Bharat Petroleum begins automation of retail outlets

India’s Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) has begun automation of some of its retail outlets as a way to prevent adulteration of petrol and enhance its customer service. Eventually, the company plans to provide the enhanced customer services to all of its 81 outlets in Pune within the next few years. BPCL General Manager for retail, western region, K. H. Subramanian said that outlets selling more than 200 kilo liters of petrol and diesel fuel every month have been earmarked for automation. He said that out of 81 outlets, 67 have been automated. Seven more outlets are scheduled for automation by the end of this year. Subramanian said that the retail outlets are open 24 hours a day and the vehicles that supply these outlets are fitted with devices which help track the vehicle’s movements. The presence of the tracking devices are meant to minimize the risk of pilferation. (October 5, 2011)