In the next feature in our series of highlights on the trending technologies coming to a parking operation near year, we are discussing cloud computing and hardware virtualization.

Cloud computing refers to the on-demand delivery of computing services—machines, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet (“the cloud”). Organizations using these technologies are able to pay as they go, scale as needed, and rent to use instead of own. Hardware Virtualization is the abstraction of the various hardware resources into software and their functions delivered as services over the Internet from the Cloud.

Traditionally, the parking industry has been hardware intensive with the prevalence of bulky and expensive hardware equipment like PARCS systems, ticket dispensing machines, pay-on-foot machines, cash registers, on premise desktops and server machines, etc. However, cloud computing and hardware virtualization are leading to the minimization of the hardware onsite in the garage, thus significantly reducing operations costs on electricity, paper etc. Many of these solutions are being consolidated or eliminated completely from off-street and on-street parking operations, creating a more streamlined experience for parking staff and customers.

Next generation cloud-native parking technologies, with minimal hardware and software on premise, are now being developed to be self-managing, freeing garage operations from expensive hardware maintenance and labor costs. With inexpensive sensors and readers, mobile payment on customer phones, and ALPR based enforcement, all the access control and enforcement hardware like gates and barriers are becoming virtualized. In addition, wayfinding signage is giving way to digital signage, guiding the customer all the way from the road to their vacant parking spot, reducing carbon emissions and the time to park. ParkEngage is leading the way in developing parking technologies that create a far lower impact on organizations’ bottom lines, allowing our clients to pay as they use and scale to meet their specific needs. This helps to dramatically reduce the costs associated with equipment that is often already outdated shortly after installation, while keeping up with the latest technology trends to meet customer expectations.

Contact us to schedule a demo and start taking your operation digital now!

The 2022 IPMI Conference & Expo was an amazing opportunity to bring together parking, transportation, and mobility professionals from all over the globe to learn about how the industry has changed in recent years and how we can move forward. The ParkEngage team had an amazing time connecting with colleagues and friends and making new connections. 

We also enjoyed discussing all of the ways the industry has changed in recent years and how recent innovations and events are transforming how parking and mobility will be managed and experienced in the coming years. Check out just a few of the IPMI 2022 takeaways we came home with last week. 

• Data is key. Owners and operators are increasingly grasping the value of not only obtaining data from their operation, but evaluating this information to understand customer patterns, financial strength, and more. There are increasingly sophisticated solutions developed in recent years to not only gather this information, but assist organizations in making decisions to improve their operations and bottom lines.
• Technology Should Be Flexible. Every organization is unique, with completely different needs, objectives, and resources. Technology is no longer one size fits all, and solution providers need to be able to conform and customize their products to an extent to meet the individual needs of their customers. For instance pay-as-you-go, limited investment in equipment, and providing choices from customized to app-free options allows organizations to effectively serve their customers the way they need.
• COVID Changed Everything. We already knew that. But it’s become evermore clear as we continue to get back to a sense of normal. The now likely long-term or permanent work from home arrangements have made a previously unfathomable impact on permit parking, parking demand, curb spaces, and more and owners, operators, and solution-providers must work together to understand the needs of the “new consumer”.
• Paid Parking May Soon Be Unrecognizable. Paid parking had already transformed significantly in recent years moving from traditional meter payments to mobile payments. But already so many new payment options may soon be possible for parking. From RFID systems, to Venmo, or even bitcoin, these new payment solutions we’ve heard so much about in other areas of our lives may reach parking before we know it. 
• Support the Frontline. Frontline employees are facing greater challenges than ever before. From learning to navigate so many new technologies, to meeting increasingly high customer expectations, it’s important to provide them with the training and resources they need to do their jobs effectively and support the patrons they serve.
• Customer Expectations Have Shifted. Parkers today now have so many tools and resources to find the parking facilities that best meet their specific needs, from location to price to amenities. Now more than ever it’s important for organizations and solution providers to understand the changing expectations of their patrons and provide incentives to keep them coming back over and over again.

Thanks again to everyone who stopped by to chat with us. We’ll see you next year in Fort Worth!