9A - Testing the Hypothesis Part 2

Convenient Fuel Ups

Opportunity

Gas stations throughout the country do not utilize cash accepting devices at the pump, therefore forcing cash customers to pay in-store. The solution would be to install cash accepting devices on some or all gas pumps.

Interviews 1-2 (Prototypical customers that could utilize the opportunity)
I conducted two interviews with two classmates from my wildlife class. The two interviewees actively utilized gas vehicles, however they mostly used credit cards instead of cash. In these interviews, I discussed the given opportunity as well as my proposed solution. Both participants like the convenience factor of the opportunity but pointed out that they would only receive the secondary benefits from the gas pumps being used in a more timely fashion when waiting. After I asked about situations in which they were the passenger of the car, they both actively agreed that there may be very specific situations in the future where the convenience is more clear.

Interview 3 (Non-driver)
The third interview I conducted involved a friend on mine who only used the public bus system and his bike as he lives very close to campus. He told me that there would be no benefit for him except for the situations when he carpools with a friend to get home to Tallahassee. Although there could be a situation where it could convenience him in the future, he said that almost every time he would Venmo money to the driver while they use a credit/debit card. When discussing how he gets around at home when away from school, he stated that he used his dad's Tesla for the most part therefore also putting him outside this opportunity's boundary. I believe I learned the most from this interview because I learned that some people's lifestyle genuinely falls outside my opportunity's boundaries in almost every situation imaginable.

Interviews 4-5 (Gas station attendants with more knowledge about its use)
I conducted two more interviews with gas station attendants, however this time it was at the Shell on Archer Road near I-75. Both participants liked the opportunity as it made their life easier (similar to my initial interviews), however still raised question with the loss of in-store traffic. When asking about whether they believed any gas station companies would consider the opportunity there were doubtful answers. They both said that it would be a hard opportunity to sell because gas stations have used this system for a long time and therefore most likely with good reason.

WHO
Before I conducted my interviews, I realized that I need to also focus on the average prototypical user of the opportunity, not just the companies that would implement it. No specific gas stations fall out of the boundary of utilizing this opportunity, however many would be skeptical depending on the views of the typical consumer. Because of this, I decided to interview two workers from the Shell gas station on Archer Road, two classmates from my Wildlife class that I knew had vehicles., and a friend who doesn't drive. Based on the interviews with three typical customers, the only people who fall outside the boundary are those who exclusively use electric vehicles, people who don't utilize gas transportation, and people who are too young or too old to drive. Anyone under the age of sixteen and a vast number of individuals over the age of eighty-five would not utilize this for their own vehicles. However, any time they ride in a car (even though they don't drive), they still get the benefit of a quicker fill up. Individuals who only use credit/debit cards and in no circumstances every use cash would also fall outside my opportunity's boundary.

When conducting interviews with attendants at the Shell (based more on gas companies utilizing the opportunity), they believed that any and all gas stations could be participants of this opportunity. However, they also believed that almost every gas station would not use the idea at all or only implement it in a handful of very busy gas stations.

WHAT
My opportunity deals with the convenience that cash customers would experience when filling up. There are other opportunities that fulfill the general idea of convenience, however this would be the only one that specifically deals with convenience at the gas station. This unmet need differs from most others because the typical customer has no substitutes and feel this need of convenience very often if they are mostly cash users.

WHY
Those individuals who do not have a license or a vehicle will feel this need, however they are excluded from the true direct benefits of the opportunity compared to those with a vehicle. Electric car users and those who do not utilize gas transportation remain outside my opportunity's boundary because convenience does not matter if its for a service they do not utilize.

Inside the Boundary	Outside the Boundary
WHO Customers with access to a vehicle that uses gasoline. Individuals who ride in the car receive secondary benefits.	WHO Individuals without a license and/or gas vehicle. Individuals who never use gas transportation. People who exclusively use credit/debit cards Electric car owners.
WHAT A convenient way to fill up one’s vehicle when using cash.	WHAT This opportunity is not a convenience for those listed above who would not partake in the services.
WHY This need exists because many people would like to save time when filling up their vehicle.	WHY Some people do not find themselves using the gas pumps at gas stations because they do not operate gas vehicles on a consistent basis.