INSIDER INSIGHT: Nayax Fuel eyes Canadian market with pump-to-store payment, media technology
Convenience Store News Canada: With 81% of fuel transactions now occurring via card, driving foot traffic from the pump into the C-store is critical for margins. How does the VPOS Media 5's media capability help retailers engage drivers at the dispenser and increase in-store basket sizes?
Eli Bar: VPOS Media combines payment and media capabilities at the dispenser. Our move to Android-based devices running the Nayax Fuel application, developed specifically for fuel stations, enables retailers to stream content to the terminals and connect with loyalty programs and Nayax's Weezmo platform, which goes well beyond digital receipts.
Videos and images can appear both when the terminal is idle and while the customer is fueling. That fueling time is a valuable opportunity to engage drivers, for example by highlighting an in-store promotion that gives them a reason to visit the convenience store. Operators can tailor campaigns to an individual terminal, a specific station or their entire network.
Today, Nayax Fuel customers can identify loyalty club members through a QR code scan or by entering a phone number. We also plan to integrate Nayax's own loyalty programs into the solution (still under development). Together, these capabilities are designed to help retailers turn the payment interaction into an opportunity for customer engagement and additional in-store purchases.
CSNC: How does unifying dispenser payment, forecourt control, and station management simplify vendor relationships and lower total cost of ownership for operators?
EB: Nayax Fuel's current focus is on bringing together payment solutions across the entire service station. That includes outdoor payment terminals at the pump, in-store payment solutions, and payments for EV charging, vacuum cleaners, paid restroom access, car washes and vending machines.
For the operator, the benefit is one system that consolidates card payment transactions across the site, with one company providing payment solutions for these different services. This simplifies vendor relationships and reduces the operational complexity of managing separate payment systems for each activity. It also gives operators a consolidated view of card transactions across their business, helping them manage payments more efficiently as they add new services.
Our focus is on enabling and providing the payment layer for forecourts. We therefore see our role primarily within the payment space, working with integrators and technology partners where required to integrate with the wider forecourt infrastructure, including existing POS and FCC environments.
CSNC: While this partnership focuses on U.S. distribution, Canadian fuel retailers face identical pressures regarding payment modernization, rising interchange friction, and customer engagement at the pump. What does this partnership signal for Nayax's growth plans or distributor networks in Canada?
EB: Canada is a natural next step in Nayax Fuel's North American expansion. Our initial focus is on completing the required certifications for fuel payments in the United States and supporting fleet cards. Once those steps are completed, we expect to expand our retail fuel payment offering into Canada.
Our strategic partnership with Allied Electronics, Inc. allows us to leverage their well-established position in the fuel retail space in North America. Allied can market Nayax's systems to its customers in both the United States and Canada. In both markets, our distribution approach includes Allied serving its customer base, alongside additional distributors and partners.
Nayax Fuel is already active in Canada in private fleet fuelling sites. Our planned expansion would extend that presence into retail fuel stations, bringing our payment solutions to a broader range of operators.
CSNC: Bob Danford mentioned a broad 'modernization cycle' in the industry. Beyond contactless payments and digital media, what does the next stage of forecourt modernization look like for Nayax over the next 3 to 5 years (e.g., EV charging integration, app-less mobile payments)?
EB: We see the next stage of forecourt modernization as connecting every payment touchpoint into a seamless, personalized customer journey across the service station.
As a payments company, our vision is to help operators grow sales through relevant offers and real-time data insights. Recognizing loyalty members would enable retailers to tailor advertising and promotions to individual customers and connect their experience across fueling, EV charging, the convenience store and other on-site services.
The goal is to make each interaction more convenient and relevant for the customer, while helping operators encourage additional purchases and repeat visits.
CSNC: Canadian fuel consumers rely heavily on debit via Interac. How does Nayax handle Interac certification and debit transaction routing at the dispenser without slowing down transaction speeds or increasing processing fees for independent Canadian operators?
EB: As we prepare to enter the Canadian retail fuel market, our plan is to support the full range of payment cards relevant to local operators and their customers, including credit, debit and fleet cards. We accept Interac today as part of our PayFac offering, and we will make sure it is accepted when we release a fuelling product in Canada. Our certification process for Canada will include Interac Flash. It is too early to discuss processing fees.
CSNC: Canadian tap limits have evolved significantly, and Apple Pay/Google Pay adoption is high. Does the VPOS Media 5 support full high-value contact-free payments at the pump?
EB: VPOS Media 5 supports payments by phone, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, as well as contact and contactless card payments, with PIN support. This gives drivers multiple ways to complete their payment directly at the dispenser.
Where a transaction exceeds the applicable contactless limit, the terminal's contact card and PIN capabilities provide an alternative way to pay at the pump. Our approach is to support each market's local payment requirements, with the payment experience configured accordingly.
READ: Nayax partners with Allied Electronics to expand outdoor fuel payments
Multi-profit integration for car washes and in-store
CSNC: Many Canadian sites feature integrated automatic car washes. Can the VPOS Media 5 communicate directly with car wash controllers to cross-sell wash packages at the pump, or consolidate reporting across fuel, C-store, and car wash bays into one backend system?
EB: Nayax connects with dozens of car wash equipment brands, and our broader payment offering brings fuel, in-store and car wash card transactions into one reporting environment. Operators can view revenue by category at both station and network level, giving them visibility into the different activities across their business.
With Weezmo integrated into the solution, we can also generate digital coupons that customers can redeem for offers across the service station.
CSNC: In Canada, high fuel margins are rarely guaranteed, making C-store conversion essential. How are operators using the screen real estate to push high-margin in-store promos (e.g., hot beverage deals, loyalty points) while the driver is actively pumping?
EB: The screen allows retailers to reach customers during a valuable moment: while they are at the pump, fuelling their vehicle. By displaying videos and images with relevant in-store offers, operators can give drivers a reason to extend their visit into the convenience store, for example with a coffee offer or a promotion on a complementary purchase.
Campaigns can be managed at individual terminal, station or network level. With Weezmo integrated, digital coupons can connect the promotion to an offer the customer can redeem on site.
Climate and the Canadian forecourt
CSNC: Canadian forecourts endure extreme freeze-thaw cycles, road salt, snow, and sub-zero temperatures. What specific physical testing or weather-proofing (such as operating temperature ranges and touchscreen responsiveness with winter gloves) ensures the equipment holds up in winter?
EB: VPOS Media 5 is designed for outdoor use, with a specified operating temperature range of -20°C to 55°C, an IP65 rating for protection against dust and water ingress, and an IK10 impact-resistance rating.
For Canadian deployments, those specifications need to be assessed against the conditions at each location, particularly where winter temperatures fall below -20°C. The current device supports PIN entry through its touchscreen. Where a site needs to operate below -20°C, the requirements would be defined and checked with the manufacturer.
CSNC: Many independent Canadian retailers operate older dispenser models (Gilbarco, Wayne, etc.) and want to avoid the capital cost of a full pump replacement. How customizable is the system for retrofitting legacy dispensers commonly found across Canadian sites?
EB: VPOS Media 5 is designed to upgrade existing dispensers, allowing operators to modernize payments while retaining their pump infrastructure.
CSNC: Who will be responsible for selling, installing, and servicing Nayax Fuel hardware for independent and dealer networks in Canada?
EB: We are building our distribution, installation and service network for the Canadian retail fuel market. Our planned sales channels include Allied Electronics, Inc. for its customer base, alongside additional distributors and partners.
As part of that process, we are developing relationships with local companies specializing in fuel station installation and support. The aim is to give Canadian operators access to both our payment technology and the local expertise needed to deploy and maintain it.
