Do you resonate with that frustrating feeling when you forget to refuel your vehicle in the nick of time or having to wait long for your turn at the gas station when you are getting really late? Has it ever crossed your mind that ‘I wish I could just place an order for the fuel just like I do for groceries’?
We are living in the era of the 5G internet, and it has turned into a genie for most of us, fulfilling our wishes and making our lives easier. For business owners, it has opened up doors for new business opportunities.
The internet has been a disrupting force that has compelled business owners to think of new ways to attract customers and grow their businesses. The gas and fuel industry is not an exception.
Redefining refuelling process
Traditionally, vehicles need to be taken to gas stations for refilling. However, the process is time-consuming and inconvenient for the fast-paced modern life. Even after the advent of the internet, this process has been unaddressed for so long.
Now fuel delivery apps are redefining the refuelling process by allowing consumers to order fuel refilling services through a mobile app. It is rapidly gaining momentum for the right reasons.
- It is convenient and saves time
- It eliminates location constraints
So, using a fuel delivery app, the user can order fuel from the app, and the service provider comes to the doorsteps to refuel the tank. If the gasoline pump is a couple of kilometres away from your regular route, then you need not detour to refill your tank. Instead, you can save time & energy and refuel your vehicles at the doorstep.
A win-win situation
The fuel delivery software can be a great business booster for service providers as they can expand their client base regardless of location constraints. Just like food delivery apps enable restaurants and café to serve far more customers than their actual capacity, the app-based fuel delivery provides gasoline pumps an opportunity to generate more revenue, eliminating physical constraints.
How does it work?
The user needs to download the fuel-delivery app onto iOS or Android devices. Like a typical app, the fuel-refilling app asks for the user details such as name, vehicle & payment details.
After registering, every time the user wishes to refuel the tank, they just have to enter the location, the required quantity, and the time.
- Download the app.
- Get registered by entering your personal details.
- Enter vehicle details such as registration number, ownership, make, model, etc.
- Link an online payment option such as online wallets, visa or master card, UPI details etc.
- Mention location, the type of fuel, volume and the time of delivery required.
It’s done. The refuelling truck arrives at the location at the scheduled time. Pathbreaking fuel delivery apps are redefining the way vehicles are refuelled. In the long run, it may also eliminate the need for physical fuel stations.
Why is it a great idea?
The fuel delivery business primarily has three stakeholders.
- Vehicle owners
- Fuel stations
- Oil & gas companies
On-demand fuel delivery software can benefit all the stakeholders. With the app, the customer can get quick and convenient services, and the service provider receives an extensive consumer base and precious consumer data.
They can improve customer experience and provide cost-effective services by analyzing the data. The data also help oil & gas companies anticipate the emerging demand and get equipped with the supply accordingly.
Is it safe?
Yes. Fuel is a commodity that needs to be handled very carefully. However, fuel tanks are specially designed with features like world-class flow meters, automatic nozzle, emergency response systems and safety technology to provide doorstep refuelling facilities. In addition, they are equipped with fire extinguishers and first-aid kits to address emergencies.
The fuel delivery app is also built to enhance convenience and flexibility while protecting the customer’s and service provider’s data. In addition, it helps businesspersons keep an eye on top fuel delivery trends. The app can ensure the following:
- Accurate fuel refilling as per the amount paid.
- Secure payment gateways.
- Robust GPS to detect the exact location of the user.
- AI & ML techniques to analyse data.
- R&D for new technologies in the fields of mobility & energy efficiency.
What features can an on-demand fuel delivery app have?
As mentioned earlier, the fuel-delivery app can work as a communication network for all three stakeholders- customers, gas stations and oil & gas companies. A large variety of salient features can be integrated into the app to enhance the user’s experience and optimize the app’s efficiency.
Here are some basic fuel delivery app features:
- Complete registration details of the users to avoid discrepancies in future.
- Intuitive and simplified fuel request process.
- Location sharing convenience.
- Optimum privacy & data protection regarding the user’s location and personal information.
- Live order tracking for enhanced reliability.
- Robust payment system to ensure a smooth transaction and financial data protection.
- Order cancellation with or without penalty.
- Online chatbots for customer reviews and feedback.
Read More: A detailed walkthrough to features of a fuel delivery app
How does the app make money for the fuel station owner?
Valid, and the most crucial question. Investment in a fuel-delivery app may provide lucrative returns on investment. There are multiple ways the business owner can earn profit from the app.
Introduce delivery charge
The patrol station can introduce a nominal home delivery charge or emergency delivery charge, which can generate a windfall income for them in the future.
Subscription model
The business owner may introduce a subscription model in which the user can pay for a month, six months or a year in one go by paying subscription fees. Apart from generating revenue, this will also help them retain customers for longer.
In-app advertisement
Once the app gets a substantial user base, the owner can generate revenue through an in-app ad, in which advertisers pay him for placing an advertisement within the app.
However, it is paramount to have an intelligent pricing framework to succeed in any field with cutthroat competition.
How to get started?
