The automotive and transportation industry is ever-evolving, and the parking industry will need to continue to grow with all these evolving technologies and needs. That is why smart parking solutions that future-proof the parking industry are more critical than ever. With autonomous vehicles (AVs) becoming more than just a buzzword, smart parking solutions like ParqEx will be uniquely positioned to support growing AV needs coupled with the needs of urban cities. Read more about The Future of Parking: ParqEx’s Smart Parking Technology and Autonomous Vehicles.

What are Autonomous Vehicles?

If you are saying, “Hold up! What are AVs? Do they mean EVs?” Yes, we meant to say AV! AVs (Autonomous Vehicles) are the future of the automotive industry as they are self-driving or driverless vehicles. Using advanced technology such as sensors, cameras, radars, and artificial intelligence (AI), AVs can take note of their surroundings and make data-informed driving decisions. As of now, autonomous vehicles face challenges. The main challenges faced by AVs are various technological limitations, different regulations, and overall public acceptance. Despite its challenges, the overarching goal of AVs is more powerful. With more AVs on our roads, the overriding goal is to improve road safety and decrease traffic congestion. With six levels of automation, from 0 with no automation to 5 with full automation, it is clear that the automotive industry is evolving rapidly, and the parking industry must follow suit. Thankfully, ParqEx’s smart parking services have been creating innovative future-proofing solutions for the last ten years and continue to build out all platforms to include new necessary features to accommodate evolving technology. Here is how ParqEx will continue to be of service in an autonomous vehicle-dominated landscape.

The Future of Parking: ParqEx’s Smart Parking Technology and Autonomous Vehicles

Software Integrated with Autonomous Vehicles

An integral aspect of ParqEx’s solutions is that they are highly adaptable. Today, ParqEx’s parking management software can be seamlessly integrated into any existing property management system, security system, towing platform, booting enforcement software, etc. Tomorrow (not the real tomorrow, the future tomorrow), ParqEx’s software can seamlessly integrate with autonomous vehicles. Through ParqEx’s use of AI and IoT (Internet of Things), ParqEx’s smart parking platform allows for real-time communication. This means that ParqEx’s parking platform can communicate between AVs and parking infrastructure in real-time when AVs transition to dominating our roads. This real-time communication will ensure that autonomous vehicles can easily, quickly, and seamlessly find their desired parking space, reserve that parking spot, and access it without human help.

Heightened Efficiency

A key benefit of ParqEx’s smart parking solutions is its prioritization of optimizing parking space utilization. With pricing models like AI-enhanced dynamic and predictive pricing coupled with real-time availability features, ParqEx ensures all existing parking spaces are optimally used. In terms of how the efficient use of existing parking spaces affects AVs, this feature is significant as AVs, with the help of AI and software, can be programmed to park in less congested parking areas. This effectively uses existing parking spaces and helps reduce traffic congestion as fewer vehicles are left searching for parking.

Improved Security

Security will always be a concern, whether humans drive vehicles or vehicles are entirely autonomous. Thankfully, ParqEx’s Access+ and Access + Premium License Plate Recognition technology continues to evolve to meet technological demands. Today, through access control and AI, ParqEx’s property technology helps ensure that only authorized vehicles can access parking facilities or parking zones. This aspect of ParqEx’s access control is critical for autonomous cars, which will rely on secure and reliable parking solutions to safely operate and find parking that ensures peace of mind for the owners of the AVs.

In line with Smart City Initiatives

Bustling urban cities all have their smart city initiatives. As cities become smarter and continue to rely on innovative technologies, smart parking solutions will play an even more significant role in urban planning regarding the integration of AVs. By providing urban planners and city officials with data-proven insights and analytics, ParqEx’s robust smart parking solutions platform can help reduce traffic congestion, optimize traffic flow, and, dare we say, improve the overall quality of life of city residents with less polluted city streets.

Future-Proofing Parking

As we keep reiterating, ParqEx is committed to staying ahead of the curve and future-proofing its technology. By constantly innovating and integrating new technologies into its platforms, ParqEx’s solutions are and will continue to be effective smart parking solutions as the transportation and automotive industries evolve. Such a forward-thinking mindset also encourages cities and businesses to stay ahead of the curve and embrace smart parking solutions and the future of AVs.

That’s a Wrap!

