Tanking up at gas stations in the UAE just got easier, thanks to radio-frequency identification tags.
With the help of a new automated, paperless system, drivers simply motor up to the service station, refuel with the help of an attendant and drive off. There’s no need to pay on site, or even waste time trying to decide between Special, Super and Whathaveyou.
The service, called Vehicle Identification Pass, or ViP, has been rolled out to 112 gas stations run by the Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc), and is available at all Enoc and Eppco stations.
How it works
ViP is an innovative technology comprising an electronic security tag mounted near the fuel tanks. This allows the nozzle to automatically recognise the fuelling preferences individuals have set for their car, calculate the amount of fuel filled from the dispenser, and deduct the money automatically from the individual’s ViP account. This speeds up the refuelling process and enables customers to better manage their accounts and set budgets for each fuelling transaction.
“The ViP offering is an outcome of our commitment to advancing the Dubai Government’s Smart City initiative. Innovation lies at the core of all our offerings which eventually is aimed at enhancing customer experience and satisfaction,” says Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO of Enoc.
The ViP system uses radio-frequency to log in the details of the purchase at a secured database at ENOC which calculates all parameters associated with the customer account.
Documents
All 112 stations on the network have a one-stop shop where customers can buy the ViP smart tag and have it installed on their cars after presenting their Emirates ID or passport copy, and the car’s registration card. Each package costs Dh250/unit. Customers can set up as many personal vehicles per account as they want, thus enabling large families or individuals with multiple vehicles to better manage their fuel budgets.
After each transaction, customers receive an SMS and an email with the amount deducted and the remaining balance in their accounts. In addition, registered customers will have access to a dedicated portal where customers can log in to access their information in real time and manage fuel budgets, as well as top-up their accounts. Top-ups can also be made with cash or card at all c-stores in service stations.
“Since we launched ViP for corporate customers two years ago, over 75,000 commercial vehicles, including 8,000 taxis, were able to benefit from this technology. Over 3,000 of our commercial customers were able to save four to six per cent annually on their fuel expenses and reduce waiting time at the stations, thus increasing their operational efficiency,” says Burhan Al Hashemi, Managing Director, Enoc Retail. “Now, by extending this service to the general public, we are passing on the benefits of this technology, which are real and time-tested. We hope ViP also becomes a unique tool for people to plan their budgets as all information related to their fuel usage becomes available at the click of a button.”
The next step is the launch of the Enocpay mobile app, which will aggregate all current and future payment methods into a single interface. It is expected to be available on iOS and Android phones by Q4 2016.
