The popularity of electric vehicles is growing at an exponentially fast rate. According to Forbes, in Q2 of 2022, electric vehicle sales accounted for 5.6% of the total auto market, up from 2.7% in Q2 of 2021. While some of the growth can be attributed to drivers desiring an environmentally friendlier method of travel, the …

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From Serpent to Servant: The History of the Mobile App  What was the first mobile app available for on-phone entertainment? When asked this question, most people will automatically (and understandably) think of their first iPhone. But would you believe the first mobile app was actually offered on the Nokia 6110? For those of you that …

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The summer of 2022 has brought high temperatures and high gas prices. With the national average price of regular gasoline at historic highs of $4.57 per gallon, convenience retailers are seeing a decrease in in-store traffic and sales. According to a new survey released by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), 59% of retailers …

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The recently published NACS Convenience Voices 2021 survey shows us the impact that digital offerings and loyalty programs have had on the convenience store industry in recent years. According to Leroy Kelsey, NACS’ director of research, “A byproduct of retailers pivoting to more digital offers during the pandemic was that shoppers are adopting the industry’s …

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It’s a well-known fact that human beings have relied on some form of payments system for quite some time now. In fact, the original form of payment exchange (the barter system) dates all the way back to 6000 B.C. Here, the local farmer would take a bushel of apples to trade with the city baker …

Continue reading “From The Apple to The App: How We Got to Mobile Payments”

As all the emerging trends in mobility continue to drive society into a new transportation paradigm, it’s easy to get lost in translation. The term “mobility,” even in its most generic reference, now refers to so much more than just your car. It is fast becoming a layered approach to not only transportation, but the …

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It’s hard to engage millennials at retail fueling stations—especially when they may not have anything to fuel up. New research shows that millennials are slowly becoming disenchanted with the idea of driving, citing maintenance costs and congestion near large cities as reasons to opt for alternate transportation like bikes, buses, and the ever-popular rideshare.  However, there’s a …

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Think about all the various messages you receive in a day. Some are verbal, some are in your inbox, some are written and others are on your phone. Which ones do you give your attention to? Most likely, it’s those that come straight to the forefront of the messaging clutter. Americans now spend more than 3.5 …

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You can work long and hard to create digital offers and coupons for your QSR brand. However,if they aren’t relevant, valuable, or easy to redeem, they won’t convert, negating your investment and leaving you little to show in terms of ROI.   But there are a few surefire ways you can guarantee that the digital …

Continue reading “5 Key Ingredients of the Most Successful Digital Offers”

Let this sink in: this year, mobile will finally surpass TV as the medium attracting the most viewer minutes in the U.S. That means smartphone users are now spending more than three hours and 35 minutes per day on their mobile device. That number will only increase as more media, shopping, social interaction and other aspects of …

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In Part 1 of this post, we discussed the process of finding, sorting and rationalizing customer Personally Identifiable Information (PII).  We then considered the process of gaining customer consent for data maintained inside of your marketing systems.  The age and organization of the data was considered as well as strategies to reduce the amount of …

Continue reading “Marketing Meets GDPR, Part 2”

For decades we have been hearing about the importance of maintaining a healthy diet, the importance of moderation, of balance and of exercise. And for any diet, we know that not only is caloric intake important, but also the type of intake. Sugar, starch, protein, fat and fiber, it all has meaning and it all …

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Data is everywhere. Everyday consumers entrust their personally identifiable information and account numbers to online service providers and retailers around the world. This practice enables companies to deliver a new level of convenience to customers which drives a company’s operational efficiency and profits. However, holding a consumer’s most personal and private information also requires a …

Continue reading “Security and Compliance 101: What You Need to Know”

Consumer packaged goods companies are driving foot traffic to convenience stores and combating the downturn in the grocery industry with custom mobile offers. The average consumer only visits a c-store out of immediate necessity. Traditionally, a consumer arrives to fill up their vehicle or quickly pick up an everyday item. It’s rare that a consumer …

Continue reading “The CPG Opportunity: 4 Reasons CPGs Should Pursue the C-Store Market”

The retail industry is at a crossroads. With more consumers opting for a wider selection of products online, brick and mortar stores are increasingly being seen as quick, on-the-spot locations that serve immediate needs. More convenient still are the c-stores on every corner and at the pump that provide consumers with fast access to the products they …

Continue reading “Mobile Offers Continue to Increase Sales in the Convenience Industry”

New age smartphone capabilities allow consumers to remain constantly connected and are the driving force behind the cliché, “there’s an app for that.” Online retailers and service providers across the globe are adopting these capabilities to revolutionize the consumer experience with the inception of mobile payments. Speed, simplicity, and convenience are just a few reasons …

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PETROZONE API PARTNER INTEGRATIONS PetroZone is revolutionizing the retail fuels industry with an API platform designed to connect leading oil companies and convenience stores with existing apps, mobile payment solutions, loyalty programs, digital marketing services, and point of sale systems to provide the optimal consumer experience. PETROZONE API FOR MOBILE APP PROVIDERS  P97 provides the …

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Mobile commerce is transforming the way consumers pay for gas by bridging the gap between what consumers want and what fuel retailers can provide. By enabling customers to locate and pay for fuel directly from their phones, tablets, and cars, mobile commerce is adding a new level of convenience to the chore of getting gas. …

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Convenience stores seem to be defying odds when it comes to retail trends. While big box retailers have seen a significant decline in revenue over the past 10 years, convenience stores have stood their ground. In fact, they’re thriving amidst the retail downturn. The number of convenience stores in the U.S. increased to a record …

Continue reading “The Future of Mobile Ordering is Here”

It seems every aspect of our lives now has a mobile component. You can get a ride, a hotel room, clothes, or even fresh produce from your phone. You can pay bills on-the-go or even buy gas at the pump.  But smartphones and apps aren’t a new concept. What’s new is the speed at which …

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To consumers searching for ways to make commerce faster, safer, and more convenient, the benefits of using a digital wallet seem to be undisputed. Encrypted, tokenized transactions keep card data secure. Replacing physical wallets, cards, and cash with an invisible payment makes commerce easier than ever. Instant access to discounts, digital offers, and a customized …

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Technology has transformed the traditional purchase journey into a series of micro-moments in which we turn to our devices to access information and take action instantly.  “These are the moments when we want help informing our choices or making decisions,” Google said in a white paper. “For marketers, these moments are an open invitation to engage. …

Continue reading “Retail Fueling Merchants Win Big by Focusing on Experience”

EMV changes, security concerns, and technology enhancements have raised the stakes for competition amongst retail fueling brands. Oil Companies and merchants are doubling down on loyalty programs as a way to gain a competitive brand advantage and to learn more valuable margin-increasing behavior about consumers. In Nielsen’s Global Loyalty-Sentiment Survey, 72% of respondents said they would …

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Got mobile on your mind? Given that mobile payments are predicted to be nearing their tipping point, there are very few businesses that don’t. Getting ready for a mobile payment program is imminent, but it doesn’t have to be daunting.  P97’s PetroZone® combines cloud-based mobile payments with a powerful digital marketing platform, not only equipping …

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P97 Clients: As you may have already heard, the city of Houston and surrounding areas are experiencing unprecedented flooding, road closures and climatic devastation as events continue to unfold due to Hurricane Harvey. Many of your Houston corporate employees and team members are also affected but rest assured, we are committed to your success and …

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