We are not in charge of when, how, or where AVs will make their mark, but the rise of autonomous vehicles will soon affect us all. With AVs’ challenges, there are also incredible opportunities not just for autonomous vehicles and industry. We proudly state that ParqEx will be ready to meet all challenges head-on, provide seamless integration, heighten efficiency, improve security, support existing and future smart-city initiatives, and continue future-proofing the parking industry. As AVs flow into our streets, ParqEx will adapt and ensure parking becomes even more seamless and efficient for everyone involved. We are committed to leading the way in the parking industry’s evolution!

Thanks for reading “The Future of Parking: ParqEx’s Smart Parking Technology and Autonomous Vehicles.” If you want to start future-proofing your parking infrastructure, look no further! Contact a ParqEx sales representative today.

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In an era of never-ending technological advancement, cloud-based applications powered by the Internet of Things (IoT) continue to reshape the transportation landscape. These innovations are streamlining public transportation and addressing and tackling the persistent challenge of urban parking head-on. This article will explore how modernizing urban parking with IoT and cloud apps has become a go-to solution in major U.S. cities.

Connecting Users with Services

Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions are emerging as intermediaries, seamlessly connecting customers and users with valuable and practical services. Interestingly, these services are often offered by other users of the applications, creating a mutually beneficial SaaS ecosystem.

Take, for example, the yearly urban challenge of finding parking in any bustling American city. Predominantly through mobile applications, cloud technology is helping to alleviate this headache for anyone searching for parking. ParqEx has pioneered a liaison service that facilitates real-time parking spot rentals, where users can offer and rent parking.

IoT – The Enabler

The Internet of Things is an overarching term encompassing all electronic data sharing, collection, and connectivity aspects that may be occurring between devices. IoT is the glue that holds together the electronic collecting, sharing, and connectivity ecosystem. This is especially true when IoT comes into play in providing parking solutions in large urban cities.

Take GPS technology, for instance. We are all familiar with the benefits of GPS, which is incredibly helpful in guiding drivers to available parking spaces from their current location. Every component that goes into this sequence of events, from using GPS on mobile devices to electronic garage openers via access control apps and laptops and tablets used for business analytics, all form an intricate web of the IoT ecosystem.

Interconnectivity with Related Services

IoT also plays an essential role in directing users to other IoT services, such as ParqEx’s parking app. Users can effortlessly discover parking solutions through search engines or other interconnected services. Imagine the NFL collaborating with ParqEx (which sounds like a fantastic dream to us) to assist their fans in finding parking during games. A simple ad shown while fans purchase their tickets on StubHub, Ticketmaster, or other ticket-selling platforms could suggest the option to secure a parking spot with ParqEx near the game.

IoT acts as a cohesive force, uniting all technology with innovative concepts that continue to evolve. Access control devices, security cameras, marketing ads, mobile devices, in-app credit card processors, and GPS all collaborate and work cohesively together to expand the availability of rentable parking spaces in urban areas. As we keep discussing ParqEx, more people continue to discover the potential to monetize their parking spaces, and parking availability continues to surge yearly.

ParqEx’s innovative approach effectively attacks the parking problem in large cities by connecting a network of related services through IoT. Through IoT, ParqEx finally has a rebuttal to those who claim there is not enough parking available for big urban cities. It addresses the common parking problem, all while creating income-generating opportunities for independent users and large property owners and managers with a surplus of available parking on their property. If you’re interested in learning more about ParqEx’s groundbreaking parking app, how to reserve your parking spot, or how to rent out parking spaces on our platform, reach out to us today!

Thanks for reading our blog on modernizing urban parking with IoT and cloud apps! We look forward to speaking with you.

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Welcome to our Q&A sessions with Bart Kramer! Bart is not just our CFO but our game show host (who always keeps us on our toes & smiling) and one of our fearless leaders. ParqEx would not be where it is today without him. That being said, let’s ask Bart some questions!

1) How is ParqEx a platform for change in the real estate industry?

ParqEx is a platform that enables the sharing economy in the real estate industry. ParqEx offers a solution to the parking crunch that plagues many urban areas by connecting private parking space owners with individuals looking for parking. This platform offers a way to monetize underutilized parking spaces while providing a valuable community service. This sharing model can potentially disrupt the traditional real estate industry by providing more efficient and cost-practical solutions to the parking problem.

2) What trends do you see in the property technology industry, and how is ParqEx responding?

The property technology industry is rapidly evolving. ParqEx is staying ahead of the curve by embracing emerging trends such as smart parking technologies, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. ParqEx also adapts to changing consumer preferences by offering a more flexible and community-driven approach to parking solutions. By continuing to innovate and stay at the forefront of technology trends, ParqEx will remain competitive and relevant in the property technology industry.

