2023: A Year of Fueling Innovation

Published on January 15, 2024

2023 was another year of exciting evolution in the fuel and convenience retail landscape, driven by emerging solutions and shifting consumer preferences. At Dover Fueling Solutions® (DFS), we aim to help retailers stay at the forefront of the fueling industry, and 2023 was no different. Our year was defined by new partnerships and new product launches, in addition to advanced technologies and innovation in consumer experience that we believe will accelerate the success of fueling and convenience retailers going into 2024.

Powerful Partnerships

Revolutionizing customer engagement at the fuel dispenser

Last year, we announced two major additions to our North America portfolio of products and services aimed at delivering best-in-class consumer experiences that support our customers’ bottom lines.

We introduced a new partnership with GRUBBRR® to launch a self-ordering solution, DX Market™ powered by GRUBBRR®, that will create more convenient customer experiences at the fuel dispenser and increase retailer revenue. The solution allows customers to order food and shop for c-store products while pumping gas, available on Wayne Ovation® fuel dispensers equipped with Anthem UX® technology. This partnership is rooted in our commitment to customer centricity. By enabling quicker, more streamlined experiences, we know we can help retailers increase their customer satisfaction while supporting profitability.

We also launched a new managed media service, DX Promote Auto™, which provides retailers with premium, ready-to-be-displayed advertising content via Anthem UX® equipped digital touchscreens. With the new service, a dedicated team manages and creates custom advertising to save retailers time while driving in-store foot traffic to increase sales.

The DX Promote Auto™ service originated from feedback our customers shared. Many small and medium-sized businesses lack the resources to roll out targeted on-site advertising with features like day-parting and customized content, but they still want the benefits it can provide in their forecourt. With real-world results demonstrating Anthem UX® platform’s ability to increase sales for promoted items by as much as 51%, we know that targeted media is a powerful tool. Tailored advertising helps customers more easily evolve their customer experiences and boost bottom lines, and now it’s available with lower resource requirement.

Advancing Fuel Information Technology to Fuel Fleets Forward

At the end of 2023, we announced two new DFS partnerships – one with Click & Find in the European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region and another with Bottomline in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region – to enhance retailer efficiencies with Fuel Volume Monitoring and Tracking, as well as Supply Chain Optimization.

The collaboration between DFS and Click & Find enables fuel retailers and fuel transportation companies to take full control of their transport operations, mitigate risks and theft, and streamline operations with optional services. The comprehensive fuel transportation volume monitoring and tracking solution, in conjunction with ProGauge magnetostrictive probe technology, allows retailers to monitor loading and unloading transportation activities and ensure accurate fuel deliveries, while also receiving priority alarms if any abnormalities should occur in transit. In addition, this solution can help safeguard fuel assets by mitigating the risk of mistreatment and theft during the transportation phase. The integrated DFS and Click & Find solution will provide industry-leading security and reassurance to fuel retailers from the moment fuel is loaded into transport through to delivery at the designated service station.

The partnership between DFS and Bottomline will bring supply chain optimization – from depot to tank – to a wide variety of retailers in the MEA region. Through this partnership, a Supply Chain Optimization Solution has been created to save fuel retailers a great deal of money. The Bottomline software can be used to plan, execute, track, and reconcile deliveries from depot to tank. The algorithms support planners to increase and enhance trucking efficiencies. The user-friendly and intuitive software screens show real time truck and fuel station data, which helps planners improve their responsiveness to operational issues.

Bridging the gap between EV chargers and the remaining forecourt system

In addition to the above, DFS also announced its partnership with ICASA Energy Solutions (ICASA) to offer DX Power™, DFS’ seamless electric vehicle (EV) payment solution, in Europe.

In today’s fuel retail environment, most EV chargers run separately to the main point-of-sale (POS) and outdoor payment systems resulting in customers requiring a roaming contract or registration to pay via charge cards. As a modular and open cloud-based platform, DX Power™ can interface with any EV charger and Charge Point Operator to provide a frictionless customer journey. This solution seamlessly bridges the gap between EV chargers and the remaining forecourt system, helping streamline retail sites as they transition to supporting a new way of powering vehicles.

DFS and ICASA, a major player in integrated, end-to-end cloud solutions for the management of energy activities, established a strategic partnership after years of successful and intensive cooperation. In conjunction with Prizma, DFS’ connected mobility and convenience hub, and the integrated ICASA solution, DX Power™ can provide station operators with improved visibility and control over all EV transactions and offer flexible payment options.

Fueling Retailers Forward with New Technology

2023 was the official launch year of DX Power™ in the European, Middle East and Africa region. DX Power ™ is a solution that integrates electric vehicle (EV) chargers with Prizma, DFS’ connected mobility and convenience hub, to provide retailers with improved visibility and control, and customers with flexible payment options. DX Power™ leverages the Prizma ecosystem and existing loyalty programs on fuel retail sites to ensure EV chargers are included in transactions through the point-of-sale (POS). This gives customers the additional ability to pay with cash, as well as traditional bank (credit or debit), local account and fleet cards. Facilitating the re-use of existing forecourt equipment, DX Power™ – in conjunction with Prizma – optimizes investments and provides retailers with clear visibility and control over payment options, and the status of EV chargers on their forecourt.

The Fuzion Prizma Automation Server was also launched last year, specifically for the Middle East and Africa region. As a trailblazing automation server, Fusion Prizma combines DFS’ industry leading forecourt controller (“FCC”) and “POS” system to provide seamless connectivity between forecourt equipment. Fusion Prizma is manufactured with dedicated and durable hardware to ensure it is more robust in hot weather climates, to withstand increased temperatures and dust. It also makes use of both standard and proprietary protocols and is future proofed to easily accept new devices and protocols as they’re needed – with the aim of making life easier for fuel retailers.

In 2023, we also took steps to support the operational efficiency of our customers. We rolled out the ProGauge MagLink LX Plus automatic tank gauge console with pressurized line leak detection (PLLD) in North America, a premium upgrade to our longstanding family of tank gauge consoles. With greater scalability, flexibility and connectivity, the MagLink LX Plus console is our most sophisticated yet. Its enhanced graphical display, intuitive swipe technology, faster processor and simplified reporting capabilities help retailers of all sizes to effectively monitor and measure any liquid on site. We are incredibly proud to bring this product to market globally.

Driving Consumer Insight with The Future of Fueling Report

We unveiled our second annual consumer research report coinciding with the 2023 NACS Show, which this year, focused on innovation and experience at the fuel dispenser. The report explored how consumers' elevated expectations are impacting the fuel and convenience retail sector, while investigating the ways cutting-edge innovation can secure customer loyalty. When surveying consumers, we found that 50% are likely to switch fuel stations for a significantly enhanced experience — a call to action for retailers across the country.

Going into 2024, fuel station owners who want to gain a competitive edge should look beyond the basics to appeal to emerging consumer preferences -such as self-service solutions, advanced payment technologies and smart, customized experiences at the dispenser. Explore the full report at the link below for more consumer insight to guide your strategy.

Thank you to all our fantastic distributors, partners, and customers for making 2023 a year of great progress. We have a lot to look forward to, as we’re thrilled to share more powerful products and solutions and partnerships with the fueling and convenience retail market in 2024. Our top priority is always to keep our customers a step ahead of the competition — with their fuel management, forecourt technologies, marketing strategies, customer engagement and more.