éXō Fleets CEO Alan Crowley and team at SWA Connex Event
Scottish Wholesale Association Connex Event Glasgow
A week on from the Scottish Wholesale Association Connex conference in Glasgow, the éXō Fleets team is still reflecting on the energy, insight and conversations that made the event so valuable.
It was a privilege to be part of a day that brought together wholesalers, suppliers, producers and industry leaders to discuss the future of the sector. What stood out most was not only the scale of the challenges facing wholesale, but the determination across the room to adapt, collaborate and lead change.
Colin Smith, Chief Executive of the Scottish Wholesale Association, captured this perfectly in his reflections following the event. The wholesale sector is operating in a complex landscape. Cost pressures, margin challenges and inflation are already impacting businesses every day. On top of that, the sector is preparing for longer-term structural changes, from shifting consumer expectations to fragmented spending habits and the growing impact of climate change on food production.
These challenges were very much reflected in the conversations we had throughout the day.
For éXō Fleets, the discussions with wholesalers around rising operational costs made our 100 Litre Challenge feel even more meaningful. Fleet operators are under pressure to do more with less. Fuel costs, vehicle utilisation, route efficiency, driver behaviour and depot operations are all having a direct impact on margins.
Many businesses already have the data they need sitting across different systems, but the challenge is knowing how to bring it together, understand it and turn it into practical action. That is where the 100 Litre Challenge comes in.
Our 100 Litre Challenge is designed to help logistics and wholesale fleets uncover fuel savings using their existing data. It looks at where fuel is being lost, where performance can be improved and where small operational changes can create measurable savings. For businesses dealing with rising costs, even finding 100 litres of fuel savings a week can make a real difference.
What made the conversations at SWA Connex so powerful was that they were not just about technology or reporting. They were about real operational pressures. Wholesalers spoke about the need to protect margins, improve efficiency and future-proof their fleets while continuing to serve customers reliably.
That is why data matters.
Better data gives fleet managers, finance teams and business leaders a clearer view of what is happening across their operation. It helps identify where vehicles are costing more than they should, where routes can be improved, where driver performance can be supported and where savings are being missed.
The insight shared throughout the day reinforced that the future of wholesale will be shaped by those willing to adapt. Tanya Pepin from the TWC Group highlighted Scotland’s resilience and growth potential across retail, out-of-home, hospitality and leisure categories. Professor Colin Campbell of the James Hutton Institute also gave a fascinating perspective on climate change, food production and Scotland’s potential advantage in strengthening local crop production and food system resilience.
For wholesalers, this creates both challenge and opportunity. Consumer behaviour is changing quickly, with growing demand for health-conscious choices, sustainability and locally sourced produce. Meeting that demand will require a stronger, more connected and more efficient supply chain.
Fleet operations sit right at the heart of that supply chain.
Every delivery, depot, route, vehicle and litre of fuel matters. Sustainability cannot sit separately from profitability. The businesses that can reduce waste, improve visibility and make better daily decisions will be in a stronger position to manage cost pressures and support long-term growth.
At éXō Fleets, we believe this is where real progress happens. Not through reporting alone, but through practical insight that helps businesses act.
SWA Connex was a reminder that the wholesale sector is full of ambition, resilience and leadership. The conversations we had on the day showed that businesses are ready to look at their operations differently and take meaningful steps toward savings, sustainability and future growth.
A huge thank you to Colin Smith, the Scottish Wholesale Association team and everyone involved in delivering such a valuable event. We were delighted to be part of the conversation and look forward to continuing to support wholesalers as they turn challenge into opportunity.
Data | Insights | Savings