Beyond Forecourt: Highlights from the IFSF Conference 2023

The International Forecourt Standards Forum (IFSF) Conference 2023 brought together industry leaders and innovators to delve into the latest advancements, challenges, and opportunities in the ever-evolving Forecourt and mobility sector. Hosted at the forefront of technological innovation, this year’s conference showcased groundbreaking insights, fostering collaboration, and paving the way for a sustainable and efficient future.

Here are some of the key themes that were addressed:

1. Digital Transformation in Fuel and Convenience Retail

The traditional fuels retail world is experiencing a time of transformational change.

Reduction in traditional fuel demand is leading to the migration to alternative fuels including EV charging, biofuels & Hydrogen. At the same time, consumer expectations are changing significantly with the desire for hyper convenient and hyper personalised experiences. To address these points, fuel and convenience retailers are evolving the forecourt to become a mobility hub offering a variety of new services and modernising the convenience store with new technologies including the use of self-checkout machines and autonomous/unattended stores.

2. Sustainability and Green Technologies

With environmental concerns taking centre stage, the conference addressed the industry’s commitment to sustainability. Presentations covered Hydrogen fuel cells, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and sustainable practices in fuel production, demonstrating a collective dedication to reducing the industry’s environmental footprint.

3. Cybersecurity in Fuel Payment Systems

As digitalization accelerates, so do the risks. The conference featured in-depth discussions on the critical importance of cybersecurity in fuel payment systems. Experts shared strategies to safeguard against cyber threats, emphasising the need for a robust and proactive approach to protect critical infrastructure.

4. Future-Proofing Technology Solutions

Anticipating future challenges, speakers explored strategies for future-proofing fuel and convenience retail technology solutions. This included discussions on the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) to address the evolving consumer expectations and cloud-based systems offering scalable solutions that can evolve with the industry’s changing landscape.

5. Global Collaboration and Standards

The IFSF Conference highlighted the significance of global collaboration and standardised practices. Delegates emphasised the need for cohesive international standards to facilitate interoperability, foster innovation, and ensure a seamless experience for consumers worldwide.

We explored a range of key subjects and topics:

Xavier Héry opened with his talk about the “Future of Energy Retail”, setting the scene for exploring what the next thirty years could look like. We then welcomed Mark Wohltmannm who took us through the latest global trends in retailing technologies, explaining that technology can provide part of the solution to the changing demands.

Mark Goldspink expanded on the topic of changing consumer expectations with consumers wanting a frictionless experience. He talked about Phygital being the combination of physical and digital experiences and explained how Android payments terminals and AI/ML using real-time data will be game changers for the payments industry.

Our EV Panel discussion highlighted some of the challenges and opportunities of integrating EV charging solutions into the forecourt environment. Kor Meelker explained the implications of the new Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations (AFIR) including the need for ad-hoc payment solutions and transparency of EV pricing. Speakers discussed how using IFSF standards can address these requirements by enabling the seamless integration of EV charging payment and loyalty with the existing forecourt systems.

João Soares detailed “Galp’s Retail Technological C-Store Transformation” explaining how Galp are responding to the changing environment by introducing their hub concept supporting electric mobility with improved C-Store layouts and food service offerings. He explained how Galp are using cutting edge technology including smart checkout with AI cameras and generating insights from customer traffic flow by using computer vision.

We were then presented with the IFSF’s strategy for the next phase of its journey, reflecting on what has been achieved over the last thirty years and outlining the vision for the future. Carl Jones highlighted that the IFSF will continue to be an organisation that delivers what its members need and evolves based on continuous feedback. He explained that the IFSF will work with partners to develop global standards that support the integration of services and devices at retail mobility hub locations that sell energies for vehicles and offer other adjacent services. Jon Thompson then shared the IFSF roadmap outlining the focus areas and detailed plans for the next 3 years.

Following the presentation of the IFSF strategy and roadmap, Nick Allen and Mirko Spagnolatti led a lively plenary session to solicit feedback and generate buy-in from the conference attendees.

David Anderson opened day two of the conference with an insightful presentation about “Turning Data Into the New Black Gold” by leveraging analytics for growth. He highlighted the critical importance of having standard definitions for data in order to make data actionable.

David Ezell and Ian A. Brown’s presentation followed on nicely by explaining the role of the joint IFSF/Conexxus OpenRetailing Data Dictionary in providing the foundation for global standards. They discussed the benefits for software developers and collaborating organisations resulting in reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for the industry as a whole.

François Mezzina then presented TotalEnergies insights into the role that hydrogen will play in shaping the mix of automotive energies for the future, particularly for heavy duty vehicles. He shed light on the complexity of the infrastructure required to sustainably deliver Hydrogen  to vehicles on the forecourt and explained how TotalEnergies is collaborating with Joint Ventures in several countries to achieve their aim of supplying sustainable alternative fuels.

The conference attendees were thrilled to hear Roberto Dellavalle relay the story about how using the IFSF Closed Loop Payment API is bringing significant benefits to Fortech, including saving up to 90% on the software development time. Roberto explained that these lower costs for development, combined with reduced infrastructure costs and improved scalability will result in significant TCO savings.

Last, but certainly not least, Don Frieden closed the conference by bring it all together with his thoughts on the importance of industry standards in fostering innovation, reducing complexity and improving interoperability thus reducing costs to the industry. He highlighted how using the IFSF and Conexxus mobile payment standards had enabled P97 to deliver a mobile payment solution integrated with over 25 different POS partners and systems across the globe.

Networking and Collaboration

The IFSF Conference provided a great space for networking and collaboration. Attendees engaged in dynamic discussions, forged new partnerships, and exchanged ideas during interactive workshops and networking sessions, all with an incredible backdrop.

Looking Ahead

The IFSF Conference 2023 was a resounding success, leaving attendees inspired and equipped with the knowledge to shape the future of the fuel industry. As we navigate the dynamic landscape ahead, the shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and collaboration will undoubtedly drive the industry toward a brighter, more efficient, and environmentally conscious future.

For anyone who was unable to attend this sold-out event, a video edit will be available shortly to view and enjoy. We’ll keep you posted.

Thanks again to everyone who attended.