3 Technologies to Achieve Frictionless Parking Experiences in 2022
An aspiration for leading organizations across the globe
5 min read
It is the year 2022. Parking facilities are no longer viewed as simply a place to park a car, but instead, they are considered as mobility hubs with a mission to make experiences flowing in and out as quick, easy and safe as possible. This is why investing in frictionless parking solutions is top of mind for many leading organizations in 2022 across the globe.
But what does it mean to be frictionless, and how can it be achieved? As varying markets take their parking operations to the next level, frictionless advancements require little to no effort from end-users. Creating a frictionless parking operation requires eliminating physical touchpoints throughout the customer journey with technologies such as license plate recognition and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
Below are three technologies that will bring your organization that much closer to achieving a truly frictionless parking operation in 2022.
1. License plate recognition technology that eliminates physical touchpoints.
License plate recognition (LPR) is the ticket to frictionless parking. Using image-processing technology to identify vehicles by their license plate, LPR can be configured to eliminate all physical touchpoints by processing access via license plate credentials.
This technology can be used in gated and non-gated parking environments. A ticketless LPR configuration detects and reads a license plate when approaching the gate. Upon exit, the license plate is detected and read, and the amount due is calculated based on the time the car was parked.
In the case of a free flow LPR configuration, devices are situated at the parking lot entry and exit. There is no stopping and no charge at the exit. Transient visitors are invoiced for parking via mail, and subscribers are charged after the fact via their chosen automatic billing method. Hybrid frictionless models with physical pay stations or mobile payment methods are commonly adopted in this case.
2. Permit access control using hands-free long-range transponders and Bluetooth low energy permits.
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) systems are now emerging as a reliable "card" access method. Why? With access credentials having the ability to be linked to a mobile device, your customers will be able to enter the facility thanks to BLE-enabled readers that use Bluetooth to read the virtual card and open the gate. Utilizing long-range RFID readers for vehicle transponders is another reliable, hands-free method to verify your customer's permit credentials. Some systems can detect in-car transponders from up to 30 feet away. All your customers will have to do is drive up to the gate and let the transponder do the work.
The possibilities associated with permit access technology are endless. Soon, the technology will be installed directly in the vehicle itself.
3. Setting up your facility for future success with mobile platforms that do more.
The future of frictionless parking experiences lies within your customers' hands (quite literally). Mobile parking platforms such as Parkedin™ are increasingly becoming the key to frictionless customer journeys, offering more than just an option to pay, reserve and validate parking, but also arrive and exit without lifting a finger.
With platforms such as Parkedin™, customers can register their payment or reservation in advance. When they arrive at and leave the parking facility, frictionless technologies such as LPR or BLE process their credentials and grant frictionless entry and exit.
The parking and mobility industry is leading the way in deploying advancements in frictionless solutions that promote more accessible, safer and faster interactions—all by leveraging innovative technologies that create intelligent, interconnected and frictionless experiences. Setting your parking program up for success starts now, with smart technologies that will meet your organizational and customer needs now and well into the future.
References
Digital parking permits - precise ParkLink: Parking management services. Precise ParkLink | Parking Management Services. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.preciseparklink.com/ps-parking-subscription-management
Lato, L. (2021, May 10). Frictionless parking: The way forward. Parking Industry. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.parkingindustry.ca/parking-technology/frictionless-parking-the-way-forward?rq=frictionless
License plate recognition - precise ParkLink: Parking management services. Precise ParkLink | Parking Management Services. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.preciseparklink.com/ps-license-plate-recognition-parking-technology
Parkedin urban mobility - precise ParkLink: Parking management services. Precise ParkLink | Parking Management Services. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.preciseparklink.com/ps-parkedin-urban-mobility
Sih, W. (2021, May 10). The Future of Frictionless Parking Solutions. Parking Industry. Retrieved December 22, 2021, from https://www.parkingindustry.ca/feature-articles/the-future-of-frictionless-parking-solutions