IndianOil plans automation of retail outlets
New Delhi   26-Jan-2008
IndianOil has embarked on an ambitious project of complete automation of its retail outlets in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. This will completely revolutionize the services provided by these retail outlets in the region. Top officials in the IndianOil informed TNS here today that by the end of this fiscal they would have 111 completely automated retail outlets. "We plan to have 200 such retail outlets in the region by the end of next financial year. All outlets having a sale of over 200 kilolitres of fuel a month are being covered. The idea is to bring complete efficiency, accountability and control the operations of these outlets," said H.S. Bedi, general manager, IndianOil, Punjab state. The project is being implemented at the cost of Rs 20 crore, with automation of each outlet costing around Rs 10 lakh. The entire cost of this automation is being borne by IndianOil be it on the company-owned and operated retail outlets or on the franchisee outlets. Automation entails installing of tank gauges, tank readers, outside point of sale (OPOS) and installing of custom-made software to control the operations. Through this system, every transaction taking place at the outlet is recorded the amount of fuel sold, category of fuel, cash received, and name of the salesman who attended the customer et al. The system is also useful to the owner of the outlet as he can see the status of fuel in the tanks on his computer screen and check the daily reports and shift reports at his outlet Sales from each dispenser at the petrol pump and the peak hour of sale is also recorded. "The owner can also see the product wise sale (type of fuel) and then base his requirements on the quantity of fuel sold. Also, a salesman can just sit inside the cabin and authorise sale through a command on the computer," said Bedi. He also informed that they were also expanding the XtraCare outlets in the region. From a present 44 such outlets, these are now being increased to 150. These outlets promise the best of facilities to customers better and personalised service, a small goods store and an eating joint. IndianOil is looking at having more such outlets on the national and state highways in the region.