Ishan Deep Report
Ishan Deep Report
Submitted by:
Ishan Deep
R050208038
PREFACE:
To be dynamic, strategic and work aggressively they need to know the policies ,
procedures and trends going in the present industrial environment apart from their
studies The training fulfils all these needs . Whether it is the question of
demonstrating a modernized procedure, step by step to an old production hand or
guiding a new division head through the intricacies of preparing his own budget, the
responsible supervisor or manager must make the trainee learn and communicate.
The purpose and objective of the study is to analyze the different aspect of financial
and marketing position of the organization and list out the suggestions,
recommendations based on the studies.
The various modern and standard tools to achieve the objectives of the study carry
out the analysis of the data.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
University of Petroleum and Energy Studies , Dehradun| 2
Page |3
I would like to thank my project guides Mr. Ankit Gorwara (Officer Fleet
Marketing) and Mr. Naresh Salodia (Officer Xtrarewards). I shall always be grateful
to them for spending their valuable time on my project and their inputs and constant
encouragement during my internship at IndianOil Corporation Limited.
Finally, I thank University Of Petroleum And Energy Studies, Dehradun for giving me
this wonderful opportunity to pursue internship at IOC.
The stint at IOC was very useful in terms of gaining valuable hands on marketing
experience and understanding consumer behavior.
Thank You
LEARNING EXPERIENCE:
This project has been a great learning experience for me. It has provided me
learning opportunities about loyalty program. By handling the project under guidance
of my respected officers I have gained knowledge about organizational culture and
environment. On the whole, I am able to understand the prospective and current
trends of the market and able to understand the psychology of customers. In the
beginning of the project I was bit uncomfortable as I was unfamiliar about marketing,
but this project has made me realize that to reach heights of success and position
you have to start from the begining.
Executive Summary:
To retain the customers in this highly competitive world companies come out
with their loyalty programme and show how they could be beneficial to the customers
if they remain with them for a long term. A specific methodology was adapted to work
on the project which included literature review, data collection through retail outlets,
Internet, survey, study of different loyalty programmes. This data was then analyzed
and was implemented as per the methodology. Activities were performed with the
customers at the retail outlet and other parties reveal that there are few problems
and issues, which are both operational and structural, related with the cards. In fact
as we approached customers for cards, it gave us firsthand knowledge of why
acceptance is low.
The major reason for low acceptance amongst customers is lack of proper
communication, around 70% of the customers who are using the card are not aware
about all the benefits of the cards. We tried to train RO attendants, to make them
understand all the aspects related with the programme. We also took some
suggestions from them to improve the programme.
We approached many corporate customers for Easy fuel and for XtraRewards
programme but Cost of the cards was main factor according to the consumer
response. In order to promote XtraRewards cards, Alliance partners were
approached to facilitate our customers with their products and services. To improve
the existing programme feedback was taken from customers; pump attendants,
Dealers and Alliance partners. Their valuable suggestions were taken in
consideration and have been mentioned in report for further development of the
programmes.
CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION:
IndianOil began operation in 1959 as Indian Oil Company Ltd. The Indian Oil
Corporation was formed in 1964, with the merger of Indian Refineries Ltd.
Indian Oil Corporation, or IndianOil, is an Indian state-owned oil and
gas company. It is India’s largest commercial enterprise, ranking 105th on the
Fortune Global 500 list in 2009. IndianOil and its subsidiaries account for a 47%
share in the petroleum products market, 40% share in refining capacity and 67%
downstream sector pipelines capacity in India. The Indian Oil Group of Companies
owns and operates 10 of India's 19 refineries with a combined refining capacity of
60.2 million metric tons per year.
IndianOil operates the largest and the widest network of fuel stations in the country,
numbering about 17606 (15557 regular ROs & 2049 Kissan Sewa Kendra). It has
also started Auto LPG Dispensing Stations (ALDS).
Indian Oil is the highest ranked Indian company in the Fortune Global 500 listing, the
116th position (in 2008) based on fiscal 2007 performance. It is also the 18th largest
petroleum company in the world and the number one petroleum trading company
among the National Oil Companies in the Asia-Pacific region. IOCL was featured on
the 2008 Forbes Global 2000 at position 303.
BACKGROUND:
Loyalty programs are structured marketing efforts that reward, and therefore
encourage, loyal buying behavior (behavior which is potentially of benefit to the firm).
Loyalty cards are a system of the loyalty business card.
