On the 20^th anniversary of internet in Vietnam, Board of Management member and Deputy Director General responsible for business of the Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex/PLX) speaks to the Cong Thuong (Industry & Trade) magazine about the role of internet to Petrolimex’s production and business activities.

November 2017 marked the 20th year of internet in Vietnam. Could you please elaborate impacts of internet on PLX’s operation?

Since its inception in Vietnam 20 years ago, internet has caused profound changes in the socio-economic activities as well as people’s life, which helps shorten the information and knowledge gap between Vietnam and the world.

For Petrolimex which specialises in trading products originated from import and then re-exported to Laos and Cambodia, internet has been applied since its early days in Vietnam.

Petrolimex has used internet connection for internal management and governance as well as for information exchange inside and outside the enterprise.

Quite a few Petrolimex applications and services have used internet connection, particularly ERP (enterprise resource planning management software),EGAS(service stations management software),eOffice,Email, Website, automation in goods management at storages, depots, petrol stations, and so on. Recently, Petrolimex haslaunched the system of Petrolimex petrol station on the Google map, implemented thee-billproject as well as solutions to install a camera system connecting Petrolimex and customs authorities ensure full inspection and supervision of the petrol import process at Petrolimex oil depots in accordance with the State regulations.

These applications have contributed to reducing costs whilst enhancing performance of Petrolimex and more importantly they provide updated, public, transparent, and trustworthy information for not only Petrolimex but also for all those who have been and will be interested in Petrolimex activities.

I still remember that before internet was available in Vietnam, Petrolimex member companies had to spend a great deal of efforts, time and finance to make data transfer to the Corporation (now Group) whilst the data quality was low. Sometimes overtime work was required to transfer data repeatedly. Thus, the synthesis of reports on the whole Petrolimex consumed a lot of time and effort.

Now, thanks to internet connection:

We can easily obtain data from detail to general from the concentrated data source without waiting for member companies’ making reports, which helps the Group and member companies’ leaders make timely decisions directing business activities; The synthesis of reports and publication of information by Petrolimex always abide by requirements of State bodies in the context that Petrolimex is a large-scale pubic company listed on Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HOSE).

The internal information exchange has been improved, and through internet and internal management applications, Petrolimex staff and leaders can exchange, report, direct or receive directions for business activities round the clock. Thanks to the management and accounting software systems, qualification and skills, sense of discipline, and the spirit of collaborative sharing among employers in the sector have been enhanced.

Communications with the public have also been improved as Petrolimex has used the websites as the official portal to interact with partners and customers. The website system of Petrolimex has satisfied the requirement for information of people and State management bodies as well, especially through columns such as “petrol transparency”, “press release”, “investors”, “consumption guide”...

This is to say internet has been drastically changing the way PLX manages and governs the enterprise’s activities.

As Chairman of Piacom, how do you view the role and position ofPiacom in PLX activities and as an independent enterprise operating in the Information Technology (IT) area?

Upon the increasingly high management demand, Petrolimex established an Information Technology and Automation Centre called Piac in 1995.

In 2003, Piac was equitised and renamedPiacom, specialising in IT and automation. Over the past 20 years, Piacom has always attached itself to the Petrolimex development process.

Piacom products and services contribute to improving Petrolimex’s management system quality and productivity, and making petroleum business much more transparent.

Piacom products provided for PLX include Enterprise resource planning software SAP_ERP; Solution to blend bio fuel; Service station management software (EGAS); Automation systems for oil depots and petrol stations. These products are also accompanying PLX in its entry into the world’s fourth industrial revolution4.0.

Piacom has not only provided products and services for PLX but also for petroleum distributors across the country, and even exported to Laos.

Piacom has been maintaining its leading position in petroleum IT and automation in Vietnam.

PLX has launched the non-cash payment service for card holders ofNapas member banks when purchasing petrol at PLX petrol stations and is working on an e-bill project. Could you please detail results of the non-cash payment project and progress of the e-bill project?

Petrolimex has worked with the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (Napas), enablingpayment by ATM cards at all Petrolimex’s petrol stations as of August 1, 2017.After four months, the outcome proves pretty positive.

By November 26, 2017, the number of ATM card transactions reached 38,273 totalling nearly VND44 billion (US$1.93 million). Average monthly growth is 10% of sales.

Regarding thee-billproject, we continue working closely with the consultant to provide solutions as scheduled. As of January 1, 2018 the project will be piloted in four units (The mother company, Petrolimex Quang Ninh, Petrolimex Ha Son Binh, and Petrolimex Can Tho), and expected to be implemented in all other 40 member companies on April 1, 2018.

Thus, it can be said that PLX has alwaystaken the lead in applying advanced science and technology into its production activities; made full use of internet since early days and proved the effectiveness of internet usage.

PLX officials and labourers will keep exploiting the true values of internet to serve production – business activities and learning cause to improve their own knowledge; and to know how to prevent and stay away from pitfalls, negative effects on internet (deceitful and false information which is against the State and ignites violence, religious division, extreme nationalism, and so on).

Nowadays, internet is creating new business modes, and new products and services, improving productivity whist reducing product and service price, and enhancing the enterprise’s competitiveness; therefore, reinforced internet usage in business activities will be the core trend in the fourth industrial revolution4.0.

Thank you!