Due to the sheer volume of transactions processed at c-stores every day, they will always be targets for fraud and data breaches. Even as we innovate new ways to protect customer data, the same technologies that connect the world also create new breach opportunities for cyber criminals.

Secure infrastructure is no longer a choice, as the EMV deadline has passed, and fraud will move to sites that have not been upgraded. Retailer behavior was regulated to adapt to card-clamping, while consumer behavior has chosen to shift to contactless payments. According to a study from MasterCard², over half of Americans are now using contactless payments.

In 2022, expect to see the next level of security take off: point-to-point encryption (P2PE). Criminals are becoming more skilled at hacking networks, and the industry is encouraging the automatic encryption of payment data from the moment it is shared by the customer to the point it is decrypted for processing within a secure network.

The other side of that coin is protecting c-store employees, as physical acts of crime are also on the rise. Expect to see a rise in the use of cameras on-site for security. C-stores have always been community hubs, now more than ever with the rise of food-service offerings, which drive traffic but attract threats. Implementing a closed-circuit TV (CCTV) system — which can easily be tied into your overall platform — will help you keep your business, customers and employees secure.

The convenience retail industry already uses license plate readers to identify repeat fuel thieves, but why stop there? Some fuel dispensers now have the option to integrate cameras. While they are most commonly used as proximity sensors, there are open platform opportunities to get a better view of your forecourt than ever before. Dispensers can also be tied to your CCTV system for a more comprehensive view of your site. Profits matter, but protecting your customers and employees is the top priority.

In 2022, the push toward alternative fuels and sustainable business practices will accelerate, and electric vehicles are leading the way. In Europe, which is now leading the way in new EV vehicles registrations3, nearly 20 countries have announced an end year for new vehicle sales with internal combustion engines. In the United States, the Build Back Better act is poised to provide almost half a trillion dollars in clean energy investments, helping accelerate a movement that was already growing rapidly .

Despite the pandemic, ethanol fuel sales are on the rise. A study from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA)⁴ showed E15 sales rising to record levels in some American states, and as of December 2021, Oregon has become the 48th state to approve retailers to sell E15⁵.

However, change will come at a different pace in the various markets served by DFS, and it creates more complexity for our customers to harmonize payments, monitoring, replenishment and more. The c-store has been the primary destination sought by consumers on their vehicular journeys for nearly a century and should remain this way for decades to come.

For fueling retailers, the push to “go green” means your customers will expect you to serve them differently. They’ll expect sustainable service decisions such as not printing receipts, not providing bags, and installing EV chargers. Consumers are voting with their wallets for environmentally friendly businesses, and you can’t afford to be left behind. WaWa is testing the limits of footprint minimization with their first drive-through-only location in New Jersey⁶.

Customers will also expect to see fewer flyers and physical coupons, in favor of more digital signage to minimize print waste. Looking for solutions that can help? Consider DX Promote®, an award-winning platform that can help you eliminate much of the printing and paper generation your stations are currently paying for.