S-OIL Introduces Customized Smart Convenience Stores at Gas Stations

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] S-OIL has introduced a compact smart convenience store optimized for gas station site conditions in collaboration with Emart24, a convenience store brand under Shinsegae Group.

S-OIL recently opened the first and second smart convenience stores at Jangmi Gas Station in Gwangju Metropolitan City and Buk Sangju IC Gas Station in Sangju, Gyeongbuk Province, and currently operates a total of four stores. They plan to continuously expand in consideration of customer response and market conditions together with Emart24.

The gas station-tailored convenience store can be implemented with only about 23㎡ of space, which is half the size of a regular convenience store, and focuses on selling product categories preferred by fueling customers, which is expected to greatly help enhance gas station profitability. Additionally, it is equipped with a self-checkout system, allowing flexible operation in either staffed or unmanned formats.

An S-OIL official stated, "The compact smart convenience store designed considering the location of gas stations is expected to become a new business model that satisfies both customers and gas station operators by improving customer convenience and efficiently utilizing gas station space."

Meanwhile, S-OIL plans to introduce a new service where customers can purchase and pay for products through kiosks installed in the fueling area without needing to enter the convenience store, and then pick up their items at a Take-Out zone.