Flexible format
Published: 23 September, 2010
New technology is transforming parking payment systems, with a plethora of competing solutions. WPS remains a firm advocate of the humble barcode
The modern technologies that are reducing overheads and increasing profits for car park operators are also becoming more reliable, controllable and attractive. The industry is seeing huge developments in the technology behind parking solutions and more opportunities to increase revenue. With the help of barcode technology, parking systems now offer a wide variety of secure and trusted payment methods and devices that are suitable for all kinds of applications, from local supermarkets up to large shopping centres.
The introduction of reduction systems for individual retailers or shopping centre operators offer incentive discounts to customer’s car parking without the need for costly hardware.
WPS managing director Keith Williams says: “Reductions systems for shopping centre car parks are becoming increasingly popular, not only with centre managers, but with retailers too. The secure systems enable customers to relax and enjoy their shopping experience, knowing they will receive discounted parking prices.”
These web based reduction systems enable operators to monitor and control the system from their own computer, allowing them to access all the information about discounts from any chosen location.
The real benefit of reduction systems is the opportunity to strike up a relationship with shops or neighbouring hotels. This allows shopping centre owners to increase revenue from the car park, as well as for retailers to increase their revenue by encouraging parkers to their store for discounted parking. Reduction systems are making parking more effective for everyone involved.
Williams continues: “Retailers can promote their shops and increase sales by joining a reduction system. Ranging from parking vouchers handed out in individual shops to an easy-to-use website with secure login, there is a system to suit all car parks.” Reduction systems offer the greatest amount of control, enabling companies to keep track of how many discounts are being given and who is doing it. No software is required and reports are easy to print off to keep track of all activity.
The RFID chip is becoming more common as it gets cheaper to produce. Using RFID is very flexible and allows higher security and control for car parks. RFID cards can be used as subscriber cards that store information that is accessed via radio waves.
Non-barrier car parks are simple to use and are quick and efficient for customers. Subscribers can access the parking spaces and have a choice to pay before or after their shopping trip with a top-up system, meaning they can spend a little bit of extra time in the shops.
Whether it is standard barcode technology or the integration of third party cards, such as RFID cards, hotel room cards or NFC mobile phones, the developments in technology and parking management solutions offers a wide range of access identifiers.
There is a large choice of peripheral devices for printing and reading barcode tickets available that allow efficient and quick parking and payment. Access around the clock can also be offered with a wide range of other reliable access validators like NFC, LPR, Mifare and other proximity readers.
Unlike the magnetic stripe tickets that are expensive to produce and easily damaged, barcode technology is cheap to use and can store a large amount of necessary information. The paper tickets are easy to produce and are printed with a barcode that is resilient against damage.
To make the shopper’s life as easy as possible, machines offer the possibility to pay with Chip & PIN, debit and credit cards, prepaid cards, smart and chip cards or any other predefined payment card, mobile phone or token.
Williams concludes: “The introduction of attractive parking terminals with LED guidance and easy-to-use and understandable processes make the experience all the more pleasant. Remote access and control, an extensive reporting and statistics tool and a clear and easy-to-use operator interface ensure that parking solutions are not only user-friendly to the parker but also to the operator.”
