September saw the return of our Parking Network Virtual Conference. For the fifth edition, we welcomed solution providers to showcase a range of solutions which included, dynamic pricing, lighting-as-a-service, free-flow parking, and EV charging. And, for our popular Parking Talks Live, we shone the spotlight on municipal and retail parking to find out how it has adapted to the coronavirus pandemic.
As we enter the autumn months, our focus at Parking Network shifts to taking our established Airport Parking Network Event online – but more on that later!
From Parking Network
At the beginning of the year, we asked our industry experts what major parking trends we might expect during the course of 2020. Following a turbulent and disrupted year, we took stock of where things stand in the parking industry and asked again for predictions on where parking might be heading in the next few months. In our Quick Question: Where Do You See Things Headed in the Next Few Months? our participants painted an upbeat picture of the future for parking, and we were reassured that many of the trends predicted at the beginning of the year have, in fact, accelerated as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Contactless payment and touchless solutions are certainly having their moment in the parking industry, but another growing trend piqued our interest in September, and so we also delved into the rise of internet retail and the effect this has had on retail and city center parking occupancy. The responses from our parking experts were by no means doom and gloom, in fact, we were presented with a whole range of solutions from mobile payment and pre-booking to parking guidance and frictionless experiences. It seems as though the parking industry has plenty of tricks up its sleeves in the fight against internet retail, and for some, eCommerce lies at the heart of their business.
And, during our latest Parking Network Virtual Conference, we hosted another Parking Talks Live panel discussion dedicated to retail and municipal parking. Graham Titchener from York and Koen Vansteenland from Bruges returned to provide an update on parking in their cities and they were joined by Chris Mitchell from Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, who shared his experience of how retail parking has fared throughout the pandemic.
Read All About It
TravelCar has become Free2Move, initiating a new phase of accelerated development. Since 2016 TravelCar and Free2Move have collaborated in a common ambition to simplify mobility. For their latest project, their 100% digital short-term rental service will be rolled out in nine additional countries.
Libelium has announced its evolution from a sensor hardware manufacturer to a complete solution provider. By incorporating new services for IoT projects, presenting different business models, and adapting to market trends Libelium has transformed its offering.
At ParkMobile, celebrations were in order after hitting the 20 million user milestone. Launched in 2008, ParkMobile took nearly five years to acquire its first million users but now adds one million users every 60 to 70 days. Over the past 12 years, the company has processed a whopping 334,000,000 transactions totaling 57 billion minutes of parking time and over $1 billion in parking fees.
Meanwhile, EasyPark have hit their own milestone – with their services being made available by over 2,000 cities and operators. During the last few years, EasyPark have expanded into several new markets including Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
TIBA has established a direct presence in Boston, with parking industry veteran, Tom Sivak spearheading the operation. The expansion brings direct sales, support, and service to existing and future installations in the entire New England region.
Movers and Shakers
At APCOA Germany Hansjörg Votteler has taken over from Detlef Wilmer to focus on growth and recovery following the coronavirus crisis.
Product Launch Podium
EV solutions charge ahead with the launch of TagMaster’s sensor-based detection system. The sensor kit, which features a sensor, gateway, and antennas, identifies vacant charging points and notifies EV drivers through traffic management systems.
Acquisitions, Mergers, and Collaborations
FlashParking acquired Mountain Parking Equipment (MPE) to expand their customer base in the Southwest and Mountain regions and accelerate the market reach of their unique mobility hub operating system, FlashOS.
UPsafety joined T2 Systems to create a comprehensive portfolio of solutions. Municipalities, universities, operators, healthcare campuses, and transportation hubs will now be able to leverage the combined technology systems of T2 Systems and UPsafety.
Parkopedia and SoundHound entered a partnership to bring voice-enabled parking services, including reservation and payment options, in-car, making it possible for drivers to find the parking spot closest to their destination.
In Austin, drivers can now pay for parking straight from Google Maps thanks to a new partnership between Passport and Google. Google Pay and Google Maps have been seamlessly incorporated into Passport’s software so that a driver can navigate with Google Maps and pay for their parking as they approach spot.