3) Why is it critical for sales, customer service, and marketing to work together cohesively?

Sales, customer service, and marketing are all critical functions in any organization, and they must work together cohesively to achieve the company’s objectives. For example, sales teams generate revenue, marketing teams create brand awareness and generate leads, and customer service teams provide support and ensure customer satisfaction. By aligning these functions and working towards a common goal, the company creates a seamless and positive customer experience, increasing sales and customer loyalty.

4) What’s a common objection you’ve received when dealing with various real estate entities?

A common objection that ParqEx has faced when dealing with various real estate industries is related to the perceived inconvenience and complexity of listing and renting out parking spaces. Property owners sometimes feel that the effort required to list and manage their parking space on ParqEx outweighs the benefits of earning supplemental income. In response to this objection, ParqEx emphasizes its platform’s simplicity and ease of use and highlights the potential financial benefits of listing unused parking spaces. In addition, ParqEx provides clear and concise instructions on the listing process and offers support and guidance throughout the process; ParqEx helps alleviate concerns and encourages more property owners to join its platform.

5) How do you organize your team and keep them motivated?

Effective team organization and motivation are key to the success of any organization. ParqEx achieves this by setting clear goals and expectations for the team, providing regular feedback and recognition, and creating a positive and supportive work culture. In addition, by promoting a sense of purpose and community within the team, ParqEx ensures that its employees are motivated, engaged, and working towards a common goal.

6) If you could jump into a time machine, what would you tell yourself at the beginning of your career here at ParqEx?

If I could jump into a time machine and go back to the beginning of my career at ParqEx, I would tell myself: Be prepared for a challenging, exhilarating, and rewarding ride with the ParqEx Team!

Thanks for tuning in for our Q&A Sessions with Bart Kramer! We hope to continue this series of interviews with leaders here at ParqEx. For more information on ParqEx & to grasp just how we are the one-stop-shop parking platform, book a demo with us!

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The Basic Home Security Checklist Every Home Needs

 

Different neighborhoods have different issues when it comes to home security. For example, in some neighborhoods, if you checked into a hotel and accidentally left the back door of the car open, nothing would happen. In others, that’s a way to lose not only everything inside the vehicle but the vehicle itself.

 

So there are neighborhoods in places like Wyoming and North Dakota and Idaho and Texas and Nebraska where security isn’t really a big issue. The only theft or home invasion will come from someone with a grudge or other similar agenda. Contrarily, sometimes even putting bars on the windows isn’t enough to safeguard your property. L.A. is like that.

 

Accordingly, wherever you are, you want to understand the security landscape and make some specific choices. Here we’ll cover five considerations that will apply to almost any property.

Local Premises – Are You Going To Stick Around, Or Move?

 

Sometimes the security move is to, well, move. There are times when a community or metropolis is in a situation where it’s just not possible to stay secure and stay around. Detroit comes to mind, and so does Los Angeles and New York City, when you consider the events of the last several years in either metropolis.

 

Certainly, it may be wise to stick it out. But also, you might be upgrading to more security in terms of better premises in a good neighborhood. Regardless, if you’ve gotta move, you might as well do so affordably—consider some of the options available at sites like UMoveFree.

Door And Window Locks; Perhaps Window Bars

 

Windows and doors need to be strong and lockable. The stronger the glass, the better; sometimes, you want bars behind the windows to offset forced entry. In some neighborhoods, interlopers will try to break through windows provided they don’t see anyone at home. They might do it just as they walk by.

 

If you can’t lock the windows and doors, you’re wide open. There are IoT devices that can lock windows and doors remotely. Smarthomes have their place, certainly, but if you want total security, you’ve got to take care to encrypt such solutions. Smarthomes work, but they can also be hacked.

For Dog People, A Big Loyal Dog

 

Even a small dog can startle a criminal. It’s not always the size of the beast; it’s the commotion they cause. A loud dog barking is jarring. Someone who doesn’t want to be seen will quickly high-tail it. However, a small dog can be silenced through brute force, whereas a large dog can be fatal to some people. So if you’re a dog person, get a big one for security.

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In today’s world of dog-eat-dog business development, white labeling is a solution brought to the table more often than most might think. Every company is looking for ways to get ahead of its competition while maintaining a high ROI. Consequently, white labeling is a highly desired solution.

Commercial & industrial enterprises, co-working companies, and property management firms: are you looking to integrate a white label parking solution into your technology to gain a competitive edge over your competitors? Keep on reading below! 

