Technology

In today’s fast changing world, businesses are rethinking their customer service approach. Rather than relying on large teams, many are opting for self-service tools and effective messaging to empower customers to manage their own accounts. This shift isn't just about cutting costs—it's about improving efficiency while maintaining high service standards. Why Less is More Traditional customer service models focused on staffing large teams to handle daily service needs. But today, customers want instant, 24/7 access to solutions. From updating accounts to finding answers online, self-service platforms are the key to giving customers more control over their experience. This shift also helps businesses lower costs and scale operations more effectively. The Power of Messaging While self-service is essential, messaging is the real necessity. Clear, friendly, and proactive communication is critical to ensuring that digital platforms don’t feel foreign. Whether it’s a well-crafted FAQ poster, a chatbot that guides users smoothly, or helpful prompts throughout an app, easy-to-understand messaging enhances the user experience. • Clear instructions ensure customers can solve problems quickly. • A friendly tone fosters a sense of connection, even in automated interactions. • Proactive support anticipates needs and guides users before they get stuck. Looking Ahead The future of customer service is a balance of self-service and personal support. By combining smart messaging with digital solutions, companies can continue to offer high-quality service while adapting to modern demands. In the end, it's not about how many people you have on your team—it’s about how effectively you communicate with your customers. Tavris Parker, CAPP, is a Parking Operations Manager for the City of Virginia Beach. Tavris can be reached at TParker@vbgov.com.

Manitou Springs, CO – Parking Base, the leading provider of customized cloud-based parking management solutions, today announced that it has been selected by the city of Manitou Springs, Colorado to provide comprehensive digital parking management for municipal parking spaces. The Manitou Springs digital parking management program will utilize Parking Base’s cutting-edge Permit Manager platform to enhance the parking experience for residents, while improving parking operations. An historic and picturesque destination nestled at the foot of Pikes Peak, Manitou Springs attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Managing parking effectively has become a priority for the town to ensure smooth traffic flow, ease of access to local attractions, and support for its vibrant downtown businesses. City managers are particularly invested in assuring that designated residential parking spaces are preserved for residents and aren’t misused by visitors, and this is a focus of the Parking Base parking management program. “We are proud to be bringing our innovative parking management solutions to Manitou Springs,” said Parking Base SVP Christopher Perry. “Parking should be simpler and smarter to provide the greatest benefits to residents, visitors, and municipal operations alike. Our parking management technology will make parking more convenient for drivers and more manageable for the city.” Key Features of the New Parking System include: 1. Digital Permit Program: The solution provides an efficient and simplified process for applying and approving residential, business, and temporary parking permits. 2. Data-Driven Insights: The digital platform will collect and analyze parking utilization data, allowing the town to optimize parking policies and improve future urban planning initiatives. 3. Support for Sustainability Goals: By streamlining parking and reducing unnecessary driving, the system supports Manitou Springs’ sustainability initiatives, reducing emissions and promoting eco-friendly practices. The digital parking management system is expected to launch in January of 2025. About Parking Base Parking Base is the leading company offering cloud-based parking management solutions to handle all aspects of parking operations. Its comprehensive suite of products includes Permit Manager, Valet Manager, Destination Manager, and Access Manager, and it delivers a seamless and customizable digital, cloud-based solution in a single platform. Parking Base’s tools are designed to optimize efficiencies for parking owners and operators, while enhancing the customer experience. For more information about Parking Base, please visit www.parkingbase.com.

Yonkers, NY — Flowbird, the leader in curbside and off-street mobility solutions, is proud to announce its collaboration with Risetek Global, an industry leader in cutting-edge technology integration, to deploy its advanced parking access and revenue control (PARCS) technology at the Ridge Hill shopping center in Yonkers, New York. Located in Westchester County, just 18 miles from Manhattan, Ridge Hill is a modern town square that blends shopping, dining, entertainment, and outdoor spaces. Ridge Hill provides a vibrant community hub with over 60 shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. To enhance the customer experience and streamline parking operations, Flowbird has integrated 15 of its ‘Flowbird GO’ Off-Street devices, along with Risetek’s cutting-edge License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras across the center’s three parking facilities: Market Street Garage, Archer Garage, and North Otis Garage. Flowbird’s Off-Street devices have fully configurable touch-screen interfaces, dynamic user management capabilities, and LED signals to communicate real-time parking availability. These features are designed to improve the efficiency of parking operations, reduce costs, and deliver a more seamless experience for visitors. Combined with Risetek’s LPR cameras, which use artificial intelligence to capture and record license plate numbers, this solution enhances security, enforces parking regulations, and ensures parking spaces are used efficiently. “Utilizing both companies’ cutting-edge smart parking technology solutions makes perfect sense for clients who require a hybrid frictionless environment,” said Garrett Hofeld, Vice President of Risetek. By integrating Flowbird’s expertise in parking management with Risetek’s AI-powered LPR technology, the two companies are helping to create a more innovative, sustainable parking environment at Ridge Hill. This collaboration aims to optimize parking operations, improve security, and deliver a user-centric experience for shoppers and visitors alike. The enhanced PARCS solution is part of Flowbird’s ongoing commitment to providing innovative, cloud-based solutions that make urban environments more efficient, user-friendly, and connected.

