Enabling Consumers to Pay at the Pump by Asking Alexa
"Alexa, pay for gas." The new Fiserv tech will activate the pump and facilitate token generation to help ensure a secure payment experience.
Brookfield, Wis.-based fintech and payment provider Fiserv and Irving, Texas-based ExxonMobil announced that they are launching voice-enabled pay at the pump capabilities using Alexa-enabled vehicles, Echo Auto, and other Alexa-enabled mobility devices later this year.
Demonstrated for the first time at CES 2020 in Las Vegas, transactions processed using Amazon Pay, will allow consumers to securely use the payment information stored in their Amazon account, and powered by digital commerce technology from Fiserv.
“We’re excited to bring new technology and better experiences to the gas station,” Eric Carmichael, Americas fuels marketing manager, ExxonMobil, said. “We build and seek out technology that will wow our consumers, providing both ease of use and security.”
“As consumer expectations change, there is growing demand for frictionless interactions that span the digital and physical worlds,” Devin McGranahan, senior group president, Global Business Solutions at Fiserv, said. “The age of connected commerce is here, and voice-activated smart devices will play a pivotal role in the future of payments by streamlining the way consumers make purchases every day.”
According to the announcement, paying for gas with Alexa is a seamless process for the consumer. When a consumer is in an Alexa-enabled vehicle, or using Echo Auto or another Alexa-enabled mobility device at an Exxon or Mobil station, they say, “Alexa, pay for gas.” Alexa confirms the station location and the pump number. Digital commerce technology from Fiserv activates the pump and facilitates token generation to help ensure a secure payment experience. Amazon Pay then processes the transaction; with no additional sign-up or separate account needed.
ExxonMobil has a strong history of innovation at the pump, debuting the first pay-at-the-pump service in the 1980s and launching radio frequency identification-enabled touchless payment in the 1990s.
Fiserv said it is bringing merchants and technology providers together to deliver a connected commerce experience that provides frictionless commerce securely and at scale. By enabling connections between otherwise disparate merchants – such as automakers and gas stations, or restaurants and sports venues – Fiserv points to effectively bridging the gap between digital and brick-and-mortar commerce, while allowing businesses to maximize their footprint in the digital world.