What is White Labeling?

Simply put, white labeling allows companies to stick their brand name on a product another company designed and developed for a specific fee. In terms of ParqEx White Label Integrated Solutions, we provide our state-of-the-art Smart Parking Platform completely white-labeled with your companies branding. All for a simple SaaS fee, you’ll be gaining a highly sought-after amenity while monetizing and promoting your new branded parking management software.

How ParqEx White Label Parking Solutions Are Integrated

We provide two different options to integrate ParqEx White Label Parking solutions into preexisting apps or technology platforms; punch-out integration or API integration. Punch-out integration uses a webview, embedding it into the client’s native mobile app. API integration works in the sense that your platform can call ParqEx API. Options such as live vs. test environments, authentication, and more are available depending on the type of integration. Learn more here.

Who ParqEx White Label Parking Solutions Are Designed For

Our targeted clients for ParqEx White Label Parking Solutions are firms that already have tech, apps, or even property management platforms they are currently using. For these companies, adding a white label parking solution to their tech stack is exceptionally advantageous. Whether your business is part of an industrial or commercial enterprise, a property management firm, or a co-working company, the benefits of white labeling a parking management software apply to all.

Offer The Entire ParqEx Product Suite Under Your Brand

ParqEx’s Product Suite consists of six different modules and apps that can become yours through white labeling. First, Marketplace allows customers and management to find and list parking spots. This module monetizes existing assets while boosting revenue. Second, GuestParq is your visitor parking platform. With GuestParq, your company can eliminate any hassles revolving around guests. The power of guest parking is now in the hands of your staff and residents. Third, Access Control is your IoT technology that offers secure access to any door, gate, elevator, etc., on your property right from people’s smartphones.

Fourth, your enforcement module (The Enforcer App) allows you to verify every vehicle entering and exiting your property. Violations can be ticketed right through your app. Fifth, your License Plate Reading Technology (LPR) grants approved cars to enter and exit your property through cameras reading and registering the vehicle’s license plate. If the car is in the system, they will be allowed on the property. LPR is one hundred percent automated and touchless. Lastly, talking about touchless, you now have the option to become one hundred percent touchless within your building. This technology, which retrofits any door, allows visitors, tenants, and staff to open doors via their smartphone and your app, making your building touch-free.

Benefits of ParqEx White Label Parking Solutions

Apart from inheriting six refined and tested parking modules from ParqEx, white labeling ParqEx Parking Solutions has several other benefits. Some benefits include:

White Labeling – Saves Time & Money

Have you ever toyed around with the idea of creating your own parking management system? Coming from a company that has successfully built a management system from the ground up, it is not as easy as it would seem. It takes a lot of time and is expensive. Our solution for you is to white label our existing avant-garde parking management system! By doing so, your company will save months of development work and large sums of money. Additionally, your company and ParqEx can take pride in the fact that our technology will immediately become yours.

White Labeling – ParqEx, Your In-House Developers

As mentioned, developing your own product requires a lot of time and money. There is also, of course, the ever-present fear that the ROI will not meet expectations. Furthermore, in-house developers cost a fortune. White labeling provides a similar option to developing your own product yet for a fraction of the cost. Time and money have already been invested in the ParqEx White Label Parking Solutions, and ROI has already proven successful. White Label ParqEx Parking Solutions and save yourself time and money!

White Labeling – Stress-Free

Yes, your brand is on our product, but if ever an issue arises, you can live stress-free! ParqEx’s 24/7 support team is available to take responsibility for the problem and fix/update it. Instead of building a product yourself that is likely to struggle and have issues, white-label our quality parking solutions and never worry about troubleshooting.

White Labeling – Boost Your Branding & Customer Loyalty

By putting your company logo on our tech (now your tech), your brand awareness will increase. Every time a tenant uses your white-labeled product (ParqEx’s White Label Parking Solutions platform), they will immediately associate the simplicity and overall convenience of the product with your brand. The more people use your parking management system, the more people will recognize the quality of the technology. With that, customer loyalty and customer retention sky-rockets. White labeling our parking solutions will help increase your brand visibility, improve overall tenant satisfaction, improve your operations across the board, and add amenities, all while reducing your costs.

White Labeling – Generate Revenue

An impressive benefit is that your company is legally permitted to place its brand name on ParqEx’s tech through white labeling. Your business is also allowed to repackage and sell the parking technology platform, as it is now yours. ParqEx tech is already grounded and built for ways of generating revenue. Consequently, on a day-to-day basis, the product is already making money for your business. Being able to sell the parking technology platform takes it one step further and opens many revenue opportunities.

