Gulf Oil, which licenses its intellectual property to a number of gas stations across the country, is piloting a mobile payments product, which is to launch in select New England and New York markets.

Gulf Oil’s new offering will be called Gulf Pay, and will be accessible through a mobile application. Powered by P97’s PetroZone mobile commerce platform, Gulf Pay will enable Gulf customers to navigate to the nearest Gulf gas station, pay for fuel at the pump, and purchase products inside the convenience store utilizing secure mobile payment technology.

“Customer experience is a priority at Gulf as we aim to constantly evolve with our customers’ needs,” said Todd O’Malley, chief commercial officer at Gulf Oil. “Mobile payment technology is changing the retail experience and the Gulf Pay app enhances transaction security and further delivers on our commitment to provide high-quality products and services in a fast and convenient environment.”

Gulf Pay
Gulf Oil is looking to offer a “convenient, secure, and seamless shopping experience for customers by allowing payment authorization directly from the comfort of their vehicle” through the Gulf Pay app.

Users can also use the app to access live pricing and reliable directions and view station offerings.

Gulf Pay will also be piloted in the New Jersey area, where laws dictate that drivers cannot fuel their own cars.

“The consumer can activate the pump from the comfort of their vehicle, minimizing the overall time spent on-site,” said a Gulf Oil spokesperson. “The attendant will see the payment process as if they had dipped their card into the card reader.

“The Gulf Pay app streamlines the entire fueling experience and ensures each transaction is secure.”

The Gulf Pay app will also provide exclusive offers on both fuel and in-store products at participating locations, and will allow customers to tailor in-app preferences to fit their specific needs.

Mobile payments
The pilot program will launch at Gulf retail fuel locations throughout select New England and New York markets in the first half of 2017 with plans to extend the app’s availability into additional markets in 2018.

Gulf plans to expand the Gulf Pay app by teaming up with leading mobile wallets and technologies, and has signed an agreement to partner with Mastercard and will accept Masterpass through the app. This partnership will further improve offerings, capabilities and the payment experience for Gulf and Masterpass customers.

Masterpass itself recently expanded its global coverage and highlighted its many features designed to give users comprehensive financial control in their smartphones while continuing to push international rollouts (see story).

And Walgreens pursued a similar mobile payments approach to Gulf Oil, integrating its loyalty program with Android Pay and allowing users to seamlessly earn points and pay via mobile in stores (see story).

“The retail payment experience is changing and customers are looking for more convenient and secure ways to pay,” the spokesperson said. “At Gulf, we aim to constantly evolve to fit our customers’ needs.

“The ability to pay at the pump and in-store through the Gulf Pay app further delivers on our commitment to provide quality products and services in a fast and secure environment.”