Driven by experience.
The petrol station of the future

Trend

Petrol stations change. In times of e-mobility and autonomous driving, they are no longer just a place to refill fuel. They are a service point, a place to meet and experience. Convenience plays an increasingly important role, the fulfilment of all demands of the vehicle and the traveller. This must become the goal. The new fuel for petrol stations is the experience as spirit is what really drives people today... but what about tomorrow? Michaela Schölnberger, Engineering Director at umdasch Food Retail talks about the "petrol station of the future".

A new era in energy

Of course, when debating the filling stations of the future, electric vehicles would be the first point of call. E-mobility is already a big topic today, no only amongst filling stations trensd. According to a recent study by the EHI Retail Institute, 54% of retailers surveyed already offer charging stations for electric vehicles, a further 19% plan to do so.

Die Tankstelle der Zukunft
Image: Vlad Tchompalov

Bridging charging times

It is obvious why retailers in particular are involved in this. Long charging times for electric vehicles are not comparable to the time it takes to refuel with fossil fuels, so every opportunity is taken advantage of. Here we come to the actual question: What do filling stations have to offer in order to bridge these charging times?

Die Tankstelle der Zukunft
Image: MIT Design Lab

Social change

The concept of petrol stations and car parks must change fundamentally. One idea would be to create social hubs and co-working spaces where the customer can stay and "refuel" without wasting time. This goes hand in hand with a change in society. Work is increasingly being done from the home office or on the move, creating an obvious demand here.

Die Tankstelle der Zukunft
Image: MIT Design Lab

Creating experiences

Of course, one doesn´t only have work on the mind. On holiday trips with children, it's not just about getting from A to B, it's about how. An absolute must for future petrol stations and rest stops is an opportunity for recreation for the drivers and exciting entertainment for the children (and co-drivers). Both inevitably go hand in hand with a corresponding range of catering services.

Die Tankstelle der Zukunft
Image: umdasch

Service Point

The mobility of the future must also be rethought. Car sharing concepts are becoming more and more popular and filling stations can become logistics centres for this purpose. The filling station is also becoming a service point where people like to spend time in order to get their own vehicle up to speed. 

Die Tankstelle der Zukunft
Image: MIT Design Lab

With the Liquid Dispenser for antifreeze, umdasch offers a sustainable possibility for an experience-oriented stay, thus matching the spirit of today. Unmanned petrol stations can benefit from this autonomous system through additional sales of windscreen antifreeze. Consumers are ready for such sustainable,experience-oriented, autonomous solutions. According to a study by umdasch with over 1,000 respondents, 92% vote a strong "yes" to packaging-free measures.

Liquid Dispenser
Image: umdasch

Convenience Stores

Petrol stations without convenience stores are hardly imaginable today, and certainly not in the future. Not only must they be able to serve as a destination for Sunday's ravenous appetite but also as a stopover on journeys with a coordinated product range. In any case, in the future we will increasingly come across Click & Collect systems that can go as far as in-car orders for those in a hurry.

Die Tankstelle der Zukunft
Image: umdasch

This can be done either via the on-board computer or via the smartphone, including individual customer contact on the digital signage screens. Speed is of course an important issue as nobody likes to wait at the cash desk when in a hurry, so self checkouts or automatic checkouts are a must-have.

Die Tankstelle der Zukunft
Image: MIT Design Lab

Conclusion

"The journey is the destination"- What for most is a metaphor is the highest priority for mobility companies. For filling stations, this means the the possibilities must be expandedin the future, beginning today. It applies to those who have to move on quickly and those who stay longer, no matter the location. Even the most unattractive (motorway) location has to be designed in such an exciting way that people like to stay there. In addition, you have to bring them up to date with the latest technology in order to provide a customer-oriented service for new needs.

Die Tankstelle der Zukunft
Image: MIT Design Lab

You have reached your destination!

Michaela Drage
Engineering Director


COOKIE CONSENT AND TRANSFER OF DATA TO THE USA

We would like to ask for your consent with regard to the
  • use of cookies
  • the transfer of the data gathered by cookies to the USA

1. The Use of Cookies

We, the umdasch Store Makers Management GmbH, use cookies and third-party applications. This enables us to ensure the optimum performance of our website, particularly to continuously improve the functionality of our website (necessary cookies) or to tailor the advertisements that you see on certain platforms to the user’s specific needs (marketing cookies).


Further information about the cookies we use can be found in our Privacy Policy. We also offer you the option to choose which cookies you allow (advanced cookie settings).


2. Data transfer to the USA

Some of our partners have subsidiaries in the USA. We transfer your personal data to these partners in the USA either manually or via an interface.


Please note that with the ruling of July 16, 2020 (Court of Justice of the European Union C-311/18, Schrems II Ruling), the adequacy decision that permitted the transfer of personal data to the USA was repealed. This means that the USA, as a third country, does not provide an adequate level of data protection.


The specific risk to you as a user is that if your personal data is transferred to the USA, it may be accessed by the US authorities for control and monitoring purposes and you have very few effective and enforceable rights to object to this access.


The personal data that we transfer to the USA consists primarily of IP addresses (internet protocol addresses).


We work with the following service providers, depending on the application:
  • Facebook LLC
  • Google LLC
  • YouTube LLC
  • Matterport Inc.
  • etracker GmbH
  • LinkedIn Inc.

We require your consent to allow us to pass on your personal data to these service providers.


You are able to withdraw your consent at any time and with immediate effect via the Cookie Settings page of our website.



Do you agree to the use of cookies and the transfer of your personal data to the USA?

Advanced Cookie Settings

Necessary

These cookies ensure the basic functioning of our website. In other words, your preferred settings are saved for the next time you visit the site. This includes settings regarding your country of residence and language. These cookies also help ensure the secure use of our website.


The use of these cookies enables us to analyse the use of our website. They also help us to continually improve the website’s functionality. Furthermore, they allow us to integrate third-party services, which enables advanced functionality of our site.


The use of social media cookies and applications allows advertisements that are displayed on other platforms to be tailored to your preferences.



I hereby give my consent to the transfer of my personal data to the USA.
OK