White Labeling – Add To Your Tech Stack

Instead of having to devote time, effort, and money to your product, white labeling provides an opportunity to use our pre-existing ParqEx platform with your brand name on the product. A significant advantage of white labeling that cannot be disregarded is the growing pains that ParqEx’s platform already had to go through. Today, our platform is exceptionally polished and refined, mainly due to countless revisions, loads of troubleshooting, and beta testing. We understand that technology is ever-changing, and we remain on top of our updates and revisions. All things considered, adding ParqEx’s Parking Solutions to your pre-existing tech stack is convenient in the sense that all you need to do is rebrand our technology as your own!

White Labeling – Differentiate Your Brand From Competitors

In a competitive world, setting yourself apart from your competition is essential. People are not afraid to shop around for the best option. Having your own Apple, Android, and web-based parking management platform for all your customers and employees is not only sleek, efficient, and effective, but it will certainly differentiate your brand from your competitors. Through white labeling ParqEx’s Parking Solutions, your brand will stand out, making you an instant market leader.  

The Success of White Labeling In Use

Without spending time and money developing a parking management platform, white labeling ParqEx parking solutions is a win-win for both parties. ParqEx benefits through the one flat SaaS fee, and your brand enjoys the perks of our platform, all while avoiding the hassles of having to build a parking solution platform from scratch. The question now is, why would you not white label ParqEx’s Parking Solutions? Through white labeling our parking management platform, your brand will have excellent parking management products, your tenants’ satisfaction will increase, and you will maintain an impressive ROI.

Inquire about ParqEx White Label Parking Solutions

White labeling is a proven successful investment. ParqEx parking solutions have already proven to be a solution to parking management and parking real estate’s several operational issues. Our Smart Parking solutions eliminate all hassles of parking management for the staff, all while improving staff productivity and staff & tenant satisfaction.

Through white labeling our Smart Parking solutions, your brand will set itself apart from its competitors. It’s certainly a rarity for a company to have its own parking management system. Be the exception! 

Moreover, your business will generate revenue through multiple facets, all while exponentially reducing costs. The parking management software already operates with revenue in mind. Add that to your ability to repackage and sell this parking technology platform; this revenue-generating engine will give you a competitive edge.

Furthermore, your business’s overall operational efficiency will increase. In terms of residents and staff, there are only potential benefits. Companies are in a constant race of how many amenities they offer to their tenants and staff. This highly sought-after parking management solution will be added to your pre-existent tech stack while providing a new amenity. Consequently, tenant and staff satisfaction and retention will increase.

ParqEx White Label Parking Solutions are available. Are you interested in benefiting from our technology and making it your own? Reach out to ParqEx for more information. Our team is looking forward to helping you!

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From cooking and fitness to driving and parking, IoT has found its place in our daily lives, and it would seem IoT tech is here to stay. Fortunately, the changes these technologies have made are pretty incredible and very positive, making it easy to accept such an enormous shift in the way we do things.

Want to learn more about the newest IoT innovations being developed in Chicago? Below are three of our favorites.

#1: Jiobit

By now, everyone has seen a Fitbit or Apple Watch. These wearable technologies are far from new, and as useful as they are, they are no longer something to get too excited about. That said, the Jiobit is a new wearable technology that might just pique your interest, especially if you are a parent of caregiver to a young child.

This small, lightweight, wearable device can clip onto a child’s clothing or backpack and accurate track him or her wherever they wander. It will send alerts to your smartphone, updating you on your child’s location, and will even set off an audible alarm when your child walks too far away in a public place.

The battery life on this tracker is incredible, as it can last up to a week on a full charge. Additionally, the Jiobit is compatible with Amazon’s Alexa assistant via devices such as the Amazon Echo.

#2: Tovala

Okay, so we all like to eat a delicious, home-cooked meal at the end of a long day. Unfortunately, actually cooking that meal is not something most people want to do after working for several hours.

Therefore, most people end up ordering take out or heating something up in the microwave. This is unfortunate because there are so many incredible meals they could be enjoying. Fortunately, Tovala is about to make its debut and take weeknight dinners to the next level.

