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CRS Will Be Attending the 2026 PIAA Conference
We are excited to announce that Cool Running Software will be attending the 2026 Packaged Ice Association of Australasia (PIAA) Conference & AGM from September 1 to 4, 2026, at the Oaks Glenelg Plaza Pier Suites in Glenelg, South Australia.
Tony Dickson will be on site throughout the conference and Cool Running Software will be presenting during the supplier presentations on Wednesday, September 2. Whether you are a current customer or an ice company in Australia or New Zealand looking for a better way to run your operation, we would love to connect.
What Is the PIAA?
The Packaged Ice Association of Australasia (PIAA) is a trade organisation representing manufacturers and distributors of packaged ice, manufacturers of ice making equipment, and suppliers to the ice industry throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and the South Pacific.
The PIAA’s principal aim is to protect the interests of its members and act as a forum for the exchange of information across the industry. The organisation is open to companies of any size and arranges conferences, annual conventions, and trade fairs that bring the region’s ice community together.
For more information, visit packagedice.com.au.
Ice Delivery Software Built for Australia and New Zealand
Cool Running Software is a cloud based ice delivery software platform built specifically for the packaged ice industry. It was created by Tony Dickson, a retired iceman with 30 years of experience running an ice company, after he could not find a software provider who understood the unique challenges of the ice business.
Today, Cool Running Software is trusted by more than 90 ice companies internationally, including customers throughout Australia and New Zealand. We have ice companies running their operations on Cool Running Software in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia, along with both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Because the platform is cloud based, it works anywhere with an internet connection, and our team supports customers in the region every day.
Here is what makes Cool Running Software a fit for ice companies in Australia and New Zealand:
- Accounting sync with MYOB, Xero, and Reckon: Your daily sales upload directly to the accounting platforms Australian and New Zealand businesses actually use, along with QuickBooks Online, Sage 50, and more.
- Route planning built for the ice industry: Drag and drop route building, daily templates for recurring deliveries, delivery zones, and Route Optimization that respects customer receiving hours.
- A delivery app for your drivers: The CR Driver app runs on Apple and Android and gives your drivers on site invoicing, merchandiser tracking, and real time sync with your office.
- Complete customer and merchandiser management: Manage your full customer list, track every ice chest you own, and keep your records accurate from the office or the field.
- 24/7 online ordering with Cool Portal: Your customers place orders online at any hour and those orders flow directly into your route management screen, ready for dispatch.
What To Expect at the PIAA Conference
The 2026 PIAA Conference & AGM takes place over four days at the Oaks Glenelg Plaza Pier Suites on the Adelaide coastline. The programme includes:
- Speaker sessions and supplier presentations on Wednesday, September 2, featuring industry suppliers presenting their latest products and technology
- The PIAA Annual General Meeting on Thursday, September 3
- Networking events including welcome drinks, a dinner celebrating 100 years of Bells Pure Ice, and the Presidents Gala Dinner
- Factory and regional tours including a tour of Wing Plastics and a bus tour of the McLaren Vale wine region
Cool Running Software's Participation
Tony Dickson will be attending the 2026 PIAA Conference and Cool Running Software will be presenting during the supplier presentations on Wednesday, September 2, in the 11:00 AM session.
We pride ourselves on bringing something new to every event we attend, and this year we have more to show than ever. Here is what we will be covering:
Cool Portal
One of our latest system upgrades, launched in January 2026. Cool Portal is a 24/7 online ordering system that gives your recurring customers a branded portal to place orders, track deliveries, and send support requests without calling your office. Orders flow directly into our route management software, ready for dispatch. Learn more about Cool Portal
Mobile Merchandiser Management
One of our latest app upgrades, launched in March 2026. Your drivers and service techs can now manage your entire merchandiser list, add new units, edit any existing record, and assign merchandisers to customer locations directly from the CR Driver app. On site. In real time. Read the full blog post
The Pricing Manager
Launched in June 2026, the Pricing Manager gives you full control over customer pricing inside Cool Running Software with named price points that replace the old tier structure entirely. Read the complete guide
Full Platform Walkthroughs
These are just the latest additions. Come see the full platform that ice companies across Australia, New Zealand, and the United States are using to manage their customers, plan and execute delivery routes, and run their entire operation from the cloud.
We Look Forward To Seeing You in Glenelg
If you’re attending the 2025 PIAA Conference, we’d love the chance to connect with you in person. Whether you’re a current Cool Running Software customer or just starting to explore software options for your ice business, be sure to stop by our booth or join us for our supplier presentation.
We’re excited to meet fellow members of the ice industry, hear your feedback, and talk about how we can support your growth with tools designed for your daily operations.
📍 Visit us at the Supplier Showcase
📧 Email Tony Dickson at iceguy@coolrunningsoftware.com to set up a time to chat
💻 Request a no obligation demo at coolrunningsoftware.com/request-a-demo/
We wish you a successful lead up to the summer season and we will see you in Glenelg.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Cool Running Software is a cloud based platform that works anywhere with an internet connection and is already used by ice companies across Australia and New Zealand.
Yes. Cool Running Software syncs daily sales with MYOB, Xero, Reckon, QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Sage 50, and Red Wing.
Cool Running Software is the only delivery and business management platform built exclusively for the packaged ice industry, with route planning, a driver app, merchandiser tracking, online ordering, and accounting sync in one cloud based system.
The 2026 PIAA Conference & AGM takes place September 1 to 4, 2026, at the Oaks Glenelg Plaza Pier Suites in Glenelg, South Australia.
Visit coolrunningsoftware.com/request-a-demo to schedule a no obligation demo, or email Tony Dickson at iceguy@coolrunningsoftware.com.
To learn more about the Packaged Ice Association of Australasia visit packagedice.com.au
