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7-Eleven Inc. is testing a fuel loyalty program that also provides a contactless payment option with Siri functionality for iPhone users. The convenience-store chain also is expanding its mobile checkout capability through its app to Utah locations.
Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven is testing the fuel loyalty service in Orlando, Fla., northern Texas, and Woodbridge, Va. Developed in-house, the service is available within the 7-Eleven app.
As an incentive, users receive an 11 cents per gallon discount on the first seven fill-ups, up to 20 gallons per transaction. Afterwards, the discount is 3 cents. The fuel program also is connected to the 7Rewards loyalty program.
A user can pay for fuel with a stored credit or debit card. The app also works with Google Pay and Apple Pay. Payment is authorized via the app. The other option, but only for Apple Inc.’s iPhone users, is to use Siri, the voice assistant built into many Apple devices. Setting up the Siri payment option requires creating a Siri shortcut, an automatic sequence of programmed actions initiated by speaking a command.
7-Eleven says users will be prompted on the payment confirmation screen of the fuel loyalty program to create the Siri shortcut. When completed, on future transactions the consumer issues the relevant Siri command to select a pump and authorize payment.
The fuel discount program is only available at test locations, though the 7Rewards program is available nationwide. It has 33 million members, 7-Eleven says.
In related news, 7-Eleven is expanding its mobile checkout service within its app to its Utah locations. This service debuted in 2018 at 14 Dallas-area stores. It later expanded to some Manhattan and Long Island, N.Y., locations.
Consumers can use mobile checkout to skip the checkout line, 7-Eleven says. As consumers select items, they scan the barcodes on each item. When their shopping is complete, they pay, using Google Pay, Apple Pay, or a credit or debit card stored in the app. The user must scan a Quick Response code displayed on the final confirmation screen at a kiosk in the store.
7-Eleven says mobile checkout provides a reduced-contact shopping experience, something many consumers are more aware of now as the Covid-19 pandemic continues.
