Understanding Window Strategies

Window strategies determine how deliveries are estimated and scheduled by selecting the calculation method used for each system. The window strategy is configured in the system edit dialog and determines which approach is used to trigger deliveries. 
 
 What are window strategies? 
 A window strategy defines the method used to calculate when a delivery is needed: 
 
 Degree Day : Temperature-based consumption estimation using heating degree days 
 Monitored : Real-time tank level readings from IoT monitoring devices 
 Calendar : Time-based recurring delivery schedules based on intervals 
 
 The window strategy determines which calculation approach takes priority for triggering deliveries for all equipment within that system. 
 
 Window strategy types 
 Degree Day Window 
 Uses outdoor temperature data to estimate fuel consumption and predict when refills are needed based on accumulated heating degree days. 
 Best for: 
 
 Heating oil customers 
 Predictable seasonal consumption patterns 
 Locations without tank monitors 
 
 How it works: 
 
 Accumulates heating degree days since last delivery 
 Applies usage rates (winter/summer) to estimate gallons consumed 
 Triggers delivery when estimated remaining fuel drops below threshold 
 Uses visual degree day windows to determine delivery timing 
 
 See: Understanding Degree Days 
 Monitored Window 
 Uses real-time tank level data from IoT monitoring devices to trigger deliveries based on actual fuel levels. 
 Best for: 
 
 Customers with installed tank monitors 
 Critical accounts requiring precise tracking 
 Unpredictable consumption patterns 
 
 How it works: 
 
 Reads current tank level from monitor device via serial number 
 Triggers delivery when level drops below configured threshold 
 Provides ground truth vs. estimated consumption 
 
 See: Understanding Fuel Monitoring 
 Calendar Window 
 Uses recurring time-based schedules to plan deliveries at regular intervals regardless of consumption. 
 Best for: 
 
 Commercial accounts with predictable usage 
 Will-call customers preferring set schedules 
 Service contracts with fixed delivery frequencies 
 
 How it works: 
 
 Schedules deliveries at configured intervals (days, weeks, months, years) 
 Triggers on specific calendar dates or days of the week 
 Can have seasonal start/end dates 
 Only one schedule can be active at a time 
 
 See: Understanding Calendar Schedules 
 
 Configuring window strategies 
 Window strategies are configured when adding or editing a system through the Add/Edit System dialog. 
 Basic system settings 
 At the top of the dialog: 
 
 System Name : Text field for the system identifier 
 Active toggle : Enable/disable the entire system 
 Auto Delivery toggle : Enable automatic delivery scheduling based on the selected window strategy 
 Fuel selector : Choose between Propane, Oil, etc. 
 Window Strategy selector : Choose Degree Day , Monitored , or Calendar 
 Usage multi-select : Select applicable usage types 
 
 
 Strategy-specific configuration tabs 
 Degree Day Settings Tab 
 Configuration fields: 
 
 Winter Usage Rate : Gallons per degree day during winter (up to 4 decimal places) 
 Summer Usage Rate : Gallons per degree day during summer (up to 4 decimal places) 
 Window Start (Visual DD) : Lower boundary of the delivery window 
 Target DD : Target degree day for delivery trigger 
 Window End (Visual DD) : Upper boundary of the delivery window 
 
 Action buttons: 
 
 Force Degree Day (thumbtack icon): Manually forces the current degree day target 
 Reset DD : Resets the degree day accumulation 
 Reset Window : Resets the delivery window boundaries 
 
 Tank Monitor Tab 
 Configuration fields: 
 
 Monitor Serial Number : Required field for the tank monitor identifier such as OTOData's DeviceId. 
 Monitor Barcode : Optional field 
 
 Validation: 
 
 Submit button is disabled until serial number is provided for monitored systems 
 
 Calendar Schedules Tab 
 Schedule configuration: 
 
 Frequency : Numeric value (minimum 1) 
 Units : Days, Weeks, Months, Years 
 Preferred Day of Week : Monday-Sunday or "Any day" 
 Season Starts/Ends : Date pickers 
 Requested Volume (gal) : Delivery amount 
 Active toggle : Activate/deactivate schedule 
 
 Schedule actions: 
 
 Set Active : Activates schedule (deactivates others) 
 Deactivate : Pauses schedule 
 Edit : Modify schedule 
 Delete : Remove schedule 
 
 
 Auto Delivery toggle 
 Controls whether the system should appear on the routing map & automatically generates delivery requests for calendar scheduling: 
 
 Enabled : System actively triggers deliveries based on strategy 
 Disabled : System tracks data but doesn't create automatic requests 
 
 
 Related guides 
 
 Degree Day System 
 Monitoring 
 Calendar Scheduling 
 Add System 
 Editing a System