given to technology and automation, with each department explaining how they rely on systems and reports, and how much easier life is with automated systems. I even got a peek into the technology lab where they test new technology and also deal with any issues at the store level in terms of system errors.

But more on that in the article -- stay tuned for our Day in the Life at Valero cover story in the July 2009 issue!

--Tammy Mastroberte

Comments

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Two years ago, the company reorganized, and many departments are now located in the same building. Everyone I spoke to agreed it was a big benefit, making their time and work much more efficient since the retail operations were previously spread out among separate buildings.

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Two years ago, the company reorganized, and many departments are now located in the same building. Everyone I spoke to agreed it was a big benefit, making their time and work much more efficient since the retail operations were previously spread out among separate buildings.

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Even before lunch, I realized the importance given to technology and automation, with each department explaining how they rely on systems and reports, and how much easier life is with automated systems. I even got a peek into the technology lab where they test new technology and also deal with any issues at the store level in terms of system errors.