Subomi Odo-Owusi is the 24 year old founder of FueledUp, a mobile application that enables people to fuel their cars on the go eliminating the inconvenience of queuing at filling stations. In this interview with , he explains how a product like petrol could be distributed in Lagos’ complex city setting using mobile technology. Exceprts
What is fueledUp?
FueledUp is your Personal Filling station, a mobile application that enables an on-demand fuelling service making sure you never stop for fuel again. Our aim is to create convenience for the everyday use of petroleum products
How exactly do you propose to sell a product like petrol using mobile app?
FueledUp is a mobile application that allows its users to request for fuel for delivery at your chosen location. We would be using IT as a tool to enable us reach to all and provide accessibility too. The application remains a web tool for the request of service and nothing more. Products would be delivered to your desired location and payment via your desired e-payment channels. At least 75 per cent of Lagosians use smart phones and at least 30 per cent are tech savvy.
What kind of logistics have you built to make this a success?
We have strong partnership agreements, which we can not disclose now, with the very best in the downstream oil and gas sector. This is to ensure reliability of products at the best market price as well as the authenticity of products sold. Also, we have the required man power and trucks available to carry out operations to meet consumers’ demand upon launch. We are approaching this with modern practices especially on delivery routines to ensure safety, security and reduce delays as a result of the heavy traffic flow in Lagos.
Do you think this your approach is going to solve Nigeria’s distribution issues around petroleum products?
Our technology approach would not only help solve distribution issues but also reduce traffic flow. Overall it will lead to increase in productivity within the State as we aim to bring to Lagosians a system that takes off one less worry especially in this time.
FueledUp would bring the filling station experience to all, making it ‘your Personal Filling Station’.
This will result to effective time management as endless waits at filling stations would be drastically reduced or completely eliminated thus reducing traffic congestions on our roads. Our solution is also designed to bring products to areas that find access to products very hard and are being exploited by merchants in their vicinities.
It enables a free market system recently adopted by the NNPC and truly embraces the notion making it possible for all to not only afford products but also have access to it with no exploitation. If you do not catch up with technology, you would be left behind, the use of IT is critical to bringing all into a more globally accessible online community.
Do you plan to only sell PMS or do you also plan to sell other petroleum products like diesel and kerosene?
We certainly would move into other petroleum products once we have built a significant customer base. By expanding into other petroleum products, we truly become your personal filling station.
Safety is a critical concern in petroleum products distribution, how have you planned for this?
We take our Health Safety and Environment(HSE) very seriously, and due to that we will be running campaigns educating the public on the practice of the FueldUp delivery process, as well as safety routines we should practice in our daily lives. Also, in conjunction with Lagos State Fire Service and international experts in HSE practice within downstream oil and gas sector, we will be carrying out trainings and also carrying out monitoring checks on our operational manuals and practice. This is to ensure that our employees operate with the best practices within the industry
Take us through the process of buying petrol from FueledUp?
Well it is not just petrol, so I would take you through the process of getting FueledUp.
*Download the app(once it appears in Various App stores)
*Create your account
*Click the Get FueledUp button.
The App picks up your location via GPS, you can seek to change that if you want by selecting an area with the use of the pin.
*Fill out the request form- Select how many liters, select delivery time, and add any other information you desire
*Press request Once this is done, our customer service team would be notified who will immediately notify our truckers who will affect delivery.
The delivery time however is based on the stipulated option selected by user.
The entire process is seamless and real time to ensure swift response to consumer behaviour.
How cost effective will your products be?
Will you comply with official regulated pump price? This is because apparently you are neither a black market nor a filling station or do you also have a license to market petroleum products?
As you know, there is no pegged price, just a capped price with a retail band to work with, FueledUp would offer competitive pricing making sure we allow customer to save.
What should Nigerians expect from fueledUp?
FueledUp will be dedicated to creating convenience for the daily user, nothing less than that.
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