London, UK / Munich, Germany – MINI’s latest circular media system as part of their fresh new design language, provides an EV charging experience that delights drivers by seamlessly integrating Parkopedia’s award-winning EV charging data into the vehicle, making the charging process a more positive and enjoyable experience. This enables drivers across the USA, Europe and Asia1 to easily locate EV charging from the comfort of their cars, addressing one of the main pain points of owning an electric vehicle. EV charging data plays a central role in the latest generation of electric MINIs, which feature the automotive world’s first circular in-car OLED screen. The new models feature a high-resolution 240mm screen, which offers strong clarity and next-level digital technology, while retaining the iconic MINI design of a circular central dial. The lower part of the screen is dedicated to important functions including navigation, which can be accessed at any time, improving usability. OLED screen central to minimalist interior As part of true driver convenience, the MINI OLED screen sits at the heart of the cabin, providing all core vehicle data, navigation, connected services, media and climate controls. The ‘ambience’ of the car can now be tailored to the driver’s personal preferences through distinct new MINI Experience Modes, which enable the driver to personalize the displays and driving experience. The central OLED display contributes to a clean and uncluttered interior layout that reduces distractions, enabling the driver to focus on the driving experience, with the car’s interior having a minimalist, digital, immersive and warm feel. Helping to make the system as usable as possible, MINI has made sure that all vehicle functions are operable through either touch or voice controls, with the display being moved nearer to the driver to ensure easy reach. This innovative in-car technology is available across a broad range of global markets, including the USA, Europe and Asia. MINI Navigation features 3D visualization and augmented reality displays as well as providing information on free parking spaces, with integrated in-car payment functionality, to further improve the driver experience. Charging still a significant concern for many EV drivers Charging is often seen as troublesome and tedious by EV drivers, with more than 90% of EV drivers being anxious about charging, according to the latest Parkopedia Global Driver Survey, with 44% having run out of charge before. The new circular OLED screen and seamless functionality aim to make charging a pleasing experience – a standout value-added feature for MINI drivers. OLED screens are thinner and offer greater color and contrast than LED equivalents, providing a more punchy image and greater clarity on the move. Integration of connected car services from Parkopedia offers added value to MINI drivers through parking and charging data and seamless in-car payments. This enables drivers of the latest generation of MINI models to search for parking and charging effortlessly from within the vehicle, navigate to these locations and pay for parking directly through the vehicle. Drivers want in-car connected services functionality This functionality successfully addresses the growing demand for more sophisticated in-car services, with 60% of drivers wanting in-car payments for services such as parking, charging, fuel and tolls, according to the latest Parkopedia Global Driver Survey. EV charging is highly valued by drivers, with 56% of global motorists wanting this feature, including 74% of current EV drivers. More than half of drivers who would consider an EV consider finding charging away from home a concern and therefore having in-car features that simplify the process of both finding and paying for charging should help to encourage drivers to choose cars with these features. Brands that execute these features well also stand to benefit from increased customer loyalty compared with those that leave their drivers to find charging without assistance. Julian Kisch, Corporate and Governmental Affairs Spokesperson MINI, said: “Not only does this service simplify the process of locating EV chargers, but it makes the whole charging experience more in tune with MINI’s brand values. The circular OLED media system provides a uniquely fun experience while being able to seamlessly access charging data directly from the vehicle takes the stress out of charging for MINI drivers.” Highlighting the value of this service, Markus Dohl, VP of Sales Europe at Parkopedia, added: “MINI’s new circular media system provides a distinct, customizable driving experience and the addition of Parkopedia’s high-quality and extensive charging data charmingly displayed on their unique circular OLED screen, addresses one of the main concerns raised by EV drivers – finding and navigating to EV chargers to alleviate charging anxiety, potentially even with a smile. This is a big selling point for a distinctive brand such as MINI where a significant amount of the vehicle range is now electric.”

