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Sainsbury’s rolls out fuelService app to enable disabled drivers pre-book refuelling assistance

Sainsbury’s rolls out fuelService app to enable disabled drivers pre-book refuelling assistance

 

Sainsbury’s has rolled out an app with not-for-profit organisation fuelService to enable drivers to pre-book assistance when refuelling their cars at a Sainsbury’s petrol station

  • fuelService app enables disabled and vulnerable drivers to ask ahead for assistance
  • Sainsbury’s hopes to give disabled drivers the flexibility to travel with the confidence of knowing someone will be there to assist them
  • The service will initially be available at over 300 Sainsbury’s petrol stations 

London, 2017-Oct-10 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sainsbury’s has rolled out an app with not-for-profit organisation fuelService to enable drivers with disabilities or impairments to pre-book assistance when refuelling their cars at a Sainsbury’s petrol station. Drivers are no longer at risk of being left waiting, or forced to drive to other petrol services unsure if a member of staff has seen them.

fuelService is an app or telephone service that enables customers to locate a petrol station that offers assistance and ask staff if they will be able to help before driving there, it then lets the station know when they arrive. Sainsbury’s colleagues can quickly respond to a request from drivers and let them know if they will be available to help within the next 30 minutes.

On acceptance of the request, the station will be notified when the customer parks up and which pump they are at. By simply pressing a button, staff can acknowledge their arrival and inform the customer how long they will be.

Following a successful trial in 58 stations, fuelService and Sainsbury’s will now roll the service out to over 300 petrol stations across the UK, including areas such as London, Manchester, Cardiff and Edinburgh.

The service is available primarily via an app on IOS, Android or Windows Phones, with an interactive telephone line, SMS and online booking options also available. It will be open to customers seven days a week at all participating stations.

Sainsbury’s is the first UK supermarket to offer this service and hopes to give disabled drivers the flexibility to travel with the confidence of knowing someone will be there to assist them.

Tim Fallowfield, Company Secretary, Corporate Services Director & Board Sponsor for Disability, Age and Carers at Sainsbury’s said, “We are delighted to be working with fuelService to make this option available to as many of our customers as possible. We want to be the most inclusive retailer, making all our customers feel welcome when they shop with us. Sainsbury’s is focusing on delivering great service that works for everyone, which is why it’s important we offer an alternative interactive telephone service alongside the app for those without smartphones. We hope people spread the word to make sure those that need it most are aware the service is available.”

Niall El-Assaad, founder of fuelService commented, “It’s fantastic that Sainsbury’s is the UK’s first supermarket to offer this service to its customers. Refuelling has always been a frustrating issue for disabled drivers. While you have your independence in being able to drive, the limited options to pump your own petrol can leave you with a very restricted route. Often the only option is to beep your horn, flash your lights and wave your blue badge about – a method which can be very embarrassing and also offers no guarantee of service. By providing customers with the option to quickly check for assistance in advance we hope to give them more freedom to travel without any constraints.”

Graham Footer, Chief Executive, Disabled Motoring UK added: “Refuelling continues to be a daily struggle for disabled motorists and it’s a challenge that has been going on for far too long. Everyone with a disability or impairment can benefit from a solution like this and it’s great to see Sainsbury’s leading the way and making it easily accessible to thousands of its customers.”

Contact:

press_office@sainsburys.co.uk
020 7695 7295

Source: Sainsbury

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EPR Retail News