How fuel retail companies can win customers of the future

How fuel retail companies can win customers of the future

Authors

6 minute read 20 Oct 2020
Related topics
Industrials
Consumer Products
Transforming retail
Oil and gas

How will developments in energy transition and electric vehicles reshape refueling demand and expectations of non-fuel retail services?

In brief
  • The rise of alternative fuels and autonomous vehicles will reduce the need for traditional fuels and affect fuel retail companies’ revenues.
  • Fuel retail companies can optimize their reach to customers through hyper-localization and hyper-convenience.
  • Fuel retail companies should consider key strategic actions to be ready for changes that will transform their industry.

As the COVID-19 pandemic drives remote working and reduces the need for daily commuting, the quantity of fuel sold has notably decreased. Notwithstanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of alternative fuels and autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the future will diminish the need for traditional fuels and impact revenue streams of fuel retail companies. How can these companies rebalance their revenue mix and grow customer relationships to realize more than refueling returns?

How EY can Help

Remaking the non-fuel retail experience

A visit to the non-fuel retail or convenience store section of a fuel station when one refuels the vehicle is a quintessential activity for vehicle owners today. By providing convenience to vehicle owners who wait to fuel up, non-fuel retail services are an integral component in the revenue makeup of fuel retail companies globally.
 

In European and North American economies, the share of operating profits for non-fuel retail is up to 40%–50%, while in Asian economies, it is significantly lower at less than 10%.1 This means there is untapped potential for fuel retail companies in Asia to build on this revenue-generating opportunity.
 

To do so, deciphering the future consumer is vital. Understanding customer needs and delivering a unique retail experience is key to gaining a competitive advantage.
 

An EY FutureConsumer.Now study in 2019 showed that artificial intelligence (AI) would need to be an integral part of the marketing and selling strategies of organizations across industries. In the future, AI will drive how and when consumers make purchases by learning about their unique preferences, encouraging them to shop only with brands that reflect their values and purpose. Data-led insights provided by AI will help organizations create personalized experiences for consumers and form deep, profitable relationships.
 

AI will also help redefine how consumers move and commute. Future fuel retail consumers will be looking for fun and differentiated retail experiences that engage them individually and encourage return visits.
 

How can fuel retail companies optimize their reach to customers? The answer lies in hyper-localization and hyper-convenience.

how fuel retail companies can win customers of the future
1

Chapter 1

Hyper-localization

By gathering consumer data, fuel retail companies can create differentiated retail experiences at each fuel retail station.

Today’s customers demand a differentiated experience and this extends to non-fuel retail. More than before, instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, companies need to utilize the most relevant digital tools and technologies available to serve the needs and preferences of fuel retail customers.

Retailers today have the capability to collect huge amounts of data at their sites and combine it with external data. By integrating store and point-of-sale data with third-party data from financial services, telecommunications and social media firms, and comparing it at a postal code level, this large dataset can profile the exact demographics of customers visiting a store. Such demographic information can include the customer’s age, income, driving patterns and shopping style, enabling fuel retail companies to better create a customized retail experience at each fuel retail station and site.

Woman shopping food online using a digital tablet at the kitchen, close-up view on a tablet screen. Concept of buying online using mobile devices
2

Chapter 2

Hyper-convenience

For the new generation of buyers, technology that makes the shopping experience touchless and quick adds to brand differentiation.

As consumers increasingly adopt digital means for their day-to-day activities, they expect a digitalized fuel retail experience.

Consumers today have already embraced digital consumption models in many ways, where their needs are identified and satisfied in real time and without the need for intermediaries. Such hyper-convenience expectations and trends have started to influence supply chain considerations, such as doorstep fuel delivery, in the fuel retail business.

Fuel retail companies offering non-fuel retail services will need to push the convenience frontier further. For the new generation of buyers, technology that makes the shopping experience touchless and quick adds to brand differentiation. This has led many retailers to increasingly consider cashless stores, automated kiosks, delivery by robot and interactive in-store digital displays.

Combining convenience with a localized experience adds a personalization dimension, which delights customers with easy, fun and adaptable experiences.

How EY can Help

Coupling refueling with routine shopping

Another trend that may drive fuel retailing is online, even automatic, routine purchases of products, such as groceries. If consumers buy groceries online, the retailer’s algorithm should be smart enough to present them with a shopping list that is close to what they usually buy on their own. Similarly, fuel retail companies can consider making fuel purchases part of such routines. For example, they could move the pump closer to the store and couple refueling with a drive-through grocery pickup.
 

While only a small fraction of grocery shopping happens online today, that is expected to change. Time scarcity will make this value proposition too compelling to ignore. Fuel retail companies need to partner with grocery retailers and technology companies to make this proposition work to their advantage.

Managing the bot’s decisions

With self-driving car technology expected to advance from geofenced testing to wide-scale adoption after 2030, there are expectations that the first phase of AVs in the market will be in the form of ridesharing vehicles. While the electric vehicle is an option, given the frequent refueling or charging needs of the ridesharing business, hybrid or internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles can be expected to form the majority of ridesharing AVs.

There are about 25 million drivers among Asia’s major ridesharing companies.2 Assuming that this equates to 25 million AVs, 50% of which are the ICE type, controlled by bots, then what should fuel retail companies do to ensure they get the maximum share of that market?

The answer varies, but dynamic pricing and strategic locations will be critical. The decision of bots on where to refuel will not be swayed by a better advertisement from a fuel retail company or better coffee at its non-fuel retail store. Bots make decisions based on data and will land on the option that is more economical based on analysis. Loyalty programs can play a key role, and fuel retail companies can implement complex loyalty programs and attract business through them.

Combining the convenience with a localized experience adds a personalization 
dimension, which delights customers with easy, fun and adaptable experiences.

Key strategic actions

To be ready for changes that will transform their industry, fuel retail companies should consider these actions:

  • Invest in a differentiated retail experience that includes, but is not focused on, vehicle fueling
  • Merge the fueling experience with other retail experiences beyond those currently provided by conventional convenience stores, as the profitability of fuel retail is closely tied to a convenience store’s shopping experience
  • Research fueling habits and how they fit into the consumer’s overall lifestyle, such as harnessing customer data to provide more targeted offerings or as a transition to the connected car and connected home space
  • Test alternative business models and evaluate performance based on key metrics that focus on how the retail experience affects brand recognition, brand favorability and the ability to market other alternative energy products (rooftop solar, batteries, shared mobility services) under the same brand

Summary

As the COVID-19 pandemic drives remote working and reduces the need for daily commuting, the quantity of fuel sold has notably decreased. The rise of alternative fuels and autonomous vehicles in the future is expected to reduce demand for traditional fuels and impact fuel retail companies’ revenues.

For fuel retail companies to rebalance their revenue mix and grow customer relationships, hyper-localization and hyper-convenience will be key.

About this article

Authors

Related topics
Industrials
Consumer Products
Transforming retail
Oil and gas

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.