Houston, TX – Convergentz, a leading Master Systems Integrator specializing in smart building technologies, is excited to announce its partnership with Frogparking, a global leader in innovative parking management solutions. Through this strategic collaboration, Convergentz will become a value-added reseller of Frogparking technology, bringing advanced smart parking solutions further to the U.S. market. As urban areas continue to grow, the demand for efficient parking management has never been higher. Frogparking’s cutting-edge parking technology includes an end-to-end solution consisting of access control systems, parking guidance systems, seamless mobile applications, parking software solutions and powerful analytics. Convergentz will leverage its expertise in smart infrastructure to deliver these benefits to a wide range of industries, including commercial real estate, healthcare, and education. “We are thrilled to partner with Frogparking and offer their innovative parking solutions to our clients,” said Stan Byers RCDD, Director, Pre-construction at Convergentz. “Frogparking’s technology aligns perfectly with our mission to radically improve the environments in which people live, work, learn, and play. Frogparking’s unified platform allows us to connect smart buildings to smart city developments by providing our customers with innovative, efficient, reliable solutions.” This partnership will enable Convergentz to expand its smart building portfolio, providing customers with future-proof parking technologies that enhance operational efficiency and user satisfaction. Frogparking’s scalable solutions cater to various environments, from small parking lots to large urban centers, making it a versatile addition to Convergentz’s offering. “At Frogparking, we are dedicated to transforming the way businesses manage parking,” said Shareena Sandbrook, CEO at Frogparking. “Our partnership with Convergentz is a fantastic opportunity to further extend our reach and provide our world-class solutions to more parking operations across the United States.” The combined expertise of Convergentz and Frogparking will enable clients to seamlessly integrate advanced parking management into their smart building projects, offering unmatched efficiency, sustainability, and user convenience.

DENVER —PRRS, a trailblazer in parking compliance technology operating via AI vision software, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with the renowned global marketing firm Cre8ion to reimagine its brand and expand its offerings. As part of this transformation, PRRS will broaden its previous strategy of being solely an enforcement company to present itself as the comprehensive software solution provider for parking operations that it is today, better reflecting the full scope of its capabilities. Known for revolutionizing parking compliance with cutting-edge AI-powered technology, PRRS is now set to redefine the parking industry by offering an integrated suite of solutions designed to streamline compliance and assist payment providers through the auto start and stop of payments, space utilization, and overall parking management. This partnership with Cre8ion will drive a new phase of growth and visibility, positioning PRRS as a leader in comprehensive, AI-driven parking solutions. “Our vision is to evolve beyond compliance and provide cities, businesses, and private operators with a complete software platform that enhances the parking experience,” said Mike Drow, CEO of PRRS. “With Cre8ion’s expertise, we will enhance our brand presence and better communicate the full range of our capabilities, ensuring we resonate with a broader audience. This collaboration will allow us to showcase the depth of our technology and the value it brings to parking operations worldwide.” PRRS will explore a potential name change as part of the brand transformation to better align with its expanded software offerings and market positioning. The company’s current brand, strongly associated with compliance, will evolve to reflect its new identity as a comprehensive provider of innovative parking solutions. The change aims to more accurately communicate PRRS’s enhanced portfolio of services, which includes AI-powered compliance, real-time data analytics, advanced enforcement, real-time occupancy, express lane, providing the widget for auto start and stop to all payment providers, and generally aligning the overall marketing message around PRRS’ true full suite of capabilities, which is an end-to-end, one-stop-shop to operate the modern parking facility. Cre8ion will be pivotal in refining PRRS’s brand strategy, crafting a new identity, and developing a marketing approach highlighting the company’s advanced software capabilities. The firm’s extensive experience in rebranding and digital transformation will be vital in reshaping PRRS’s image to appeal to municipalities, businesses, and parking operators seeking more efficient, data-driven solutions. PRRS’s expanded software platform will empower parking operators with the tools needed to optimize parking space usage, improve revenue management, and deliver an enhanced user experience. AI-driven insights will provide real-time data analytics, enabling dynamic pricing and better decision-making for urban mobility and innovative city initiatives. “We are thrilled to work with PRRS as they embark on this exciting new chapter,” said Darrell Irwin, Founder and CEO of UK-based Cre8ion. “This partnership allows us to help PRRS redefine its brand to better communicate its evolution from a parking compliance company to a full-service software provider, showcasing the impact of their innovative technology.  We believe this elevates their commitment to improving the industry now and in the future, with a focus on influencing smarter cities and impacting sustainability initiatives. These are exciting times we live in.” As cities face increasing parking congestion and traffic management challenges, PRRS’s expanded software capabilities and redefined brand will position it as a leading force in the parking technology industry. For more information on PRRS’s software solutions and brand transformation, visit www.parkingprrs.com. About Parking Revenue Recovery Services Parking Revenue Recovery Services, Inc. (PRRS) is North America’s leading Parking Compliance and Facility Monitoring technology provider. PRRS is on track to provide over 1,000 parking locations and proudly supports national, regional, and local parking operators throughout the United States. Our client owners and parking operators use our monitoring and compliance services in all properties, including commercial lots and garages, municipal facilities, college and university facilities, airports, hospitals, commercial properties, and residential buildings. PRRS creates exceptional value for its parking operator clients through increased overall customer compliance and enhanced visibility into operating activity and usage while delivering excellent customer service. We maximize the value provided to our clients through excellence, innovation, and efficiency in its compliance and monitoring services, delivered by an outstanding team of parking professionals dedicated to the highest levels of customers. About Cre8ion Cre8ion is a global marketing firm based in the UK known for its digital transformation, branding, and strategic marketing expertise. The firm works with companies across industries to redefine their brand identities, by delivering clear narratives and driving growth through innovative marketing strategies to reach audiences.

