Fortech at UNITI expo 2026: Turning Complexity into a Connected Retail Ecosystem
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As service stations evolve into increasingly complex mobility hubs, managing multiple services, payment systems and customer touchpoints has become a critical challenge for operators.
At UNITI expo 2026 in Stuttgart, Fortech showcased its answer to this transformation: an integrated ecosystem of hardware, software and services designed to orchestrate the entire retail operation through a single technological framework.
The Italian technology company presented a portfolio of solutions aimed at simplifying operations, enhancing customer engagement and enabling new business models for fuel retailers.
smartOPT | Maxi: from payment terminal to media device
At the center of Fortech's exhibition was smartOPT | Maxi, the company's next-generation outdoor terminal.
More than a payment device, smartOPT | Maxi has been conceived as a strategic digital touchpoint capable of combining transaction management, communication and customer interaction.
Its 21-inch full-touch vertical display adopts the familiar 9:16 format of smartphones, creating an intuitive user experience while opening new opportunities for customer engagement. Full-screen content, adaptive interfaces, video communication, voice guidance and step-by-step workflows transform the refueling process into a more interactive and user-friendly experience.
The terminal also integrates an all-in-one PCI 6.x payment platform, supporting all major payment methods while maintaining the highest security standards.
By combining payment acceptance, information delivery and digital engagement within a single device, smartOPT | Maxi reflects the changing role of the forecourt in modern retail environments.
Accessibility is another key pillar of the solution. The interface has been developed to support users with different needs through dedicated accessibility modes, voice guidance and simplified navigation paths, helping create a more inclusive customer experience.
The result is a terminal that combines payments, communication, assistance and accessibility in a single touchpoint.
OPTcompact | Oil: compact automation without compromise
Alongside its flagship solution, Fortech introduced OPTcompact | Oil, a terminal designed around a different but equally important principle: making advanced self-service technology accessible to stations of any size.
With dimensions comparable to a smartphone, OPTcompact | Oil delivers a complete self-service payment experience through a compact and intuitive interface. Its streamlined interaction model allows customers to complete transactions quickly and independently, while multilingual support and voice guidance contribute to a seamless user experience.
The terminal can be deployed in two configurations: as a standalone solution with dedicated support structures or directly embedded into fuel dispensers. This flexibility enables operators to adopt modern payment technologies without significant modifications to existing site layouts.
OPTcompact | Oil also reflects the industry's ongoing shift toward digitalization. The solution supports digital receipts and invoices, reducing reliance on paper-based processes while simplifying transaction management for both retailers and customers.
Its customizable interface further allows operators to integrate their own branding and communication elements, ensuring a consistent customer experience across the network.
smartPOS | Touch: one platform for every service
Completing the ecosystem is smartPOS | Touch, Fortech's multifunctional management platform designed for operators running increasingly diversified service stations.
As fuel retail evolves into a multi-service environment, operators are required to manage fuel sales, convenience retail, food service, EV charging, car wash facilities and parking operations simultaneously. smartPOS | Touch brings all these activities together within a single operational environment, creating what Fortech describes as a true control room for the entire site.
The platform allows staff to switch seamlessly between different services while maintaining a unified view of transactions, customers and operations. Retailers can monitor sales, manage inventory, configure pricing, supervise charging sessions, activate car wash programs and oversee daily business activities through one interface.
Particularly relevant for the industry's future is the integration of EV charging management. From charging session authorization to real-time monitoring of energy delivery, power levels and charging duration, smartPOS | Touch enables operators to manage traditional and electric mobility services within the same ecosystem.
Rather than treating fuel, retail, food and mobility services as separate businesses, the platform creates a unified operational model that helps retailers gain greater visibility, efficiency and control across their entire site.
Building the service station of the future
For Fortech, the future of fuel retail is not defined by individual technologies but by their ability to work together seamlessly.
As service stations continue their evolution into multi-service mobility destinations, operational complexity is becoming the norm rather than the exception. Fortech's approach focuses on reducing that complexity through connected systems, integrated workflows and unified management tools.
The solutions presented at UNITI expo 2026 embody this vision: transforming standalone devices into components of a broader ecosystem capable of supporting the next generation of mobility retail.
