Technology is continuously shifting due to the rise in internet accessibility. Post-COVID, digital adoption across sectors has surged dramatically. With the speed of change having entirely altered the world we live in, it is not only important to provide consumers with the products they want but also to understand when, where, and how they want to buy them to redefine the sense of convenience. With continuous technological innovation in addition to millions of food delivery apps, grocery apps, and apps for travelling in the city making our daily lives convenient, why wouldn’t one want an essential doorstep diesel delivery service that would cater to one’s fuel needs?
With the day-to-day growing demand for India’s daily diesel consumption and diesel being the most widely consumed form of fuel by industries, the demand is constantly increasing with every passing month. In the month of November, diesel saw a staggering 27.6% rise in sales as compared to the same month, last year. With technological innovation being fundamental to the core of the oil and gas industry, innovations are focused on leveraging computing as well as technological resources. Consequentially, solutions have enormous potential when it comes to improving communications and addressing the industry’s unique environmental challenges, as well as the demand and supply gap of the fuel industry. These technological shifts are shaping the industry’s operations along with its offerings, marrying old and new product practices, and unlocking resources previously considered unattainable, thus resulting in improvements in efficiency and productivity while reducing the impact of operations and products on the environment.
Players in the sector who have been efficient and swift to adapt view the power of digitization as the key to unlocking the benefits they seek and can gain a significant competitive advantage over rivals. The impact of leveraging digital initiatives will only grow as the industry continues to grapple with uncertainties, volatility, and external threats. The oil and gas sector has, from its outset, always been wide open to innovation and every kind of modern technology. Automation has constantly shaped, and reshaped every stage of the industry, from exploration right through to final usage. One such technological development is ‘The Doorstep Diesel Delivery’ model, which is the ordering of diesel via an online mode that allows access to diesel at a convenient location, reduces transportation costs, reduces environmental impact, and provides timely as well as hassle-free delivery. Every year, billions of tons of diesel is illegally stolen, adulterated, or spilled in transit. With the ‘doorstep delivery model’, the fuel is centrally monitored, which completely reduces the chances of any illegal activity, thus ensuring quality delivery of fuel at the consumer’s doorstep.
In 2017, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry started considering the idea of legalising home delivery of high-speed Diesel. This idea led to the Ministry announcing a trial project for diesel delivery to consumers’ doorsteps in March 2018. The project participants were the government, start-ups, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). The result of the announcement was the rapid growth of the doorstep diesel delivery model, as more people are willing to opt for diesel coming to their doorstep as they expect seamless communication and increased personalization in services. The whole model focuses on those who will provide diesel to the end customer efficiently (safe & pilferage-free) and conveniently. So, technology-enabled doorstep diesel delivery applications not only allow customers to save time in addition to convenience by getting access to fuel anytime and anywhere, but they also help bulk consumers save big on their diesel bills as it provide the option of centralised billing for multi-site and multi asset customers. This also enables them to use technology to track and monitor fuel management & consumption. In addition to this, doorstep diesel delivery companies have various modes of transportation, which helps reduce dead mileage by delivering the fuel in the most suitable mode and not half empty trailers, which will in turn increase the carbon footprint. This will also help reduce the national fuel import bill.
The legalisation of doorstep diesel delivery has further opened up a huge, previously untapped market. According to an industry report, the mobile fuel delivery market is anticipated to record a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period (2022–2022). The increased scope is backed with safety-related challenges and concerns raised by authorities. Regulatory issues are something every doorstep diesel delivery app must address sincerely to run sustainable operations. Diesel delivery start-ups are taking necessary precautions and measures, like using high-quality tanks, and security systems to restrict unauthorised entry and safety systems to cut off main tanks during an emergency, dealing with improper security systems, inadequate fire safety arrangements, improper logistics planning, and inefficient route management. They also, make sure not to exceed the regulatory amount for the diesel being carried for additional security.
Mobile fuel isn’t the future, “it is the present.”
Growth in mobile fuel delivery would continue to be driven by several factors, such as the global supply chain and fuel trade economics, structural limitations of the current distribution model, shifting consumer requirement patterns, and technological disruptions. The government is also aggressively supporting the idea of Doorstep Diesel Delivery. The ever-changing needs of customers have forced companies to adopt new profitable solutions to meet those needs. In fact, according to an industry report, the Mile Delivery Market will grow at a 20.3% CAGR through 2030. With start-up’s tie-ups with various government and private bodies for marketing various products, it gives a boost to the oil and gas industry in the country. The doorstep diesel delivery is not just one of many necessities but the absolute need of the hour. With various payment aggregators and methods available on fuel delivery apps, there is a successful partnership being established with various fintech’s to make fuel availability on credit a priority for consumers. Just as the goodness of soil trickles up to the last of leaves in a plant, a well-connected and digitized energy network has the potential to take India and the MSME’s in the fuel industry to successful heights and unfurl their innate potential.
