IBM is implementing an RFID-based container tracking solution for Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), a Fortune 500 company and a leading refining and marketing organization in India. The deal reportedly is one of the single largest implementations in India for RFID-based tracking solutions and involves infrastructure services, business consulting services and middleware solutions.

IBM will design, deploy and integrate the RFID solution for tracking LPG cylinders from plant to the end consumer. The project is expected to cover 500,000 cylinders in the initial phase. HPCL intends to evaluate the technology and deploy the same in a phased manner to cover the entire supply chain from bottling plant, logistics, and distributors to the end consumers.

"Considering the magnitude of our operations, which continues to grow significantly, it has become imperative for us to bring greater efficiencies in our supply chain," says G. A. Shirwaikar, executive director-LPG for HPCL. "We are happy to partner with IBM, as their global expertise in deploying such solutions would help HPCL strengthen its supply chain of LPG cylinders end to end, and finally result in significant operational benefits for the organization. We also expect to roll out this solution to other plants in India (an additional 42) besides extending it to dealers for an integrated supply chain."

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