The Future of Service Stations: Ludoil’s Multi-Service Vision
Overview
The service station market is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the need to adapt to an evolving environmental, economic, and regulatory landscape. In Italy, the sector shows contrasting dynamics: while the consumption of some traditional fuels is declining, prospects for alternative energy sources are on the rise. However, the number of service stations in the country continues to decrease. Against this backdrop, the service stations operated by the Ludoil Group – over 150 across Italy – are achieving record-breaking performance. In the first half of 2024, the average fuel dispensed per station was 8,727 liters, 5.46 times higher than the industry average. This continuous growth, supported by the optimization of the logistics-to-sales operational cycle, results from a meticulous process of digitalization and diversification (multi-energy and multi-service), aimed at gathering after-sales feedback to guide customer satisfaction initiatives.
Digitalization
Ludoil has completed an innovative R&D project leading to the implementation of the "Cumana" platform, a modular, data-driven system designed to precisely address the needs of service stations and market dynamics. Leveraging decision support system technologies, the platform collects, processes, and analyzes data from multiple sources, including the Ministry of Economic Development’s portal and the trading area of individual stations. Each day, prices from over 2,500 stations – representing 11% of the total in Italy – are monitored, with multiple checks conducted throughout the day. This monitoring is supported by AI algorithms that identify patterns and trends, facilitating the development of effective pricing policies.
The Service Station of the future is here
Transforming fuel stations into multi-service hubs presents an opportunity for all stakeholders. Beyond revitalizing otherwise obsolete or decommissioned retail points, Ludoil champions active participation in an energy transition process that directly impacts its core business and shapes the future for everyone. Alongside technological advancements, energy efficiency improvements and rebranding efforts have been launched across various units.
From a multi-service perspective, most retail points are evolving from their current configuration, focused solely on automobile refueling, into Mobility Points. These new hubs feature dedicated spaces for food & garden services, carbon-free solutions, and a strong emphasis on the introduction of biofuels, green gases such as green hydrogen and biomethane. Many Ludoil service stations are already equipped with charging stations, car wash facilities, and photovoltaic systems. These systems not only power the stations themselves but also provide green energy to motorists.
