COVID-19 Has Transformed Gas Stations—What Does the Future Hold?
The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in a historical economic impact all across the world, and, unfortunately, the United States is no exception. The death toll has crossed over 100,000, with thousands of new cases cropping up with each passing day.
During the pandemic, gas stations and c-stores have played a crucial role by helping people keep their vehicles up and running and buy essential items and supplies. Let’s discuss how the coronavirus has transformed the gas station industry and some predictions:
COVID-19 has transformed gas stations
Gas stations are taking the necessary precautions to remain operational amidst the pandemic. According to the government regulations and safety guidelines, fuel pumps and c-stores are cleaned and disinfected regularly.
The workers are trained to maintain good personal hygiene and follow social distancing rules to avoid the spread of the disease. Moreover, they are checked for symptoms of COVID-19 before the start of their shift and provided personal protective equipment.
The decrease in demand for fuel has hurt fuel pump profits; hence gas station owners have shifted their focus on generating revenue through convenience stores. The in-store items, essentials products, and food service are among the hot-selling products in many c-stores.
Many gas station owners run loyalty programs and promotions to drive more traffic to their stores. Customers who visit convenience stores also fuel their vehicles at gas stations—which is quite interesting as previously it used to be the other way around.
What Does the Future Hold?
Gas stations and c-stores have adopted new methods and practices to ensure safety while serving their customers during the pandemic. Still, they’ll require a permanent solution to continue their business.
In the foreseeable future, disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and personal protective kits will be continued to be used to keep the facilities clean and hygienic. Social distancing and SOPs will also be standardized to prevent the spread of the disease.
In addition to that, contactless payment will become a necessity for gas stations as consumers prefer paying via their credit cards rather than cash, mainly due to the risk of getting infected with COVID-19 disease.
Therefore, gas stations must upgrade their POS terminals to become EMV compliant. It’s the latest technology developed by Europay, Visa, and MasterCard that allows safe payment processing and virtually eliminates the risk of fraudulent transactions.
READ: EMV DEADLINE DELAYED Until April 2021! But Retailers Advised To Stay On Schedule
If you’re looking for high-quality gas station equipment and supplies, get in touch with us today! John W. Kennedy Company is a leading service station equipment provider that provides a selection of top-quality gas station equipment and supplies, including EMV POS terminals, fuel management systems, and more. Visit our online store to browse our products.
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