Setel has introduced a new beta feature called Voice Fuelling, giving motorists another way to activate fuel pumps at Petronas stations using spoken commands. The company describes it as an AI-powered experience designed to make digital fuelling easier for users who may be less comfortable navigating apps or simply prefer speaking rather than tapping through several screens. Voice Fuelling builds directly on Setel's existing One-tap Fuelling feature rather than replacing the normal payment and fuelling process.
The feature currently supports four languages commonly used in Malaysia: Bahasa Melayu, English, Mandarin and Tamil. Setel says the multilingual approach is intended to make its digital fuelling experience more accessible to a wider range of customers. However, the actual voice-controlled portion is currently relatively simple, with the user mainly speaking the pump number rather than controlling every stage of the transaction.
Voice Commands Can Now Activate Your Fuel Pump
With Voice Fuelling enabled, customers arriving at a Petronas station can tell the Setel app which pump their vehicle is parked beside. The app then uses that spoken information to activate the appropriate pump through the existing One-tap Fuelling system. This means users do not need to manually select the pump number through the usual interface.
The concept could be especially convenient for motorists who already use One-tap Fuelling regularly. Instead of navigating through several on-screen options, they can simply state their pump number and let the application proceed with the configured transaction. The feature is currently in beta, so Setel may continue refining the experience as more customers begin using it.
Four Languages Are Supported
Voice Fuelling supports Bahasa Melayu, English, Mandarin and Tamil, giving users the option of interacting with the feature in the language they are most comfortable speaking. This is an important part of Setel's accessibility approach, particularly given Malaysia's multilingual population. Voice interaction may also make the app easier to approach for users who are unfamiliar with mobile payment interfaces.
The feature is not intended solely for technically experienced customers. Setel specifically positions it as another way of making digital fuelling more approachable for people who are new to apps or who simply find voice interaction more natural. The traditional Setel interface remains available for customers who prefer tapping through the process themselves.
How To Enable Voice Fuelling
Users first need a registered Setel account before Voice Fuelling can be activated. Creating an account requires the user's IC number as part of the registration process. Once the account has been created, Voice Fuelling can be enabled through the application's settings.
From the Setel home screen, users can tap Account, followed by Preferences under the Settings section. Voice Fuelling can then be switched on from there. Depending on the app configuration, a Voice Fuelling option may also appear directly on the home screen, providing a quicker way to begin the setup process.
One-Tap Fuelling Must Also Be Enabled
Because Voice Fuelling works as an extension of One-tap Fuelling, users who have not already configured One-tap Fuelling will be prompted to activate it. This remains the underlying system responsible for handling the actual fuelling transaction. Voice Fuelling essentially provides another way of triggering that existing feature.
The Setel app will also request permission to access the smartphone's microphone. This is necessary because the application needs to hear the user speak the pump number. As with other microphone-enabled applications, users will need to approve this permission before voice commands can work.
Petronas Staff Can Help With The Setup
Customers who are unsure about configuring the feature themselves can also obtain assistance at participating Petronas petrol stations. Setel says station personnel can guide users through the setup process. This could be helpful for customers trying digital fuelling for the first time or those unfamiliar with changing application permissions and preferences.
Once everything is configured, the actual process is relatively straightforward. After parking beside a pump, the user can activate Voice Fuelling and state the pump number. Setel then processes the request using the settings already stored through One-tap Fuelling.
You Cannot Tell Setel How Much Fuel To Pump By Voice
Despite the AI-powered branding, Voice Fuelling does not currently allow users to control the entire transaction through conversation. The voice component is primarily used to identify the pump number. Users cannot simply say something such as how many ringgit worth of petrol they want and have Setel configure the amount automatically.
Instead, the fuelling amount continues to depend on whatever value has already been configured under One-tap Fuelling. Once the app understands which pump is being used, the existing One-tap Fuelling settings take over. Voice recognition therefore simplifies pump activation rather than replacing the complete fuelling interface.
New Setel Users Can Earn Additional Mesra Rewards Points
Setel is also offering an incentive aimed at encouraging new customers to register for the service. New Setel users can earn five times Mesra Rewards points, up to a maximum of 500 points, after downloading the app, registering and verifying their account, and purchasing at least one litre of fuel.
The promotion is not specifically tied to Voice Fuelling, so customers do not need to use the new voice feature to qualify. Instead, it serves as a broader incentive for new users to join the Setel ecosystem and make their first fuel purchase through the platform.
An Accessibility Feature More Than A Full AI Assistant
While the phrase "AI-powered Voice Fuelling" may suggest a sophisticated conversational assistant, the beta implementation is considerably more focused. Setel is essentially using voice recognition to remove one manual step from the fuelling process. The feature does not currently support a broad range of conversational commands or allow users to configure every part of their transaction through speech.
That does not necessarily reduce its usefulness. For a repetitive process such as identifying a pump number, even a simple voice command can remove several taps and make the application easier for some customers to use. Its real value may therefore be convenience and accessibility rather than advanced artificial intelligence.
Final Thoughts
Setel's Voice Fuelling beta introduces a small but interesting change to the way customers can start digital fuelling at Petronas stations. Supporting Bahasa Melayu, English, Mandarin and Tamil makes the feature more accessible, while integration with One-tap Fuelling means existing users do not need to learn an entirely new payment process.
For now, the voice functionality remains fairly limited, with users mainly speaking their pump number while the predetermined One-tap Fuelling amount handles the rest of the transaction. Still, it provides another option for customers who prefer speaking over navigating an app interface. As the feature remains in beta, it will be interesting to see whether Setel eventually expands Voice Fuelling into a more complete conversational fuelling experience.
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