BP to pilot cashless fuel payment

Smartphone payment systems are gaining momentum in both reach and sophistication, and now BP Australia looks set to be the first major Australian fuel company to provide its customers with the added convenience the technology can provide.

The oil and petroleum supplier has announced it will be piloting its BPMe system from next month, with the app-based technology allowing a select number of "highly valued BP Plus card customers" to pay for their fuel with their smartphone.

The platform also allows customers to keep track of their vehicle's odometer reading, store electronic fuel receipts and locate their nearest BP service station, says the company.

But of course the biggest benefit for users will be the time savings to be reaped through paying by phone – avoiding the trudge to the till and the queues that usually ensue during peak periods. The technology will prove especially attractive to those who drive for a living, including professional truck drivers and couriers.

BP's VP Sales and Marketing, Brooke Miller, said the broader technology was set to revolutionise the way we pay for goods and services.

"Smartphone penetration rates in Australia are some of the highest in the world and mobile payment solutions are what our customers have been demanding," she said.

"It's the way of the future and BP is at the forefront of this innovation."

BP says that after the initial pilot of BPMe in August, it will invite further customers to sign on.

"We look forward to inviting more customers in the coming months and developments into the future," Ms Miller said.