Germany: PayPal and PACE enable smartwatch payment at pumps
Both companies have developed a system to dynamize and fasten transactions at service stations by drivers.
PayPal has teamed up with PACE Telematics to enable mobile payment directly at the pump in service stations in Germany. Customers can not only pay with their smartphones but, for the first time in Europe, they can also use their Apple Watch or Android smartwatch to complete the transaction.
"Over the past two years, the importance of contactless as well as mobile payment methods has increased. Innovative approaches are also in demand for payments at the gas station. With PACE Telematics, we are pleased to enable our PayPal customers to make simple and mobile payments via smartphone as well as via smartwatch directly at the gas pump," says Jörg Kablitz, Managing Director of PayPal Germany.
Clients can pay using the PACE Drive app in stations, which automatically recognizes where mobile payments are possible. Then, it only takes three steps to pay: select the pump on the device, confirm the payment method and authorize the transaction. The receipt will be stored digitally in the app, which means no need to wait for it after refueling.
"Mobile payments and digital transformation continue to gain ground and it is hard to imagine everyday life without them. For a long time, PayPal has been one of the driving forces when it comes to digital payments. Together with PayPal, we enable our customers to pay in the way that is easiest and most secure for them. We look forward to expanding our valuable collaboration with PayPal even further in the future," added Philip Blatter, one of the Founders and Managing Directors of PACE Telematics.
This type of payment is already possible at more than 1,000 gas stations in Europe, with a growing network of acceptance points. Connected Fueling is an open and independent platform that can be easily connected to all common POS systems. Integration with other apps is also possible; this allows providers to extend their own digital applications with the full functionality of the Connected Fueling network.