Oobeo, a subsidiary of Toledo Ticket Technologies and a pioneer in streamlined, subscription-based parking software, is thrilled to announce the launch of EnforcePlus. This innovative parking enforcement solution introduces a fully featured mobile app and software suite designed to revolutionize parking enforcement. Building on Oobeo's reputation for providing app-free, contactless payment solutions, EnforcePlus is a natural extension of the company's commitment to simplifying parking operations. Whether for valet services, gateless surface lots, or garages, Oobeo's suite of flexible products delivers powerful automation without the need for costly hardware or time-consuming management. EnforcePlus offers several innovative features specifically designed to improve parking experiences for patrons and streamline practices for parking owners and operators. Key benefits include: Accurate ALPR technology: Enhanced parking enforcement with seamless integration to existing payment systems, empowering operators to manage permits, payments, and violations from one platform. Device flexibility: Operators can use their own Android or iOS devices, or choose from provided equipment, allowing for easy scalability. Fast & secure payments: With PCI-compliant processing, regular and reliable payouts ensure parking operators receive revenue without delays. Automated dispute: Streamline and reduce conflict with an easy-to-use online dispute process, including built-in tools that minimize errors and pre-screen cases. Photographic evidence: Every license plate recognition (LPR) scan captures and records high-resolution photos uploaded to the cloud, while photographic evidence is printed directly on citations, increasing compliance rates and dispute resolution speed. Cost effective and economical implementation: Empower operators to manage parking violations, payments, and disputes with ease with no monthly fees and seamless integration capabilities. EnforcePlus also boasts advanced features such as real-time data synchronization, scalability, enhanced security, and offline capabilities, ensuring parking operations run smoothly, regardless of the environment. It future-proofs parking enforcement by embracing modern technologies that deliver unmatched performance and flexibility, making it the ideal solution for parking management companies, asset owners, and property managers. “Our goal at Oobeo is to offer cost-effective, flexible solutions that improve parking operations while adapting to our clients' unique needs," said Oobeo CEO Mitch Carter. "With EnforcePlus, we’re equipping parking operators with a modern, efficient, and secure way to enforce parking compliance, reducing operational friction and enhancing customer experience. The ability to integrate effortlessly with existing mobile and meter payment solutions means our clients can manage their entire parking ecosystem seamlessly.” This launch marks a significant step in Oobeo's mission to deliver hassle-free, efficient parking solutions that provide actionable insights and operational efficiency without additional overhead. By leveraging the powerful tools within EnforcePlus, parking operators can elevate their enforcement capabilities and optimize their operations with minimal cost. For more information on how EnforcePlus can transform your parking enforcement process, visit https://enforceplus.com/.

Melbourne, Australia – Frogparking, a global leader in smart parking solutions, is proud to announce the installation of advanced parking technology at Frankston Station in Melbourne, Australia. This installation includes two car counters, a DC gateway, a solar-powered gateway, and a K2 real-time availability sign, all part of Frogparking’s ongoing commitment to improving the commuter experience in Australia’s train stations. This new system will provide real-time parking availability information, offering critical convenience for daily commuters using Frankston Station. The technology is designed to streamline parking management, reduce congestion, and enhance overall efficiency for one of Melbourne’s busiest transport hubs. Frogparking’s partnership with Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) continues to grow, building on several successful installations around the city. Frogparking’s proven track record in the Australian market demonstrates their ability to consistently deliver innovative solutions for high-traffic areas. “Frogparking is thrilled to continue our work with MTM by bringing our cutting-edge technology to Frankston Train Station,” said Shareena Sandbrook, CEO at Frogparking. “This installation will provide significant value to commuters by ensuring they can easily find parking, improving the overall travel experience.” The Frankston Station multi-deck car park is opening on 16 December 2024, and was delivered by the Level Crossing Removal Project, which seeks to modernize and improve public transport infrastructure across Melbourne.

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