Needless to say, providing a superior parking experience has become a key differentiator for operators, many of whom have multiple lots to manage. In this regard, they can be helped with open-platform parking solutions.
Needless to say, providing a
superior parking experience has become a key differentiator for
operators, many of whom have multiple lots to manage. In this regard, they can be helped with
open-platform parking solutions.
In a
recent blogpost, All Traffic Solutions stated: “You need a solution that doesn’t require an engineering degree to implement. The system should be flexible, cost-effective and able to disseminate information throughout your diverse infrastructure — lots, garages, street parking. The right solution will meet your high-accuracy needs at a price that will drive value and ROI.”
One way parking operators can achieve those is using an open-platform parking solution, the post said. “The key difference between an open platform and a closed system is the ability to connect to
different data sources and outputs without having to pay for custom coding to integrate it with your existing systems, new technologies or a specific component from another manufacturer. The open platform has pre-built integrations or toolkits that make this a simple process,” it said.
So what are the benefits are open-platform parking systems? The blogpost cited the following.
Accuracy
According to the post, most parking operations have a number of different environments in which tracking availability is necessary — garages, lots and street parking, to name a few. “Across it all, you want one ‘source of truth’: a central system where you can see the availability, utilization, occupancy time, duration and type of parking stay at every structure under your management,” it said.
Cost effectiveness
An open platform allows the operator to integrate the most accurate technology and manage the cost at each location, the post said. “An open system allows you to choose the right system for each location to optimize costs while at the same time achieving your parking goal. With the right systems in place, you can reduce congestion in your garages, lots and on-street parking locations, so parkers find the best spot, faster and with far less hassle,” it said.
Future-proof
As technology advances, being able to future-proof is key. “You invest in a great new system with all the latest technology, only to have it leapfrogged the next year by a more accurate, cost-effective component that would solve your problems but you can’t add it to your system because it doesn’t integrate with your technology. If you have an open platform parking system, you future-proof yourself against obsolescence and keep your options open as new, more accurate and efficient options are introduced,” the post said.
The post added that as parking hardware can be expensive, being able to re-tool it into the next generation of parking technology can be beneficial. “This means the ability to pull in data from your on-premises PARCS or ALPR system for availability, integrating new devices to supplement your existing configurations or devices, and leveraging your signage, apps or website for guidance can all reduce the cost to upgrade and provide you with the most flexible path to introducing new technologies on an ongoing basis,” it said.
Freedom from vendor constraints
According to the post, in the event the vendor doesn’t progress with technology, it can be difficult and expensive to switch with a closed system.
“Other issues include hardware purchases and installation, software configuration, custom integration with other systems and the learning curve for your IT and maintenance staff. These are all barriers to switching that can be insurmountable,” it said. “By selecting an open and interoperable solution, you can select the technology you want with the peace of mind that your investment is protected.”