Loyalty cards are promotional marketing tools used by many businesses across
several industries. In marketing generally and in retailing more specifically, a loyalty
card, rewards card, points card, advantage card, or club card is a plastic or
paper card, visually similar to a credit card or debit card, that identifies the card
holder as a member in a loyalty program. Businesses usually distribute them in
stores, online or through the mail. The main purpose of loyalty cards is to encourage
repeat purchases from new or existing customers.
Cards typically have a barcode or magstripe that can be easily scanned and some
are even chip cards. Small keyring cards (also known as keytags) which serve as
key fobs are often used for convenience in carrying and ease of access.
Loyalty programes are initiated by businesses with two main goals. The primary goal
for most loyalty programs is the acquisition of information relating to their customers,
spending habits, while the secondary goal is to actively cultivate loyalty amongst
Each transaction is confirmed online through a charge slip and customers can earn
points on fuels / lubes purchases at participating IndianOil retail outlets.
The program continously provides the card holder with privileges, benefits and
offers from our alliance partners like dominos pizza , havmor , planet health, sun
photo , jai hind sweets, bakers den etc
We are giving promotion to our alliance partners at our retail outlets and in
return they are providing discounts to our customers on their valuable items or
products in order to satisfy customers and continuous increase in sales of
XTRAREWARD programme.
Havmor
Jai hind sweets
Bakers den
Sun photo
Parsana gym and fitness center#
Dominos pizza
U.S pizza
They all are participating with XTRAREWARDS for facilitating Indianoil customers
with their valuable products and services.
Xtrapower Easy Fuel is India’s first smart card based fuel voucher. This enhances
the security of the cards and in this respect is different from the Gift Cards that the
banks have introduced in the recent past which operates on a magnetic stripe card.
The gift cards introduced by banks are for single recharge only meaning the card
becomes useless once the amount pre-loaded in the cards is used. However,
Xtrapower Easy Fuel Card comes with an option of multiple recharging or topping-
up. Upon exhausting the amount once loaded you can recharge the card which is
ideally suited for reimbursement, repeat incentivization etc.
These smart cards come with the added security feature of a user defined 4-digit PIN
which needs to be punched in for undertaking transactions on the card. This PIN can
be changed by the card holder at any point through our Point Of Sale Terminals.
Forget worries of your voucher being misused due to loss or misplacement.
Advantages:
Customer Relationship: Loyalty card programs can help retain
customers, increase traffic and improve sales. Exclusive deals, discounts and
incentives attract customers. Loyalty card incentives improve customer
service and relationships with customers.
Disadvantage :
Types of Cards:
Basically there are three types of cards that are used in loyalty program. These are
as follows:
Barcode card
Magnetic stripe card
Chip card
3. Chip Cards: A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuits card (ICC), is
any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits. There are two broad
categories of ICCs. Memory cards contain only non-volatile memory storage
components, and perhaps dedicated security logic. Microprocessor cards
contain volatile memory and microprocessor components.
Smart cards may also provide strong security authentication for single sign-on
within large organizations. It also can provide identification, authentication,
data storage and application processing.
The immense competition is making loyalty programs an integral program for the
day-to-day functioning of petro-retailing. Of course, right now many such loyalty
programs are being run by the petro-retailers like Smart Fleet (BPCL), XtraPower
(IOCL), Drivetrack (HPCL), Transconnect (Reliance), Petrocard (BPCL) and others.
However, these programs are mainly focused at the bulk consumers and the small
consumers are left unnoticed more or less. But in present, such differentiation is
minimized and loyalty program is made available for every segment of consumers.
IndianOil's loyalty programmes are designed exclusively to benefit the large number
of its customers who have been patronising the brand for over five decades. In order
to do that IndianOil launched XTRAPOWER fleet card for fleet operators and
corporate for cashless purchase of fuel & lubricants from designated retail outlets
(petrol pumps) of IndianOil through flexible pre-paid and credit facilities,
XTRAREWARDS card is India's first online rewards programme that seeks to
inculcate the habit of redeeming points to develop and retain customer and
XTRAPOWER easy fuel gift card facilitates corporate in paperless gifting of fuels and
lubricants to their employees, customers and other stakeholders, that too from select
IndianOil retail outlets numbering over 6,000.
HPCL also introduce many program to maintain loyal customer Drivesmart fleet Card
offers cashless secure payments for fuel purchases across highways at select HPCL
dealer outlets, Drive Track plus fleet card is a pre-paid (debit) card with expurse cum
loyality applications for fleet operators (mainly highway segments). HPCL has introduced
e-purse cum loyalty card CLUB HP Smart1 for the benefit of our prestigious customers at
select Retail Outlets in Metros and Major cities. This Card gets you Convenience in
addition to Rewards which are unmatched to any similar card scheme.
