ParkEngage has partnered with AAA Parking to integrate its touchless parking technology at the new Zoo Atlanta parking facility. This collaboration will transform the parking experience for patrons of the new, more than 1000-space, Grant Park Gateway parking facility. Zoo Atlanta attracts more than 500,000 visitors each year.

The ParkEngage Touchless Parking solution does not require the end user to download any apps and does not require any proprietary equipment to be installed. ParkEngage tracks when the user arrives to the facility, where they park, and when they exit. It allows the customer to perform all of their parking tasks via their mobile phone. The system gives customers control of their parking experience right at their fingertips, in a safe, efficient, and quality manner.

When visitors arrive, they will use their phone to check into the facility. The customer will then receive an eTicket on their mobile phone and proceed to their parking space. Upon returning to the parking facility, the customer will simply open their eTicket to initiate mobile payment. They will then be able to immediately checkout of the facility and exit the garage after retrieving their vehicle.

ParkEngage Touchless Parking will provide AAA Parking and its customers with a number of additional benefits to create a seamless parking encounter, including:

• Eliminating backup times at gated exits or valet wait times
• Eliminating paper tickets through the provision of eTickets
• Eliminate cumbersome physical membership passes and use ePass in its place
• Implementation of efficient and convenient payment through mobile pay
• Promote special offers and event-based pricing
• Ability to sell add-on services that customers can purchase or reserve directly from their mobile devices
• Provide personalized customer service and create brand loyalty

AAA’s Regional Director Event Operations, Miles Hamilton stated “AAA Parking set out to provide Zoo Atlanta members and visitors with a way to conveniently reserve and redeem e-reservations using a simple platform that requires no app to download. AAA Parking partnered with ParkEngage to create a 100% contactless solution while providing members and visitors a seamless process.  It was the ability of ParkEngage to provide us with a customized solution that really stood out to us.” This innovative technology is just another groundbreaking feature integrated into the Grant Park Gateway garage. The facility also includes a 2.5-acre green roof, electric vehicle charging stations, and bike racks.  It is the world’s first project to receive both LEED Sites and Parksmart certifications. The ParkEngage Touchless Parking solution enhances the sustainability features of the garage by significantly reducing the amount of time spent idling at the entrance and exits.

Photography courtesy of City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation.

Part 1 of a 2-part blog series highlighting ParkEngage CEO Rajiv Jain’s recent Parking & Mobility article. Check out the full article here.

In the coming years, touchless parking solutions will continue to grow in popularity and integration. Make sure your facilities, staff, and customers are prepared for these changes as we move into the future.

Staff Education

With any new advancement in technology, there will be a learning curve for both the organization implementing it and the community it is serving. As we continue to move into this new age of touchless technology, it will be important to effectively communicate these changes to parking staff and provide them with the education and training to support it.

From valet parking attendants to parking maintenance staff, their job responsibilities will begin to look a little different than they have traditionally. It is important to provide these valuable team members with the information and resources to continue to effectively perform their duties, as well as the time to get used to these new advancements. This will not only provide them with the confidence to continue to do their jobs effectively, but most importantly to serve and support the customers that visit the facility, many of whom may also require a bit of a learning curve as well.

Marketing and Outreach

Another important consideration when implementing new technologies of any kind is to ensure that the community you are serving is educated and comfortable as well. This is why it is so important to select a technology that is best for your operation.

As customers come to expect more touchless parking options, they are more willing to engage with operators virtually online and through their mobile devices. This also means that they are more open to sharing their online contact information (i.e. their email addresses and phone numbers) with the operator. This is very valuable information for the operators’ marketing organizations and was previously difficult to get with the traditional paper- based parking technologies. But with this trust, comes the responsibility of keeping this information very secure, and not use it unethically or without permission, and only for the benefit of the customers.

Effective marketing and outreach initiatives not only help to encourage the adaption of new parking technologies, but they can also help to attract new customers. As customer demographics and behaviors continue to evolve, and customers become more informed and tech savvy, they are searching for more convenient and comfortable parking options.

It will be extremely important to utilize marketing platforms to inform customers of upcoming changes and new technologies in their parking facilities. Just like with parking staff, customers may also need some time to get used to these changes, and this is a great opportunity to connect with them and provide them with the information they need to seamlessly transition to a new touchless parking experience. Further, these new advancements may also help you to attract new customers who are looking for a parking facility that enables them to easily move between their entry, payment, and exit processes. Such personalized marketing efforts will also help to increase customer loyalty in this highly competitive environment.

As we know, change is always inevitable. And right now, in our industry, we are seeing a major shift toward touchless solutions for every moment of the parking experience. As more and more technologies continue to enter the market, it is essential to assess which options are right for you, your organization, and your community. Further, providing not only your frontline employees, but also your customers, with the tools, information, and time they need to adapt to these changes will help to keep your operation moving smoothly, provide opportunities to connect with your customers, and help to usher in a seamless transition to a touchless parking future.

Author:

Rajiv Jain serves as CEO of ParkEngage. He can be reached at rajiv.jain@parkengage.com.