Soon, you can purchase fuel and supplies from Woqod on ‘post-paid’ basis
Qatar Fuel Company (Woqod) has fitted more than 6,000 vehicles with electronic microchips under the smart fuelling and payment system launched in January this year, a top official of the company told Qatar Tribune.
Speaking at the company's event in Doha, Woqod Chief Executive Officer Ibrahim Jaham Al Kuwari said vehicles fitted with microchips are among 60,000 corporate vehicles registered with the company.
Al Kuwari said Woqod will soon announce major discounts on microchips' installation to encourage vehicle owners to go in for the new system.
According to sources, at present the installation of a chip costs QR500 for companies and QR350 for private vehicles.
The chip is installed on the right side of the vehicle's fuel mouth. As soon as the nozzle of the fuel dispenser touches the mouth of the petrol tank, a green light will flash, an indication that the chip is active. The light will continue to flash until the fuel nozzle is removed.
“We want to encourage all vehicle owners to adopt this system by offering discounts on one-time installation charges,” he said.
Al Kuwari said Woqod aims to cover the rest of its registered vehicles by this year-end.
Besides registered corporate vehicles, he said, the company has started offering the service to non-registered and individual vehicle owners.
“We’ve started fitting microchips in cars owned by individuals,” Al Kuwari said.
While the new system has drawn a huge response in the corporate sector, individual vehicle owners too are finding it very convenient, he said.
The new system, which works on a post-paid format, will go a long way in reducing long queues at fuel stations by eliminating cash transactions.
Once a vehicle is fitted with the electronic microchip, the owner is issued a card and informed about any transaction on a registered mobile number.
AL Kuwari said customers will be able to use the card for car wash and purchases at Sidra stores.
"All the bills will be sent to the consumer at the end of the month. It will be like post-paid telephone bills. We’re going to implement it soon," he said.
Woqod is working to issue prepaid cards that can be recharged at its fuel stations.
Courtesy: Qatar-tribune.com
No I think many people will want it. It is practical. How many times did you had to go to the ATM before going to the pump? or filled only 10 or 20 riyals because you did not have enough cash in your pocket, or the wife or the kids have borrowed some money in the morning? How about around the end of the month? It can be practical. I am not certain it is 350 QAR practical. SO I will probably install it once it is free or at least cheaper.
However there is a major question that needs to be answered. What happened once you sell the car? Can the postpaid be changed to a prepaid? can you just cancel the account? What about any prepaid cash in the account? What if the new owner does not want this in his car? can it be removed?
syed: I think most of those taking up the offer will be commercial establishments who want to better monitor what their drivers are spending on fuel..
It makes no financial sense for you or I
great cost cutting measures while increasing their revenue. but why we should shoulder the cost of installation, it must be made free for individual atleast. woqod will be making profits in the future by reducing manpower in the stations, woqod will surely have self service machines / stations
True..... But then this is the case for most organizations here ..
Brite ....got your point...But what I tried to indicate at was the 'priority of woqod', which doesn't have customers at its top!
dikard: You are correct to a point.. By deploying such systems , they are trying to cut down on fraud and also perhaps reduce the workforce at the same time ... Now a single employee can tend to more pumps , since he doesn't need to worry about collecting cash..
I found it quite bewildering on part of Woqod that rather than focusing on improving the conveniences of the customers by increasing the number of petrol stations, they are engrossed in finding new avenues to earn money...
How is it going to benefit the customers is something I am not able to understand!
Prepaid is better than postpaid.
Prepaid is better than postpaid.
Many people have - "Qatar Fuel Company (Woqod) has fitted more than 6,000 vehicles ...."
Who will pay 350 Rials at the beginning ? ................
Will get one today - joys