Are looking for a car park payment system for your premises?
In this guide, we take a look at the reasons for using self-service car park ticketing systems, where they are used as well as looking at the features of popular pay stations and barrier entry/exit terminals.
What is a Self-Service Car Park System?
A self-service car park system employs the use of automated entry and exit terminals with gated barriers to restrict the use of car park area. Combined with automatic payment stations, customers can enjoy the benefits of an efficient and reliable way to pay for their parking with the added security of gated exits.
Enjoyed by a hugely diverse number of institutions and organisations, self-service car parking is flexible and easy to use.
Stand-alone, self-service ticketing machines can also be used for car parking that is not secure such as on-street parking or open car parks.
Why Use Automatic Car Park Systems?
There are several reasons which make automatic car park ticketing systems of benefit, both for the consumer and the car park operator.
Efficiency
Automated ticketing technology provides instant and easy access without the need for the car park operator to provide manned entry/exit booths. With automated payment stations, there is also no need for a manned foot patrol to check tickets on the windscreens of cars.
Flexibility
Automated pay stations offer a flexible way for consumers to pay for the car parking using cash, debit or credit cards.
Reliability
High quality and modern pay stations are rugged in design and offer vandal proof storage of cash whilst providing a reliable and secure service for fast processing of debit/credit card payments.
Universal Access
Self-service car parking technology allows operators to offer access to their facility in a choice of currencies and languages.
Security
Offering limited access to your car parking facility provides consumers with added security for their vehicle as exit is restricted without having a valid entry ticket.
Diversity
With digital touchscreen displays being commonplace with payment stations and entrance/exit terminals, it is possible to utilise these screens to display advertising or corporate information.
Speed
Access to self-service car park technology is fast and can significantly reduce the amount of queuing at your car parking facility.
Monitoring of incoming and outgoing vehicles at your car-park can be linked to clear digital signage informing users of the number of available spaces at your facility. This feature is an important way to increase the number of customers to your car-park whilst reducing the potential of overcrowding.
Combined with variable messaging screens and automated parking guidance sensors to direct customers, once inside your car park, to available spaces, you can significantly improve the speed of parking for your customers.
Powerful Management Reporting
Live access software provides powerful analytical tools to report on how your car parking facility is operating.
As well as providing up-to-date information on the occupancy rates of your facility you can also access important information about visitor experience plus record useful data on revenue.
Full Back Up
Of course, there are always occasions when automation is not enjoyed by all and, despite clear signage, there can be customers who fail to follow instructions. Incidences of customers returning to their vehicles without first paying for their parking, losing their ticket or mis-managing their transaction are low but can, and do, happen.
Self-service car park terminals are routinely fitted with video intercoms to allow two-way communication back to a manned base.
Where Can Self-Service Car Parking Technology Be Used?
There are no limits to the applications of self-service car parking technology and automated car park systems can be installed in underground, high rise and over-ground car parks. They can be installed with access to a network over which a secure internet connection can be made to process electronic payments using telephony systems or GSM.
You can find self-service car parking technology in use at shopping malls, hospitals, hotels, universities, retail parks, conference and leisure centres, garages and multi-storey car parks.
Modular Parking Systems &Self Service Ticketing Technology
Every car parking application is different and the best solution is not a one-size-fits-all package. For this reason, modular self-service parking technology can offer greater flexibility.
Entrance & Exit Terminals
Entrance and exit terminals should offer speed and security of access, issuing and validating tickets as per your advertised parking hours. They should be easy to use and allow drivers to speak to an operative in the event of an enquiry.
Automated Barriers
Barriers prevent unauthorized entry and exit from a parking facility and offer greater security for its users. Combined with high-tech terminals (see above) there is no need for a manned booth and can be fully automated.
AZN barriers by Advance Access are designed for use in spaces with restricted headroom and are raised and lowered with a robust hinged movement.
Barriers can be combined with number plate recognition to offer greater speed of access and exit plus offer additional levels of security.
Payment Terminals
Payment terminals should offer quick and simple ways for customers to pay for their parking at your facility. They should offer flexible ways to pay, be easy to operate and be secure from tampering or vandalism.
The APTM pay station offers a universal method of payment for parking and can process payments in 2 different currencies with up to 4 languages. As well as offering credit and debit card payments, the terminal can also offer cash payments with secure storage of coins and banknotes. With a rugged design and build, the terminal offers a durable and vandal-proof solution for self-service parking ticketing. This terminal comes with a large touchscreen.
The APTL pay station is a smaller design of unmanned car-park payment terminal and offers similar features to the APTM; however, it does not have a large touchscreen.
Both terminals offer unattended parking payment solutions and can be fitted with intercoms to offer full back up support for customers.
Variable Message Signs
Using monitoring software at the entrance and exit terminals, it is possible to dynamically display the current availability of parking spaces with the use of variable message signs.
Designed to display up-to-date information about the occupancy of a parking facility, these powerful parking management tools can provide details of the total number of parking spaces available as well as indicate where these spaces are located (when used in combination with parking guidance systems – see below).
Parking Guidance Systems
A parking guidance system uses sensor technology to indicate when a car parking space has been occupied. Using a simple Red/Green light, each bay can be fitted with an illuminated bulb that is linked to network and can be used to update variable message signs (see above).
License Plate Recognition
License plate recognition can be added to your entrance and exit points and automated with barriers. It can be used to restrict access for your facility to authorised vehicles only.