Tovala is a smart oven that makes cooking amazing meals as easy as can be. The oven will scan the codes located on the Tovala-brand packaged meals and proceed to bake, steam, and/or broil the meal to perfection. Don’t have a Tovala meal on hand? No worries! The Tovala app includes plenty of DIY recipes that work perfectly with the Tovala oven. On top of all that, the oven also works with meals you create, meaning you can put directions for cooking your favorite meals into the Tovala app and ensure they are cooked just right, every single time.

#3: ParqEx Access+

If you have ever used ParqEx, you know how helpful this parking-sharing program can be. That said, it can be a bit difficult for those who are trying to rent parking in a garage. In the past, these cases would require the parking space owner to leave the garage door unlocked for when their customer arrived, something that made a lot of people uncomfortable for obvious reasons. Fortunately, we have fixed this problem with a nifty little feature called ParqEx Access+.

ParqEx Access+ allows approved renters to open garage doors with their smartphones. This means no more unsecure garages. Customers can get in and out of their rental space without a problem, and space owners no longer have to worry about safety and security, making this a win-win technology for all.

Want to learn more about how ParqEx is using the Internet of Things to improve lives? We’d love to hear from you. Please contact us today!

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The High Cost of Parking 

One of the most common complaints of people in large urban areas, whether tourists, business travelers, or locals, is that there’s a lack of parking. Parking that’s available is often very expensive – ranging anywhere from $25 a day in Chicago to $65 a day. For condo owners, parking spaces can cost a fortune. A Center for Neighborhood Technology report reveals that, in Chicago, the cost to build a personal parking spot can be more than $37,000 – and purchasing a parking space to own can cost over $50,000 in some of Chicago’s high-rise condo garages. Similar situations exist in other large cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The absurd truth is that parking spaces cost more than some people earn in a year. This means that, in many cities, only the affluent can afford adequate parking.

The exorbitant cost of parking often makes it difficult and impractical to build new parking spaces. Quite simply, many communities can’t afford to provide more parking. One study of 12 American cities found that the average cost to build a parking space is $24,000 for above-ground and $34,000 for below-ground spaces. These prices assume that the owner already owns the land. Because of this, residents ultimately pay the costs of new parking facilities. This is one of the causes of rising rents, even for people who don’t own cars. So-called free parking is not a solution. Access Magazine reports that free parking requirements raise the cost of housing and reduce density. In other words, the cost is invisible but people are still paying it. And according to CNT, the supply of parking in 4 cities (Chicago, San Francisco, Washington D.C. and Seattle) far exceeds demand. Buildings offer two spots for every 3 units, and in reality (due to the ~33 percent average vacancy) they only need one for every three.

The Environmental Impact of Parking

When people talk about the environmental costs of automobiles, they’re usually talking about moving vehicles. Parking, however, creates its own environmental problems. For one thing, the current parking model is extremely wasteful. People are paying high fees for spaces they only need during certain hours. The above-cited CNT report found that one-third of off-street residential parking spaces are empty at night. If the average person uses these spaces for work, that means that they only need the space for 40-50 hours per week. In a world where, particularly in large cities, there’s a lack of space for affordable housing, this is a significant issue.

There’s also the fact that free parking encourages people to drive. When downtown areas, for example, provide lots of parking access, people who might otherwise take a bus, tram, or train are more likely to drive. A study by Chris McCahill of the State Smart Transportation Initiative found clear evidence that excessive parking causes more driving. This not only means that people with cars tend to drive more, it also influences people’s decisions to own a car at all. In urban areas with extensive public transportation, owning an automobile is often a choice rather than a necessity. More driving, of course, creates a variety of environmental problems, such as air pollution. There’s also the less measurable factor of stress that accompanies traffic jams, which impacts public health. And according to Donald Shoup’s study released in 2011 titled Free Parking or Free Markets, 30 percent of cars in congested downtown traffic are searching for parking. If these “searches” booked their parking in advance, traffic and pollution would be substantially reduced and time and gas would be saved.

It’s safe to say that the current parking paradigm is outdated and full of serious problems. The solution is not to build more parking garages. It’s similar to the supposed solution of building more roads to control traffic. Evidence shows that more roads lead to more traffic. The same is true for parking. What’s needed is a completely new way of handling parking.

The Parking Alternative

Companies like ParqEx, SPOT and JustPark use the Airbnb model to address the urban parking challenge. The basic idea behind all sharing or collaborative economy platforms is to provide services as needed in a fast and efficient manner, by using technology. Consider the difference between the hotel model and the Airbnb model. A hotel has a static number of rooms, whether anyone is using them or not. Meanwhile, Airbnb lets travelers rent space in people’s homes as an alternative to hotels, motels, and B & Bs. In addition to providing people with cheaper rooms, this reduces the need for more hotels and allows people to make some supplemental income.

