Parking space management: solutions to the challenges of efficient management of parking spaces

Parking space management — what does that mean exactly?

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Parking space management means the targeted organization and control of the supply and demand of parking spaces on public roads. It is part of parking space management and includes in particular paid parking on public roads and parking areas. It is usually used where vehicles regularly search for more parking spaces than are actually available. This can lead to increased search traffic, increased noise and environmental pollution, and parking violations. Parking space management is carried out through the individual administration of parking spaces or parking space management zones, in which parking is controlled and regulated by requirements, such as parking fees or time limits, in order to use parking space more efficiently.

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Objectives and areas of application

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In addition to commercial areas, which are mostly operated by private companies, parking space management is also used on municipal parking areas. The focus is on efficient use of limited parking space, reducing traffic congestion and simultaneously optimising the quality of life. If parking areas are successfully managed, they can generate additional income.

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commercial parking spaces

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With airports or train stations, parking garages, leisure facilities such as swimming pools, but shopping centers also have the widest range of commercial parking spaces. Efficient occupancy of these parking spaces results from perfected management and administration, from which operators benefit. Not only can revenue be increased, but costs can also be reduced through optimal management. Optimal occupancy of parking spaces not only increases the productivity of the area, improved management can also reduce search traffic and backlogs and also prevent parking people from parking their vehicles in prohibited areas. If the parking process runs smoothly overall, users of the parking area have a positive experience and their satisfaction is increased.

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Municipal parking space management

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Municipal parking spaces are provided and managed by municipalities or local authorities. They are usually located in urban areas where there is an increased need for parking spaces, for example in public places, in local recreation areas or even in residential areas. The purpose of managing municipal parking areas is to provide citizens and visitors to the municipality with safe and regulated parking facilities, to direct traffic, to reduce parking problems and search traffic, and to promote and make the use of public transport more attractive.

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Parking space management systems

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In order to ensure regulated use of parking spaces, various types of parking space management systems are used on private and municipal parking areas, which are intended to make it easier for operators to manage their areas. The various systems, which are based on barrier systems, parking meters or parking sensors, pose challenges and risks that hinder efficient and profitable management of parking spaces.

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Management through barrier systems

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Barrier systems are the main component of a widespread system for managing parking areas. They require you to stop when entering and leaving. This often leads to traffic jams and waiting times, particularly at peak times, which is not only frustrating for parking seekers, but also affects traffic flow and thus contributes to higher CO2 emissions. For operators, management systems based on barriers mean high expenditure, not only in terms of purchase but also in terms of maintenance. Are the systems failing, operators incur further costs as a result of repairs. In addition, revenue may be lost during the outage if parking areas can be driven on and left uncontrollably.

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Parking ticket or parking meter and personnel registration

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Drawing parking tickets or using a parking meter is another way of managing parking areas. Although parking users are free to choose the time for their parking duration, if this paid time window is exceeded without paying a further fee, the parking operator will incur financial losses. In addition, parking spaces that are needed by other users and would generate further income will continue to be blocked. Operators incur costs as a result of the necessary personnel, which regularly checks the parking areas. However, this does not guarantee the identification and subsequent tracking of incorrect parkers.

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Parking sensors

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Parking sensors provide real-time information about the availability of individual parking spaces. Parking space management systems that are based on sensors usually involve a very high investment. Implementing parking sensors usually requires a significant initial investment to purchase and install the sensors, as well as the necessary infrastructure that must be created on parking spaces. In order to function properly and to send appropriate data, parking sensors must be calibrated regularly, which leads to further financial burdens.

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Digital parking space management

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Digital parking space management replaces traditional hardware-intensive management systems such as barrier systems or parking meters and offers operators of commercial and municipal spaces many advantages. Through the automatic Number plate recognition With the help of cameras, they record using ANPR technology GDPR-compliant license plate when entering and leaving the parking area. This saves operators high purchase, maintenance and repair costs, in contrast to conventional barrier systems, among other things. By removing barriers, backlogs are simultaneously eliminated and search traffic reduced, which simultaneously reduces CO2 emissions and improves the quality of life.

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By recording parking processes precisely in real time, the availability of parking spaces can be optimized and thus the use of parking spaces improved. This reduces negative factors such as search traffic and backlogs, which are further reduced by the removal of barriers. Digital parking space management makes parking spaces more efficient and increases their profitability, as operators not only significantly reduce acquisition costs, but also minimize maintenance and downtime costs. Digital parking space management can also automate the tracking of incorrect parkers and provide an additional source of income without the need for additional human resources. Operators in particular, with high pressure to optimize costs, can assign employees to more value-adding tasks instead of following up on incorrect parkers.

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Examples of successful management of parking areas

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The operator of the commercial parking area of the Munich shopping center “The Einstein” There were many challenges with different user groups. In 2021, the barrier systems of the parking garage and underground car park, which often led to traffic jams and long waiting times, were replaced by Peter Park's barrier-free system solution. With the introduction of the digital parking space management system, high maintenance and repair costs for the barrier system were eliminated. Since then, the experience has been more pleasant for the various customer groups of “das Einstein”, as there are, for example, long waiting times in front of the vending machines and backlogs at the barriers. The pricing structure, which is adapted to the various user groups, is an attractive advantage for both operators and parking providers. For example, visitors to the fitness studio integrated in the shopping center simply receive a digital discount for parking time via an individual activation mask on a tablet attached to the shopping center.

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