Self-service petrol can boost efficiency

The new system introduced at Adnoc petrol pumps is part of a drive to streamline services

The smart self-service ADNOC station in Abu Dhabi. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

While filling your car’s petrol tank yourself is the norm around the world, many people in the UAE are not yet accustomed to the practice. So it will naturally take some time for drivers to learn how to use the self-service petrol pumps introduced in the capital by Adnoc last week.

As The National has reported, motorists have generally welcomed the idea but some have reservations simply because they are, understandably, unfamiliar with the idea. Others are concerned about pumping petrol in the hot summer weather, especially when they are fasting during Ramadan. Regardless of this, the new scheme will be more efficient because motorists will no longer have to wait for an attendant to assist them.

The scheme follows other initiatives that streamline common activities through automation or self-service. Examples include online check-in and eGates at airports, as well as systems for paying bills and fines and even giving to charity over the internet. It’s all part of a national drive towards greater efficiency.

The level of convenience afforded by such systems depends on the model adopted. In the US, it is common for the customer to park their vehicle at a numbered pump, go and pay for the service, and then return to their vehicle to fill their tank. Elsewhere, drivers can pay at the pump itself using a credit card.

The model being introduced here will involve prepaid cards issued by Adnoc. Customers will have to touch a panel on the pump, and the amount spent will be deducted from their card. These cards are not yet available and, in the meantime, customers have to pay at a separate machine, where they will receive a code to use at the pump. While replacing a two-step process with one step is a good move, we do wonder why we won't be able to use our existing credit or debit cards and instead have to invest in another piece of plastic to put in our bulging wallets.

Perhaps somewhere down the track, the Adnoc card could be adapted to pay for bus, ferry and taxi fares, making it a universal card for all our transport needs.