The frustrations associated with parking in a car park are familiar to everyone who’s ever used one. A few examples include lack of signage, outdated entry and exit systems, and narrow parking spaces. Certainly, some of these problems can be traced back to car park operators attempting to maximise profits, but not all of them. It is quite likely that customers will not return to a car park when they experience such frustrations.
It is important for car parks to generate repeat business so they can make a profit. Car park operators have a tough job, especially when it comes to the implementation of car parking enforcement rules. Fortunately, there are several things you can do that will make your parking space a much more efficient and usable space for both your employees and customers alike. You can make your parking experience better for customers and ensure repeat business by following these five tips.
Take a look at how your Car Park is laid out
As a first step, you should determine what types of customers use your car park and when they want to use it. Evaluate how existing spaces are being used, and whether they are all absolutely necessary. The removal of some spaces may seem counterproductive, but in reality, it can actually be beneficial. Lower revenue does not necessarily result from fewer spaces. The easier your car park is to use and the more convenient it is for customers, the more likely you are to attract more custom.
Make Safety Your Number One Priority
Improving the safety of your parking lot should be one of your top priorities. One way you can do this is by optimising the layout of the space. Accidents will be less likely to occur when there is less congestion. In addition, you should maintain your car park’s surfaces regularly to keep them free of potholes and in good condition. Driving recklessly and speeding should be discouraged by clearly displaying speed limits.
ANPR cameras should be installed if possible
Although Automatic Number Plate Recognition Systems can prove expensive, we believe their benefits outweigh their initial cost. Barriers often cause congestion and that can be significantly reduced by installing an ANPR camera system. In addition to controlling access and exit from your car park, ANPR detects non-paying drivers. It is possible to monitor parking centrally with ANRR, thereby removing the need to have staff on site. A car park that uses ANPR technology will also be more secure, and let’s be honest, we all want to leave our vehicles in a safe environment.
Make every effort to reduce congestion
You may not be able to completely eradicate congestion due to factors beyond your control, but you should do everything possible to keep it to an absolute minimum. Car parks can become unusable when they become crowded and difficult to access, so keep entry and exit points clear, bays clearly marked, and directional signs clearly visible.
Implement an automated payment system
As we move towards a cashless society, people may not always have the necessary change to pay for parking. Paying for parking with credit and debit cards, and more recently with smartphones, has become commonplace. Installing an automated parking payment system will make parking much more convenient for drivers. Parking can now be paid for using an app on a smartphone if you have an ANPR camera which is another way of improving the parking experience.
Our pointers above will hopefully prove to be helpful when managing your car park and making sure that your business runs smoothly and efficiently.