Fuel delivery app chiefly comprises two facets- one for the customers and the second for the admin. The customers can use the app to place an order, while the admin can leverage it to manage real-time fuel requests.
The app also provides admin access to a dashboard displaying all the critical information and metrics for performance analysis. A route optimization system is a must to ensure that the tank reaches the customer at a scheduled time.
- If you are someone eager to launch a successful fuel delivery business, then-
- Get in touch with a mobile app development company with extensive experience in fuel delivery app development.
- Site your requirements, business goals and growth vision with the fuel delivery app development solutions team.
- List features you want in the app and discuss them with the app development team.
- Work on the user interface, as it will be crucial for the app’s success.
- Discuss the cost of developing a fuel delivery app.
Is it worth?
“Early involvement often gets rewarded.”
It is rightfully a popular saying in the world of business. If you are in a refuelling business, there are multiple reasons why you should contemplate this emerging trend.
- The retail fuel market is a segment that has seldom witnessed negative business growth.
- With increasing disposable income, people are spending on automobiles more than ever.
- The outbreak of covid-19 pandemic inspired more people to own private vehicles to avoid commuting through public transport.
- With tremendous population growth, the number of private vehicle owners is increasing. This further infers longer queues at gas stations and sheer wastage of human hours.
- Gen Z is tech-savvy and adopts digital solutions that enhance their convenience and save time.
The future outlook
In the pursuit of enhanced driving experience, the demand for gasoline, a time-tested efficient fuel, is likely to grow in the coming times. Skyrocketing sales of automobiles are sure to escalate gasoline demand in the coming years.
In addition, the significant growth of the aviation industry, inflating disposable income levels of the masses, and increasing penetration of high-end sports cars are some of the critical factors that are likely to provide impetus to fuel industry’s market growth in the coming years.
Despite uncertainties triggered due to rising COVID-19 cases, imarc expects the global gasoline market to grow at a CAGR of 1.60% in the coming five years.
However, this also means that the competition is likely to get dense. With little or no control over fuel prices, the only means retail players have to get an edge over the competitors is to provide better services to build a loyal customer base. A fuel delivery app can just be the right move.
Experts anticipate the mobile fuel delivery market to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% in the coming decade. It is apparently a whole new market waiting to be tapped. From CNG to aviation fuel to biofuels, the demand for fuels is surging, and fuel-delivery apps can be a game changer for the entire industry.
North America is expected to emerge as the leader in mobile fuel delivery in the next five years.
Mobile apps have become a new way of doing business. With mobile apps making everything easier- from grocery to clothes and electronics shopping- people have started to get accustomed to this new way of lifestyle when everything gets delivered to their doorsteps.
Supporting this, Statista’s recent studies suggest that the global mobile app market will grow at a CAGR of a staggering 9.27% in the coming years, and in-app purchases are likely to generate revenues of more than $285 billion by 2026.
However, as mentioned earlier, some industries, like refuelling, still function traditionally. It is time for this field to let technology do the talking. It also means that when clubbed with mobile app industries, refuelling industry has a massive untapped potential to grow.
Key benefits of on-demand fuel delivery app
Easy fuel supply in an emergency
Currently, if the vehicle runs out of fuel during a trip, it becomes extremely difficult to reach the nearby patrol station. An on-demand fuel delivery solution can be a saviour in such a situation. You can place online order for fuel delivery from your phone, and the refuelling truck reaches you in some time.
Anytime, anywhere
So many times, we forget to refuel our tanks. If it strikes us late at night, then we have to leave home 10 to 20 minutes early the next day to stop by the gasoline pump. On-demand fuel delivery provides 24X7 refuelling services.
So, even if you have to drop someone airport the next day in the wee hours and your vehicle does not have sufficient fuel, there is no reason to worry. You can get it refuelled anytime at your doorstep.
Enhanced convenience
The app completely eradicates the need to wait at fuel stations. From the station owner’s perspective, through this app, they can cater to more customers than they might have with their limited physical infrastructure.
Imagine, how convenient the life can get with an on-demand fuel & gas delivery app development.
Less investment, more profit
Develop an on-demand fuel delivery app to grow customer base without location constraints. Firstly, it eliminates the requirement to invest in expanding the infrastructure of a gas station.
Second, it relieves them from gigantic fuel-station maintenance costs. Thus, it opens avenues for them to earn more profits at lower investments.
Final thoughts
We are living in a technology-driven world. Therefore, every business has to reinvent ways to integrate new technologies into their existing business model. All thanks to technology, the world is rapidly changing, and businesses have to adapt to more unique ways of doing business, like building a fuel delivery app.
The retail fuel business is not an exception.
From Uber to GrubHub to Shein, we have multiple examples of early birds catching the worm. Globally, the on-demand mobile petrol pump solution market has yet to pick up.
There are only limited players like Cafu, InstaFuel, Fuel Logic, Booster Fuels in the market. Sensing the popularity, giant companies like General Motors, Shell and Exxon have started investing in on-demand fuel delivery business. Therefore, it is the best chance for the companies to make the first move. It is the gold mine waiting to be untapped.
