I hear that one big push is in Automation. Automating everything in parking from collection to direction. Reduce staff, give better service. Seems like a no brainer, but often lot owners are slow to move. After all, their interface with the parking industry is the operator who may see reduction in staff as a negative, income wise.
I know that a number of major operators are beginning to embrace this concept. Everything from automated pay stations (old hat) to cash acceptors on exit ( a bit newer). The idea is that normally a lot would close at 10 PM but there were still 20 cars in the lot. It wasn’t profitable to keep a person there later, but if you could put basically a POF in the lane, you could collect that last bit of money without having a cashier at hand. In addition, you would keep absolute control on you facility, never opening the gate and letting people leave for free after hours.
Of course traffic direction signs, capacity signage, and systems that turn on lighting only when someone is in that area help customers and save big bucks.
JVH
