Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited: Digitizing Payment Systems

In February 2019, D. K. Ram, the executive director of liquid petroleum gas at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), read a newspaper headline in his office in Mumbai. The paper reported that two delivery boys had been killed while returning to a distributor of BPCL after delivering gas cylinders. Ram thought of the risks to the safety of delivery people who were transporting cash they had collected from customers. He wondered whether BPCL should seek novel technologies to digitize last-mile delivery. Would BPCL choose to implement an all-encompassing digitization payment strategy, or would it execute a phased approach that entails incremental growth in the digital realm?

This case is designed for post-graduate courses focusing on strategy and digitization. It can serve as an illustration of the process of digitalization and the difficulties it presents for companies. As part of a strategy execution, it can serve as an introductory case. In a course on digitalization or digital strategy, this can serve as an introductory session on the strategic goals and effects of digitalization. The case can also be utilized upon completion of the main courses on competitive strategy or as part of designated elective courses.<br><br>After working through this case and assignment questions, students should be able to do the following:<br><br><ul><li>Explain the use of technology by a firm to advance its digital capabilities and change its operations.</li><li>Discuss the challenges faced by a firm during the digitalization process.</li><li>Describe the five domains of digital transformation in the context of a firm’s digital initiatives.</li><li>Analyze the actions necessary to make the digital transformation journey successful.</li></ul>

• Digitization
• Digital Transformation
• Digital Journey
• Digital Capabilities