Comparative Study:
Market share
24% 2%
IOCL
47% HPCL
BPCL
Others
27%
Sources: Indian Oil and Gas and CRISIL Research- July 2010.
It is clear from the chart that IOC is the biggest player in the petroleum
retailing business in India, followed by HPCL, BPCL and other private players.
The statistics available upto 2007-08 suggest that IOC has a market share of
50%. While the share of other PSU’s has also shown an increasing trend,
share of the private player has decreased. This is because of the fact that
they aren’t given the kind of subsidies and oil bonds issued as in case of
public sector oil companies.
It is clear that IOC is still the biggest player in the market. It is trying hard to
regain its lost share.
As explained above the major player in the petroleum retailing business are
IOC, BPCL, HPCL, IBP, RIL, ESSAR, SHELL.
Approach customers.
Reactivate the existing inactive customers.
Enroll non-existing customers to increase activation rate.
Interaction with existing customers for feedback.
Approach Alliance Partners to facilitate Indianoil’s customers.
METHODOLOGY:
As per their response fix up the appointment for the further process.
The customer earns 1 point for the purchase of Rs. 75 fuel . The points are added in
cumulative nature that is if a customer fills his tank with Rs. 50 petrol the charge slip
would show Zero points but the next time when the customer fills his tank with Rs. 25
the charge slip would show 1 point earned. On 334 point customer get Rs 100 worth
of fuel.
One of the unique features of this card is that the company has ties ups with different
alliance partners. Once the customer swaps his card he receives a charge slip which
states his point’s earned and his total accumulated points. With this charge slip he
also receives discount at one of the alliance partner’s outlet.
Fuel reimbursement/gifting card are single recharge. Steps in its process are as
follows:
Purchase designated number of Easy Fuel cards by applying on standard
Easy Fuel Application Form.
Make payment towards Cost of each card @ Rs 110.30/- per card inclusive
of service tax.
Validity of these cards will be 6 months or exhausting of amount on the card
whichever is earlier.
Define no. of cards and card-wise denomination on the application form
(minimum Rs.100/-).
Card wise Limits will be set based on the above.
IndianOil will create a virtual bank account in HDFC Bank.
Make payment to IndianOil for the amount to be charged to the cards through
this virtual bank account.
Logon to our website www.iocxtrapower.com using unique login id and
password.
Check whether money deposited in the virtual A/C has been credited to your
Customer ID.
Allocate amount to each card (minimum Rs.100/-) as per requirement.
Card holder approaches petrol pump and activates his card by changing
default PIN (0000) to his own 4-digit PI
Requests petrol pumps to transfer the amount on to his card.
Purchases Fuel or Lubricants for the amount on the card.
Transaction slip is generated for every transaction.
To get the customers feedback on the program and know the reason for less
than expected use of XTRAREWARD cards.
I approached some more alliance partners in respect to increase the sale and
activation rate for XTRAREWARD programme.
Meeting with some of the firms was arranged in order to enroll them as our
alliance partner.
Cost of the card is a major factor in negative response from the corporate.
Corporate were looking for scheme that could benefit them in monitory terms.
Most of the corporates are not aware about the XtraPower Easy fuel card
scheme; IOC should try to create awareness regarding the program by means
of advertising.
During the peak hours the server works slowly which makes customer waiting
at the pump.
Forms were not filled appropriately, due to this card may not work properly.
The cost of the card is high and the returns is not that much attractive.
SUGGESTIONS:
The alliance partners are not that much attractive and moreover the particular
shops don’t provide discounts on all their items, the discounts are available
Offers printed on the charge slip at the time of transaction are not noticeable
at first sight.
When customer comes back to them with some problem they don’t have
CONCLUSIONS:
It was a great opportunity for me to work with Indianoil Corporation limited and
learn about loyalty programmes and other organizational operations under the
observation and guidance of my officers. This report gives a brief review about the
Indianoil’s loyalty programme and its operational process.
As per my experience, existing programmes have a good customer base,
service and infrastructure, and loyalty programmes have proved a major factor in
increasing the sales as well as brand loyalty and preference. To generate more
turnovers from loyalty programmes, some modifications are required in terms and
conditions and operational structure of existing programmes.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Websites: www.iocxtrapower.com
www.xtrarewards.com