Windows to Android – an easy migration path

For many years TouchStar has been the leader in in-cab ePOD solutions for downstream fuel logistics.  With over 5,000 current installations, we are the supplier of choice for 14 of the top, 20 fuel delivery fleets in the UK & Ireland. This success has been built on our unique offering of robust, feature-rich and highly integrated software, as well as our ATEX-rated tablet devices for drivers daily usage.

Historically, the TS3000 had been our most successful device to date. However, support for Windows CE 6.0 and Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 ended. With the withdrawal of support for the mobile platform by Microsoft, it became clear that change would be required.

In 2019 we developed our Android replacement device, the TS3200. These feature-rich tablet devices are now successfully working within many of our customer fleets. Many of our customers have now completed the transition from Windows to Android, with others now actively engaged in migration projects.

The Android platform has given us the chance to increase the capabilities of our solutions, with improved workflows and communication and customers are telling us that this has had a major impact on their digitisation journeys. Recognising that a ‘big bang’ approach to hardware upgrading would not be preferable for some of our customers, we have been careful to include the ability to run Android and Windows CE devices in parallel within the fleet.  This means transition can happen at a pace that suits each business.

Importantly, FuelStar Android can be deployed with NO CHANGE to FuelSoft, CODAS or similar systems required.  Our new middleware system handles all the data and file transfers, in and out of back- office systems, so there is no impact to other software providers.