forecourttech met with Carl Jones, International Forecourt Standards Forum (IFSF) Programme Manager, to find out more about the crucial role the organisation plays in guiding the fuel and convenience retail industry towards a more open, flexible and future-ready technology environment, and in shaping how technologies, devices and services connect across the global ecosystem.
IFSF is a forecourttech’26 industry association partner.
Thanks for joining us Carl. Please could you start by explaining how you become involved in IFSF?
I spent 30 years with ExxonMobil, most of that time in fuels retail technology. Working across a range of roles I saw first-hand how powerful standards can be, not only in simplifying the rollout of new systems, but in delivering long-term reductions in total cost of ownership.
During that time, I had the opportunity to represent ExxonMobil on the IFSF Board of Directors. This gave me insights into the collaborative, detailed and often unseen work required to create, maintain and evolve the specifications that underpin interoperability across the industry.
When I retired from ExxonMobil, it was a natural step to return to IFSF, this time as Programme Manager and Chair of the Board, to continue the work of helping the industry modernise, harmonise, and prepare for the next generation of retail energy technologies.
Why was IFSF set up?
IFSF was established to address a fundamental industry challenge: proprietary forecourt interfaces that made it difficult, and often expensive, for retailers to integrate equipment from multiple suppliers. The original members included Agip, BP, Conoco, Fina, Mobil, Shell, Total, Texaco and Q8.
Over the years, IFSF standards have evolved significantly. Early work focused on LON based device protocols for dispensers, tank gauges, car wash systems, and price poles. As digitalisation accelerated, IFSF expanded into payment systems, POS EPS integration, and site controllers.
What role does the IFSF play today?
Today, IFSF is driving a major shift toward API-based architectures. Its modern standards support cloud-based services including mobile payments, fuels pricing and wet-stock management.
This transition enables faster innovation cycles, easier onboarding of new services, and a more modular approach to technology deployment, critical for retailers navigating electrification, alternative fuels, and evolving customer expectations.
Its mission remains clear and relevant: to develop and promote global technology standards that enable seamless communication between forecourt and convenience retail systems.
This mission supports a broader vision of a “seamlessly connected and sustainable future” for the industry, where retailers can adopt best-in-breed technologies from a wide array of solution providers without being constrained by integration barriers.
Which organisations are members of the IFSF? Why should fuel retailers join?
IFSF’s membership includes many of the world’s leading fuel retailers, such as BP, Circle K, ExxonMobil, OMV, Q8, Shell, and TotalEnergies. The retailer community is further strengthened by associate members including ENI, MOL, Preem, Tesco, and YX Norway.
In addition, more than 120 suppliers participate as Technical Associates, reflecting the organisation’s broad influence across equipment manufacturers, solution providers, and payment technology companies.
Governance is structured around a Board, Executive Committee, Technical Committee, and a series of joint work groups covering key domains such as payments, mobile, loyalty, forecourt systems, wet stock management, car wash, and fuels pricing. These groups form the collaborative engine behind IFSF’s standards development and long term strategy.
Retailer members benefit from lower integration and deployment costs through the use of mature, proven standards, along with the freedom to choose best-in-breed solutions from multiple suppliers thanks to plug-and-play interoperability. Retailer members can directly influence future standards, while having access to test tools, simulators and technical assistance.
Supplier members benefit from increased market access and visibility, the rights to embed IFSF standards into their products, and the opportunity to collaborate with other members through participation in standards work groups and discussion.
Members are invited to attend the annual IFSF conference, our flagship event, which brings together retailers, suppliers, and technical experts to explore emerging trends, share implementation experiences, and align on the future of interoperability as the industry shifts toward APIs, cloud services, and new mobility models.
We are experiencing a global energy transition. How is IFSF addressing this challenge?
As the industry becomes increasingly interconnected, IFSF has expanded its collaborative efforts through strategic partnerships designed to accelerate global standards adoption and support emerging energy and mobility trends.
A major milestone was the signing of a Global Standards Development and Cross‑Licensing Agreement with Conexxus in 2023. This agreement formalised a long‑standing working relationship and established a shared framework for developing international standards and a unified API Data Dictionary for the retail fuels and convenience sector.
Both organisations emphasise that global standards benefit retailers regardless of geography, freeing suppliers from maintaining multiple proprietary interfaces and enabling faster, more cost‑effective innovation across markets.
IFSF has also agreed a mutual partnership with the EVRoaming Foundation, marking a significant step in shaping the future of EV charging standards on fuel and energy retail forecourts. The collaboration brings together IFSF’s expertise in forecourt standardisation with the EVRoaming Foundation’s stewardship of the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI), a globally adopted protocol enabling EV drivers to charge at any compatible station.
The partnership reinforces IFSF’s commitment to supporting the energy transition and ensuring that EV charging infrastructure integrates seamlessly with existing retail systems.
IFSF is a forecourttech’26 industry association partner. For more information about IFSF visit www.ifsf.org.
