Old-School Parking Management vs. New Parking Management Systems

Exploring the World of Parking Management Software: Quick Guide

In the realm of parking management software, there is a lot to choose from styles, types of software, and more. This wide array is good for choice, but how does one choose the best for their operation? Which is best for their current and future goals, client usage, budget, and overall needs of the operation? There are ten different types of parking management software that have their specific usage. These range from residential parking, employee parking, event venues, and more. Even though these software types differ in their general target use, the have one thing in common- they all use automated or digital parking software.

Before exploring the types of parking software, a general understanding of smart or digital parking is needed. Digital parking is also referred to as smart parking and utilizes a wide range of equipment and tools that are able to be run by themselves after programming for various uses. These tools are very modern and utilize sensors, cameras, lights, signage, and scanners in order to add an automated feature to a facility. The scale of this automation is dependent on the facility and the overall goals and budget. These systems can have just a touch of automation with cameras or sensors, or have the whole range of tools that have the parking facility run on its own with some monitoring over a digital application space.

General Parking Lot Software

In the general parking realm, this is covering areas that are used for parking in general such as shopping smalls or centers. Airports would also fall under this classification where the parking area is controlled through a general parking lot management software. With this software, the operator is focused on the collection of data and reporting as these systems give real-time data and stats for access control, occupancy, and overall revenue of the facility.

These systems are used as an integration with parking hardware which includes things like gates, barriers, license plate readers, and parking sensors. With this teamwork of systems and hardware, an operator can get a more comprehensive idea of their parking facility. If a facility is one that generates a revenue, it is recommended that this system be used.

Employee Parking Software

It may be a surprising statistic to find that the amount of office parking space is equal to the amount of overall office space. This is a large amount of parking space and in the past this was usually managed through an ad-hoc manner by a facility, real estate, and HR employees of the operation. With the use of automation, parking management can be optimized and can put a key focus on managing overall occupancy, data and reporting, and other key areas of focus. This is ideal for an operation where there are high numbers of employees that need parking.

Automatic Parking Management Software

With the introduction of high-tech technology, the world has made a major shift to automation where humans are taken out of the equation for focus on other matters and tasks. An automatic parking management system is one that utilizes this high tech tools in two different forms. These come in either full automation and lifts. In the fully automated system, the cars are parked and managed by the equipment and software in a sort of car valet system. Using lifts, belts, and sensors, cars are sorted and parked into a facility until a client is ready for pickup. For lift systems, these are used most frequently in high density areas and can lift a car to a parking space by using a system operated by a person. A major benefit of this parking system is that cars can be parked more compactly and the system can better utilize a space. These systems are typically found in car facilities that are revenue oriented and where cars sit for longer periods of time.

Automated Parking Management Software

Despite the similar name to the above system, automated parking software is different than automatic parking software. In the automated parking management software, the system uses software that minimizes a person’s or human’s input. In a traditional parking setup, an operation will employ a parking attendant who manages the parking area. They manage, survey, and enforce parking facility rules and procedures. The automated parking software takes the place of a paring attendant and is used as a means to cut down on employee costs and increase overall efficiency.  

Intelligent Parking Management Software

An intelligent parking management software uses tools such as sensors and cameras that integrate into a system. Another name for this type of software is IOT Based Vehicle parking software. With directing drivers to the individual parking spaces, efficiency is the name of the game for this software application. Client time wandering the parking area is greatly reduced and overall client satisfaction is increased substantially. This is done as a harmony between the sensors and cameras with software that guides clients to potential spaces for parking. These software systems are very popular in parking areas with a lot of traffic where clients spend a short amount of time in spaces such as shopping mall areas.

Parking Permit Management Software

When dealing with parking permits, the system used to be one where two separate systems needed to be used and it could be highly inconvenient for all parties involved. With parking permit management software, facilities can offer parking permits digitally and with ease through the same system, as well as do all of the neat features of smart parking. There are two types of permit software. These are residential such as those for apartments or townhome complexes, and employee parking permit management for companies where there is a constant traffic of incoming and outgoing employees such as at hospitals or factories.

There are many different parking software options available for a parking facility. This is perfect as there are no two facilities alike. Each having their own purpose, goal, and budget. In order to have a parking facility that utilizes smart or digital parking well, an operator needs to know their options and make informed choices. ParkingBadge has expert staff that can make recommendations for their digital software that is available online, as an Apple IOS app, and soon to launch Android platforms.

Digital parking offers an amazing opportunity to the parking facility regardless of the type. With the easy to use cloud-based app that is available on Apple IOS and soon an Android app, parking has never been easier. With ParkingBadge, clients and visitors can move forward into the 21st century!

Want to find out more about ParkingBadge’s innovative digital parking permit software? Request a demo now! https://parkingbadge.com/request-demo/