7 min read.

Author: Abhadesh Sharma, Manager, Engineering

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License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology is more than just a smart and innovative parking technology for creating a ticketless parking experience for customers. It offers insightful business intelligence that can increase parking occupancy levels and maximize revenue. LPR serves as the nerve centre of your parking infrastructure, providing real-time insights crucial for access control and enforcement. 

Implementing this technology allows parking facility owners or managers like you to thoroughly understand their parking facility and customers, enabling them to make informed decisions based on the insights obtained. Below are three ways you can use LPR technology to streamline parking management and operations.

1. LPR controls vehicle access rights and limits unauthorized parties from entering the facility. 

Operating 24/7, LPR acts as a security guard, meticulously monitoring ingress and egress points of parking facilities in real time. This constant surveillance not only bolsters security but also gives peace of mind to customers, knowing their vehicles are secure. The real-time capability of LPR technology with instant notifications sends managers alerts about suspicious activity. As cars approach and enter the parking facility, LPR swiftly captures their license plates, transmitting this vital information to managers through the integrated system. This immediate awareness empowers operators to respond promptly to potential threats, limiting unauthorized access to the parking facility. 

With the data collected from LPR technology, managers can develop various lists serving diverse purposes, each contributing to the overarching goal of safeguarding the facility:

• Block Lists: Vehicles or individuals are prohibited from entering the parking facility due to past infractions or security concerns. LPR technology reads the vehicle signature and ensures that flagged vehicles are promptly identified upon arrival, triggering automated alerts to managers.

• Notification Lists: Notification lists or be on the lookout (BOLO) lists function as early warning systems, notifying operators of specific vehicle movements within the facility. Whether monitoring VIP arrivals or tracking suspicious vehicles, LPR automatically identifies license plates and dispatches real-time notifications.

• Access Lists: Conversely, access lists streamline the entry process for authorized vehicles. By pre-registering license plates of staff, VIPs, or monthly pass holders, operators can facilitate seamless entry without the need for manual verification. LPR technology automatically recognizes registered plates, granting swift access privileges and enhancing customer experience.

2. LPR encourages automatic enforcement, eliminating manual procedures to save resources.

With its seamless integration into parking facilities, LPR eliminates the need for manual procedures such as manually checking permits or documenting violations. It accurately identifies vehicles through LPR, streamlining enforcement efforts and minimizing human error. This automation improves operational efficiency by freeing up patrol officers to focus on other critical tasks, ultimately saving time and resources. Patrol officers are no longer required to manually check each licence plate against a database of authorized parkers for special permit rules or photograph each infraction for future reference if the violation notices are disputed or validations are administered. 

3. LPR provides real-time insights for informed business decisions.

LPR technology enables data-driven decision-making by offering insights into parking patterns, such as visit frequency, peak periods, and preferred locations. These real-time analytics are beneficial to form pricing strategies, marketing initiatives, and patrol schedules, resulting in optimized operational efficiency. By leveraging the actionable insights provided by LPR technology, you can proactively identify areas for improvement and continually enhance the overall parking experience for your customers. You can swiftly access comprehensive reports through a cloud-based management platform, improving your ability to manage parking facilities effectively. 

While LPR technology may not be novel, its potential to enhance the customer experience and operations at parking facilities is undeniable. Investing in LPR equips facility managers and owners with essential tools to elevate facility management through intelligent access control, automated enforcement, and actionable business intelligence. Embracing LPR represents a strategic move towards optimizing efficiency, ensuring security, and delivering a seamless parking experience for your customers.

References

Business intelligence for parking - precise ParkLink: Parking management services. Precise ParkLink | Parking Management Services. (n.d.). /ps-parking-business-intelligence  

Chopra, M. (2023, December 19). How to use parking BI, Data & Analytics to improve your parking program. Parking Industry.  

Optimum parking management – business intelligence: The next big thing in parking. The Canadian Parking Association. (n.d.).  

Powell, J. (2024a, February 2). The ultimate guide: Everything you need to know about license plate recognition. Parking Industry.