n line with the transformation process carried out by the Company, the use of Information Technology (IT) in the Company’s business processes is increasing. AKR Technology Department is the one responsible to in charge of managin manage and developing IT solutions in the Company.
With a vision of “Business Focused. Performance Driven,” AKR Technology will encourage the use of technology in the Company’s operations.
IT plays an important role in AKR’s transformation. Therefore, in 2018, AKR Technology aggressively increased and innovated in business processes through IT empowerment. One of the main work programs carried out by AKR Technology in 2018 was the implementation of key platforms such as Customer Relations Management, Terminal Automation and Sales Management which is still ongoing.
Through this development, it is expected to increase the role of IT in the Company’s operations, including services to subsidiaries such as BP-AKR for Fuel Retailers Solutions.
To provide effective results and to ensure alignment of IT implementation with the business needs, the Company has restructured IT organizations. This is intended to enhance the role of IT organizations in a more strategic role, namely as a partner of the company both in the fields of management and operations. In addition, IT organization restructuring can also enhance the role of IT operations to improve service availability more efficiently.
2018 IT INITIATIVE
AKR continued to build upon its technology capabilities and systems to support its longer-term focus of simplification, sustainability and self service. Structured visibility with exception based alerting into all of the critical aspects of our business remained a core focus. This was matched with improving and enhancing internal as well as external communications channels through the adoption of real time collaboration tools. This is aligned to our self service strategy for both internal and external users across all our application touchpoints. Mobility is key to this strategy with our systems now being usable across any desktop or mobile device.
Broadly speaking, the transformation of IT development carried out by AKR centered on the following 3 strategies:
- Establish an IT system that accelerates business growth
- Integrate the sensors in AKR’s assets with real time data systems, to obtain data effectively
- Strengthen data integrity and security
The three strategies are translated into various solutions and applications implemented on the Company’s ERP platform.
In 2018, the Company continues the development of business intelligence solutions which have been developed since 2017. This solution is supported by a strong data warehouse system, allowing management to analyze the development of the Company’s performance with accurate data. This solution is very important, given the current dynamic condition of the business world, so that decision making is needed quickly.
As part of implementing the business intelligence solution, AKR also completes its terminal with an automated tank measurement visualization system, so that management may obtain petroleum stock data in the terminal in real time. This solution is very beneficial for management amid conditions of very volatile world oil prices. In 2018, along with the operation of BP-AKR Petrol Station, the Company has also implemented a centralized transaction recording solution. With this solution, management may obtain sales data at BP-AKR petrol stations in real time..
Our KnowFlow fuel management system was adopted by the AKR-BP joint venture for use as its forecourt transaction control giving an external vote of confidence to the solution. KnowFlow version 4 is in the architecting stage and we will build on the core strengths of the solution so all users should achieve greater value and visibility into their fuel management process. This will come from increased automation in the ordering process as well as extended control over inventory. The existence of this solution becomes very helpful for the management to be able making the right decisions.
We are also looking at the benefits of AI and video analytics for our fleet and driver management areas for both ADAS and fatigue management as well as route optimizations. This will also be a significant contributor to our environmental impact monitoring capability to identify abnormal operation of tank pressure relief valves and tank leakage. We ill also continue to evaluate enhances in IoT sensor technology and messaging protocols such as MQTT to further look for improving our predative monitoring capability.
We have improved our assurance capability by adding additional realtime monitoring capability to our Solar Winds network monitoring solution to be able to visualise performance degradation for our country and overseas networks from application server, including cloud based, to the user device. This will allows us to improve service levels and user experience across all technology areas. We have improve our log consolidation and monitoring, including automated mitigation response, to allow for rapid response to potential denial of service or attempted breach attacks.
In addition, 2018 has also initiated the implementation of digitalization for the sales process and customer relationship management (CRM). CRM implemented by AKR has several advantages, including being accessible via mobile phones, having a simpler and automated reporting system, providing information in real time. With the implementation of CRM, marketers have more time to do value-added activities and for customers.
We initiated the first phase of our unified communications strategy based on Microsoft’s Office 365, Teams and Skype for Business functionalities and have enhance our internal wireless connectivity through the use of high speed high throughput telecommunications grade wireless access points in AKR Tower. This will allow us to further leverage the collaborative and remote training capabilities our upgrade network and communications infrastructure will allow. This in turn will help to rapidly upgrade the competencies of our employees across all levels allowing an anywhere any time and knowledge enhancement and training capability.
In 2018, AKR Technology together with the relevant Division also redesigned a better and more interactive appearance of the Company’s website. In line with this initiative, the Company also increased its campaign through social media to increase company value and to attract the millennials to join the Company.
FUTURE IT PLAN
AKR has experienced many developments in the implementation of technology in line with the company’s business growth and the need to maintain being a major player in the market and to win the competition. Major digital technologies such as collaborative platforms, cloud storage, asset tracking, cellular connectivity, sensors / IoT and cyber security have been applied in various processes. Currently AKR is exploring Big Data / Analytics, Robotic Processing Automation (RPA) and Virtual Reality. This has become very important to ensure that IT can continue to contribute to the business.