Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) has announced the extension of its Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) based fuel retailing system across its Enoc/Eppco service stations network.

Known as ViP (Vehicle Identification Pass), it is a completely automated and paperless system without the need for cash, fuel cards or receipts. All vehicle owners have to do is drive into the service station, refuel with the help of an attendant and drive off.

Part of Enoc’s new unified ‘EnocPay’ platform, ViP uses an innovative technology which consists of a securely encoded electronic security tag mounted near the fuel tanks. This allows the nozzle to automatically recognise the fuelling preferences individuals have set for their car, calculate the amount of fuel filled from the dispenser, and deduct the money automatically from the individual’s ViP account. This speeds up the refuelling process and enables customers to better manage their accounts and set budgets for each fuelling transaction.

Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO of Enoc, said: “Enoc is clear in its objective of securing Dubai’s energy needs and we are committed to doing so with the highest attention to our customer satisfaction. The ViP offering is an outcome of our commitment to advancing the Dubai Government’s Smart City initiative. Innovation lies at the core of all our offerings which eventually is aimed at enhancing customer experience and satisfaction.”

The ViP system uses radio-frequency to log in the details of the purchase at a secured database at Enoc which calculates all parameters associated with the customer account.

All 112 stations from the Enoc/Eppco network will have a one-stop shop in which customers can purchase the ViP smart ta and get it installed on the vehicle, all in one location. The ViP package will be sold at Dh250 ($68) per unit. Customers can set up as many personal vehicles per account, thus enabling large families or individuals with multiple vehicles to better manage their fuel budgets. The documents required to register for ViP are: Emirates ID for residents or passport copies for visitors, and the vehicle registration card.

After every transaction, customers will receive an SMS and an email with the amount deducted and the remaining balance in their accounts. In addition, registered customers will have access to a dedicated portal where customers can log in to access their information in real time and manage fuel budgets, as well as top-up their accounts. Top-ups can also be made with cash or card at all c-stores in service stations.

Burhan Al Hashemi, managing director, Enoc Retail, said: “Since we launched ViP for corporate customers two years ago, over 75,000 commercial vehicles, including 8,000 taxis, were able to benefit from this technology. Over 3,000 of our commercial customers were able to save four to six per cent annually on their fuel expenses and reduce waiting time at the stations, thus increasing their operational efficiency.

“Now, by extending this service to the general public, we are passing on the benefits of this technology, which are real and time-tested. We hope ViP also becomes a unique tool for people to plan their budgets as all information related to their fuel usage becomes available at the click of a button.”

Enoc expects to eventually launch the ‘EnocPay’ mobile app, which will aggregate all current and future payment methods into a single interface. It is expected to be available on iOS and Android phones by Q4 2016.
 
‘EnocPay’ platform offers a variety of cashless and cardless solutions that aim to enhance customer experience. These solutions include the ViP system for corporate customers, which was launched in 2014, and Enoc’s mobile payment services through its partnership with Beam Wallet, the leading mobile wallet app in the UAE, as well as the UAE Ministry of Finance’s e-Dirham mobile application. – TradeArabia News Service