Self-Service Carwash Automation

TL;DR

A case study detailing how NERDS Computing designed, developed, and deployed a fully autonomous self-service car wash system for a national LPG supplier — integrating custom hardware and software, Raspberry Pi-based control panels, and NFC-enabled payment automation to unify operations from wash box management to credit refill.

About the Client

A national supplier of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), operating its own fleet of distribution trucks to ensure timely and reliable delivery to customers across the country.

The company manages both bulk propane distribution for industrial and residential clients and maintains an on-site auto LPG refueling station, ensuring full-cycle control — from storage and logistics to end-user service.

Challenge & Objectives

The objective was to expand on-site service offerings by implementing a fully autonomous self-service car wash, seamlessly integrated with the existing LPG station infrastructure.

The client required a highly customized control system capable of managing the entire operation — from wash box automation to payment processing and credit refill, ensuring a frictionless experience for end-users and minimal operational overhead.

Technical Solution

The technical approach leverages low-cost, off-the-shelf devices to deliver a high-availability car wash control system. Operator panels are built on Raspberry Pi units paired with industrial touchscreens.

We developed an employee management interface for operations and support—providing role-based access, live telemetry, and credit refill controls—while a flexible GPIO/pins configuration maps car wash modules (pumps, valves, sensors) via profiles, enabling rapid reconfiguration without code changes.

• NFC cards-based system
• Backpanel insights about historical & real-time usage
• Intuitive user interface
• Flexible services integration
• White-Label ready platform
• Over-The-Air updates

Results & Impact

The result is a fully automated self-service car wash featuring custom hardware and software integrations that streamline daily operations, enhance reliability, and provide a modern, user-friendly experience for both customers and staff.