As a leading international oil and gas company with a long tradition, the MOL Group operates in more than 40 countries and employs nearly 28,000 people. In the Czech Republic, MOL Czech Republic operates the second largest network of petrol stations with 303 stations. Due to the expiration of the contract with the service station security provider, a tender for a new partner was launched in accordance with MOL regulations.
The tender was won by M2C, which, through its technology division Innovis, has been providing MOL with complete security for petrol stations from the camera system through the alarm and emergency security system since last May. The main tasks are the installation and maintenance of CCTV systems according to the client's specifications and standards. "Our cooperation includes the connection of all stations to the alarm recieving center (ARC). We have a predefined intervention plan for each facility. If a facility is breached, a sensor is immediately activated to signal the incident to the ARC and we then send a response unit to the station. Especially in large cities such as Prague or Brno, the intervention unit can be on site in a matter of minutes," says Vendula Kadlecová, Service Delivery Manager at Innovis, M2C Technology Division.
Innovis continues to introduce and provide new technologies to its clients, including the Space Surveillance Center service, which enables even more sophisticated incident response. "We are currently in discussions with MOL representatives about connecting the network of petrol stations to remote monitoring. This allows the operator to have an immediate view of the critical location in the event of a disturbance, followed by a lightning response in the form of contacting the Police of the Czech Republic or sending a response unit," Kadlecová says.
Innovis technologies also offer opportunities in the fight against internal crime. The client was presented with services that they are actively considering using for their gas station security. "These are analytical functions that allow us to monitor goods on the counters and identify cases of theft, especially of alcohol and tobacco products," says Vendula Kadlecová. Monitoring vehicle registration plates could also play an important role in cases where customers drive away after refuelling without paying. The client's systems capture and record vehicle registration plates, enabling it to deal effectively with the Police of the Czech Republic in such incidents.
MOL also places great emphasis on accurate fuel metering when fuel is dispensed from tankers into the tanks of its service stations. Security systems are strategically set up and positioned to clearly show that the operator has accurately rolled all fuel from the tanker into the tank, minimising the possibility of leakage.
Recovery phase and further development
Last year, M2C launched a renovation project that includes the installation of new camera systems and optimization of the security infrastructure. "By the end of the year, we plan to renovate 118 buildings. Depending on their size, each petrol station is equipped with a sufficient number of cameras and other security systems such as door magnets, smoke detectors and motion sensors," Kadlecová says.
Innovis plays a key role in ensuring the smooth operation and safety of MOL service stations in the Czech Republic. Every working day, and often even on weekends, several service teams are in operation and ready to intervene whenever needed. Innovis technicians are on call around the clock and perform remote equipment management, which includes monitoring and dealing with emergencies. Between July 1, 2023 and April 26, 2024, the team handled an impressive 1,484 incidents at MOL stations, with 1,207 calls recorded to address various situations.
This strategy and the commitment of technical staff has enabled a high standard of service to be maintained, which translates directly into client satisfaction and overall operational efficiency. MOL places great emphasis on speed of response and technological equipment, which Innovis continuously improves through the use of advanced technologies and processes. This collaboration is an ideal example of the effective combination of technological innovation and practical application to ensure the safety and smooth operation of service stations.
According to Kadlecová, cooperation with MOL is very smooth and efficient. "The client is satisfied with our services, we meet regularly, discuss the current agenda and plan the next steps. We are able to resolve all requests quickly together," she adds.
Jaromír Kulha, Area Security Leader MOL Czech Republic, shared his experience and insights from successful cooperation with us.
Our cooperation started in the middle of last year and first we had to get to know each other because we are a specific customer. We have a key contact person assigned at Innovis who is responsible for many tasks. With our extensive retail network of more than 300 stations across the country, this means a large number of requests. We have security and CCTV systems at all stations that need servicing over time. In the tender, we set out the terms and conditions and the volume of tasks required, but the fact that we have 300 branches brings many daily or weekly requirements. This presented a logistical problem of how to cover the entire Czech Republic efficiently and meet our demanding requirements for response times. However, I have to commend Innovis because they handled it very well. They have solved many problems remotely through telephone support with on-site station operators. As a result, many problems can be resolved late in the evening via ARC, which helps significantly with response times. However, this must have been quite challenging for Innovis at the beginning of the cooperation.
The main reason was the fact that the contract with the previous contractor was ending, so a new tender was issued, where we had several key requirements based on previous experience. Based on their evaluation, M2C came out as the best future partner. M2C convinced us, with its ability to communicate effectively and respond flexibly to our specific needs, that the tender set-up was the right one. Their transparent and reliable approach to communication and adherence to schedules were key factors. Smoother project progress and better use of our resources were essential to our decision making.
We consider remote access and service to be the most important. This significantly saves us the cost of physical trips and shortens response time, which allows us to get systems up and running faster. We also appreciate the quick and helpful communication with the Innovis contact person who can adapt to our specific requirements. Innovis' ability to respond flexibly to changes and reschedule if, for example, our component deliveries are delayed is key for us. Another major positive is the functional and regularly updated portal where we keep track of our joint projects, their development and costs. We have everything transparently recorded in one place.
This collaboration allows us to better manage unexpected situations and use our resources more efficiently.
Innovis' quick response helps us minimize damage during basic troubleshooting, such as when something doesn't work in the evening. By acting quickly, we can be sure that potentially insecure objects are eliminated overnight. We also appreciate the ARC service, including the quick response to our alarm signals. We see this approach as a preventative measure to avoid losses, which is key for us. In this way, Innovis makes a significant contribution to the protection of our service stations.
We currently deal with internal crime primarily through our own internal processes. We have a colleague in the monitoring centre who is dedicated to these issues. We are not yet using Innovis ARC to detect internal crime, but it is an area we would like to develop further with Innovis management. We have already met at the Space surveillance centre and were very interested in the possibilities of using the analytical software that the M2C technology division offers. We currently detect internal crime manually, using exports from systems and subsequent human analysis of transactions and time records. This process is time consuming and lacks the analytical capabilities that could identify suspicious behavior more quickly and efficiently. Innovis technologies could help by providing automated analytics that could, for example, identify irregularities in transactions and generate alerts for suspicious activity. This is a topic we are now discussing on both sides, as we believe this analytical capability could significantly help us in the fight against internal crime and fuel leakage.
Currently, in terms of physical security of the stations, we have CCTV and alarm systems in place and they are working well. A new feature that we are planning to introduce and that we have already discussed with Innovis is fog generators for our stores. This technology is linked to the alarm system and in the event of an alarm activation, such as a break-in, the fog generator will instantly fill the entire space with a thick aerosol. This aerosol makes it impossible for the thief to navigate the area, forcing him to quickly leave the scene because he will not be able to see what he wants to steal. This innovation will help us increase the security of our stores by making it harder for thieves to steal specific goods such as alcohol, cigarettes or other premium goods that are often targeted. We believe that implementing this technology in partnership with Innovis will significantly enhance our security.
This example of collaboration shows how an effective and proactive approach to security can make a significant contribution to asset protection and improved operational processes. M2C, through its technology division Innovis, continues to provide a high level of service and security to MOL service stations and its customers across the country.
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