One major benefit of this type of arrangement is the convenience for consumers, who simply order services by using an app. With these sharing economy “marketplace” apps, users simply search for a parking space and book the spot directly from the app. Not only does the renter gain access to more affordable and convenient parking, but he/she knows there is a spot waiting for them upon arrival. While companies such as SpotHero and ParkWhiz are primarily aggregators of commercial parking garages in downtown areas, the Airbnb model approach allows for individuals, businesses, churches, schools, anyone with a private parking spot(s) to list them on the app/website by the hour, day, week or month – whenever the spot(s) is available. Not only are parking spot owners making supplemental income from their underutilized parking spots, but they are helping their communities by opening up more parking supply in the neighborhood.

With many private parking spots being located behind garage doors or gates, ParqEx differentiates itself from its competitors with its innovative IoT solution called Access+. The Access+ system allows renters and approved users to open any garage door or gate with a click of a button on their smart phones. Implementing Access+ increases rental opportunities, improves transparency into garage usage, and provides great convenience for both owners and renters.

From a parking spot owner perspective, sharing economy parking apps provide a new source of income. Most owners are renting out spaces they already have, so they’re earning money on space that was previously unused. Owners can set their own prices, however, prices are generally lower than commercial parking lots or garages. This is generally true of Airbnb or other sharing economy models of business (like Uber vs. Taxis). Owners and renters engage with each other directly, eliminating the middleman. Since the service providers are not corporations and are using property (e.g. living space, vehicle, or parking space) that they already own, they can afford to set reasonable prices.

How The “Airbnb Model” is Transforming Parking

There are some significant benefits to society as this Airbnb of parking model becomes more and more mainstream.

Faced with a variety of challenges, urban planners are increasingly looking for ways to create “smart cities.” This involves collecting lots of data and finding innovative solutions to issues such as housing, transportation, crime, and other social issues. In some cases, the best solutions don’t require an expensive, centralized solution. ParqEx, SPOT and JustPark provide a smart parking alternative that only requires owners and renters to install an app. Some of the long-term benefits of using this type of smart parking include:

• More affordable, convenient parking for commuters, travelers, and city residents.
• Less need for additional parking facilities.
• More efficient use of resources may lead to less driving and traffic congestion.
• As more people use the app, even conventional parking options are likely to become easier, with less crowded free parking and lower rates for commercial parking.

The way the public has embraced other sharing economy services suggests that people are eager to find new and innovative solutions. More and more services are disrupting conventional business models. In addition to Uber and Airbnb, there are now collaborative solutions in healthcare, web-based services, and many other industries. It only makes sense that there’s also such an alternative for parking.

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Want to know more about these awesome advancements? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this article we will explore three of the most exciting new trends in vehicle technology, how they might affect your day-to-day life, and how they’ll change your habits for the better in the near future.

Vehicle Communication

After a long 12 years of research, vehicle-to-vehicle communication will officially hit the market this year via the 2017 Cadillac CTS. While the technology will be extremely limited at first due to a lack of similarly equipped vehicles on the road to “talk” to, it will still give the driver some advantages, such as communicating with certain traffic lights.

Moreover, it will pave the way for even more of this incredible new technology in the future, which will eventually have the ability to prevent accidents through the use of cameras and other information-gathering systems and an advanced wireless car-to-car communication system.

While it may take a while to grow to that point, Cadillac is taking the most important and most difficult baby steps in the right direction.

Autonomous Driving

As proven by Tesla, Uber, and a few other companies in 2016, self-driving cars are here to stay. Not only that, but they are set to make some big advancements this year.

For instance, Volvo will be releasing 100 autonomous cars onto Swedish roads in the next year in order to 1) give the public a chance to experience a ride without a driver, and 2) test this new technology in the quest for a “death-proof vehicle”. The company hopes to make this ultra-safe car available to the public by the year 2020.

Additionally, companies such as Ford, GM, and BMW will be releasing self-driving fleets of their own. Finally—and most impressively—Tesla is scheduled to send a self-driving car on a trip from New York to LA before year’s end.

Improved Electric Cars

As if self-driving cars aren’t cool enough, it looks like 2017 will be a big year for electric cars as well. Hopefully this advancement signals the beginning of the end of our dependence on fossil fuels, and a step toward a greener, brighter tomorrow.

