If you are planning to set up a paid parking system or perhaps develop your existing parking system, we recommend considering the following points before starting the development process.
Number of parking spaces now and in the future...
Many make the mistake of selecting a system when ordering a parking solution that has a fixed maximum number of parking spaces, and this cannot be easily modified. Only choose a solution with a fixed limit if you are certain that the parking facility will not expand or change in the future. If you are operating a parking facility where expansion is expected, choose a solution that allows for an unlimited number of parking spaces to be managed.
Who is allowed to enter?
The second consideration is whether the parking facility will be used only by one-time ticket buyers, or if there will be subscription-based customers as well. Does your parking system need to handle different tickets and subscriptions, including special passes for employees? If desired, the access control system can identify customers and partners based on their license plates at the time of entry.
Another consideration is what size vehicles will be allowed in the parking facility. For example, if trucks are allowed, the ticket dispenser and control column may need to be placed higher. If different vehicle sizes don’t have separate entrances and both passenger cars and trucks will enter at the same location, it’s advisable to install a two-level column so that guests don’t have to exit their vehicles to request a ticket.
Sometimes, the parking lot or parking garage is used not only by daily ticket holders but also by tenants who, for example, park an average of 10 cars from their fleet of 50 vehicles. In this case, the system can allow 10 cars at a time, but any 10 cars from the 50. If, by chance, all 10 spaces are occupied and a 11th car from the company wants to enter, it can still use a daily ticket to enter. A special version of this is when 1 or 2 of the 10 spaces are fixed for specific cars (typically for executives or the CEO), and only the remaining 8-9 spaces are rotated among the rest of the fleet.
A more common scenario is when the host company covers the parking fees for arriving guests. In this case, it is possible to place a validation terminal or an Android mobile device at the partners’ location, allowing them to validate the guests' parking tickets for free. The operator can then settle the fees on a monthly basis.
Unit price, special price?
How will you set the parking fee? If you plan to set different prices based on vehicle categories or time of day, it’s important to define this clearly before placing the order, as well as any additional services. For example, will the restroom only be available to those who purchase a parking ticket? Is there a service that offers temporary free use for the customer, such as using the car wash, making a purchase at a store, or in shopping malls, going to the cinema?
Payment methods
In a modern parking system, it is no longer a good solution to have people pay the parking fee at a cashier. If you want to implement simpler, but more cost-effective solutions that avoid the hassle of cash handling and selecting the right human resources, it's worth installing payment terminals that accept both cash and credit cards. Additionally, these terminals handle payment tasks in a secure and reliable manner. Anteus Kft. was the first to integrate its systems with the National Mobile Payment Ltd.'s systems, allowing parking fees to be paid via mobile phone or SMS.
Other devices
A good parking system monitors the number of available spaces and allows customers to enter the parking lot accordingly. You can receive up-to-date—indeed, minute-by-minute—data about the parking capacity and daily revenue trends. The parking system provides the necessary data for accounting in a proper and easy-to-use format. Additionally, you can make parking easier for your customers by using an occupancy indicator, which shows whether a parking spot is available with red-green signals above each space.
The perfect solution: ParkControl®
With the ParkControl® paid parking system, we can provide you with perfectly tailored, custom solutions. Contact us, and our team will be happy to assist you in assembling the most suitable system for your needs.