Not to be outdone by the Nissan Leaf—which was upgraded last year and now boasts an impressive 107-mile range—Chevrolet has announced that its new Bolt EV will have an increased range of up to 200 miles. This is an incredible step in the right direction for electric vehicles, as the longer range makes them a far more practical option. Additionally, the Ford Focus Electric will become a 100-mile car, meaning those looking for a lower-priced option will not be disappointed with the range possibilities in their budget category.

Smart Parking

Clearly, vehicle manufacturers have seen just how important it is to keep up with the demand for newer and more efficient technology. We at ParqEx have seen the light as well, and we’re taking steps to make parking easier than ever through the use of “internet of things” technology. We hope to work with car manufacturers toward an ultimate goal of less traffic congestion and a hassle-free driving experience for all.

Are you interested in learning more about Using Internet of Things and new trends in parking technology? Please have a look around our website or contact us with questions. After reading more about us, we are sure you will want to sign up for an account right away in order to take full advantage of our peer-to-peer sharing platform and our amazing new technology.

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This isn’t to say that all hardware, paper, and analog systems will be completely eliminated, rather, they’ll be reduced and minimized. SaaS, PaaS, and emerging subscription software are allowing SMBs to streamline, expand, and improve the quality of their work and production – this is hard to ignore.

The sharing economy develops and uses these innovative cloud and mobile computing tools, as a way to solve complex logistical issues and add incentive for entrepreneurs. ParqEx’s mobile app solution is a good example of how powerful these ideas can become.

Another example is an IoT parking solution CloudParc, which utilizes surveillance cameras in cities to detect off-street parking vacancies. This would eliminate parking meters, working through API communications between IoT technologies to reach users through a mobile app.

Denver is now partnering with Park Mobile and Parkifi sensors to create an app that can detect available parking spots in the city-owned surface lots;  both smart meters and surface lots in Denver can then be paid for with a credit card through the mobile app.

Reducing Parking Woes in Cities by Creating Incentive

The IoT is always involved when speaking about smart anything, and almost all technology is smart at this point. Smart parking garages are using monitoring devices to detect vacant spaces, then automatically sharing the data to their own systems and any specified partners.

For instance, the parking garage business may want to automate real-time updates of vacancies to the city’s tourist guide mobile app, or event centers’ apps might want their customers to have access to available spaces during games from ParqEx, etc.

Smart cars, traffic lights, and other IoT devices and systems, are all using the power of cloud and mobile computing to develop and package their services, which then work to solve complex parking woes by creating incentive for entrepreneurship.

Using the ParqEx mobile app for free, drivers can find parking spots in the area and for the time desired, then facilitate the communications and transactions from the secure and easy to use dashboard interface on our mobile app – the desktop version is designed for streamlined management as well.

The incentive is easy to understand, because renting out a vacant parking space through ParqEx is easy and automated forthe most part. Owners of well-located parking spaces now have a method to make hundreds (if not thousands) every month with their one space. Times this by having 5 or 10 spaces, and one can see the opportunity and incentive.

So, what happens is, ParqEx facilitates the connection and transaction for end users for a small percentage (20%). Space owners keep 80% of the parking fee, and users can use the app for free to find and rent parking spaces all across the country.

When thousands of parking spaces open up in a city, traffic congestion is sure to be alleviated and reduced. As cities get smarter and sharing economy services become more visible, parking woes in cities will be significantly reduced.

The part that makes this doubly beneficial is that during the process of logistical parking and traffic improvements, entrepreneurs will be: making money, developing new services and products, and investing further into the economy.

Summary

The sharing economy is using technology in ways that make sense for users. The advantages and opportunities that innovative cloud and mobile technologies offer, are promising to solve parking woes and boost the local economy at the same time. Before, solving parking woes would have meant building more parking spaces, which means cities and/or businesses had to spend money, therefore making tax payers and consumers pay for it.

With ParqEx, the city and business leaders don’t have to build extra parking spaces at their own expense, rather they can work together with sharing economy companies to increase the supply of rent-able parking spaces in the city. Technology is helping increase the utilization of spaces and opening up new ones from private owners.

It’s hard to imagine large cities being nearly free of traffic congestion, yet this very well may be achieved in the soon future. Mass transit, smart cars, remote workers, smart parking, smart carpooling, smart traffic lights, and more IoT technologies are working toward achieving this ideal goal. Reducing parking woes by creating incentive is how ParqEx is helping. If interested in learning more please contact us today.

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