Thanks to peer-to-peer sharing solutions such as Airbnb and Uber, spreading the wealth has recently seen a huge comeback, and it is predicted that this increase in peer-to-peer sharing is only going to continue growing.

So what exactly is in the future of the peer-to-peer sharing economy?

Well, based on the recent, rapid growth seen by the more popular sharing economy companies, it is likely the industry will grow from $14 billion in 2014 to right around $335 billion by 2025. This is enormous, and such growth points to a huge loss in business for companies who are direct competitors of the biggest peer-to-peer sharing companies.

A shift in economic practices such as this will likely lead to an overall change in the way people think about the ownership of items. Assets will be seen as more valuable, but ownership of each and every tool available on the market will no longer be necessary. Even something as simple as a parking spot could become a goldmine, and sharing that spot creates a win-win situation. Learn how you can share your spot below with company’s like ParqEx. 

Because the care and keeping of our environment has become so important to so many as of late, this mindset shift could give the sharing economy a large amount of support from eco-conscious individuals. After all, if more people view ownership of certain items as unnecessary, fewer items will be produced in general, resulting in fewer things left sitting unused on shelves or in garages for years on end. Therefore, we foresee the sharing economy becoming a large player in the game of earth conservation.

Another big benefit of the sharing economy is the fact that it makes it virtually impossible for any one company or individual to monopolize an industry. This is because switching from one peer-to-peer sharing platform to another is cheap and painless for consumers, especially since more platforms become available almost weekly. 

Because of this, and because the sharing economy is likely to continue seeing rapid growth in the coming years, it is probable that consumers will begin to see more options and the most fair prices in history as the sharing economy begins to replace some of the world’s biggest businesses. This will lead to the further growth and usage of the sharing economy, encouraging others to open up shop as a peer-to-peer sharing platform.

In addition to a shift in the mindset of consumers, it is predicted that we will also begin to see a shift in the mindset of employers everywhere. For instance, because these sharing economy businesses are giving employees more power to jump from one employer to the next, those who do the hiring are going to need to make a switch in how they retain these employees. Instead of threats and barriers which make it difficult to leave, employers will need to embrace the power of the employee and offer them opportunities to grow with their careers. Always ahead of the curve, Uber put this idea into practice when they began helping drivers acquire new vehicles. In this way, they gave their employees the tools they needed to improve as drivers and better their lives.

These are just a few of the major changes we believe the sharing economy will make in the way we live and think about the world. As you can see, the world of peer-to-peer services has an enormous amount of leverage in our society, By using this leverage properly, it is possible that the sharing economy could make some pretty big improvements to our economic health, the state of our planet, and the way individuals view the products they own.

If you are interested in learning more about the sharing economy, listing a parking spot or renting a parking spot, we’d love for you to contact us today at ParqEx.

The post Peer-to-Peer Services Can Reach $335 Billion appeared first on ParqEx.

Still, it is nice to have help once in awhile. Luckily, parents now have access to a number of amazing services and products out there which help navigate the ins and outs of putting out a kind and upstanding member of society. Some of the best of these services can be found within the sharing economy circle.

Want to learn more about how the sharing economy can make your life as a parent a bit less stressful? Read on to learn about our favorite parent-friendly businesses that are a part of the growing sharing economy.

1.) Ride Sharing

Bringing a kid along on public transportation is not impossible, but it isn’t always easy either. This becomes even more true when you find yourself lugging two or three kids along.

This is where ride-sharing services can step in to help. Services such as Uber and Lyft help you get where you need to go without the need for riding a bus or train. This can be lifesaver for new parents or those caring for more than one child at a time. Best of all, Uber offers an option for a pre-installed car seat in some cities, making the whole process an absolute breeze.

2.) Book parking in advance – and closer to your destination

Speaking of getting around town with kids, sometimes it isn’t the transportation that’s the problem, but rather the parking. If you are a person who prefers to drive their own vehicle, but often has trouble finding parking spots that are close enough for young children to walk to and from, you may find parking sharing services such as ParqEx helpful.

ParqEx gives customers the opportunity to rent parking spots from locals, making it easy to find a convenient place to park, no matter where you are headed. You can find parking or list parking in seconds using the ParqEx app or website – and save time, energy and money.

3.) Baby Gear Borrowing

Okay, so obviously you want to own your own stroller and highchair. However, if there is a particular big item you want to try before you buy, or if you want to rent a stroller once you arrive at a vacation destination, peer-to-peer baby gear rental is an amazing resource. The new company goBaby provides an easy way to rent baby gear from individuals for a reasonable price, making it perfect for all parents.

4.) Make Use of Old

Very rarely do babies and toddlers wear out their clothing before outgrowing it, and honestly, older kids don’t often get full use out of their tiny wardrobes. Therefore, it just makes sense to sell those lightly used clothes and buy some bigger, almost-new items in exchange. Luckily, companies such as thredUp make this possible and as simple as can be.

5.) To-Do List Helpers

Let’s face it, there is no way any parent could ever reach the end of their to-do list. From household chores to expectations from the kid’s school, there are just too many things to keep up with.

That said, the sharing economy can help a busy mom or dad check off a few extra items. Businesses such as TaskRabbit offer personal assistant services, making them accessible to the average joe. This could be a game changer for those parents who feel they are drowning in errands and chores.

6.) Sitter Trade-Off

Occasionally, you just need a few minutes to get some work done or eat in peace, and SittingAround gives you just that. In return, you simply offer other parents the same little bit of sanity. Babysitter co-ops like these are a growing trend that we think makes perfect sense.

7.) Are you a parent to a dog, too? 

Sometimes parents have so much on their plates that walking the dog becomes a huge hassle. Wag! makes dog ownership easier by connecting dog owners with dog lovers in their community. With this sharing economy app, dog owners can hire dog lovers on-demand for dog walking, dog sitting, or dog boarding services 7-days a week. It’s like Uber for dog-walkers!

8.) Have a “Schlepper” Help You Move

Need to move a couch but need to go to your kid’s soccer game instead? Schlep is an on-demand moving service that allows customers to book a “schlepper” to help you move things from point A to point B. Simply book a moving date and time, tell the schlepper where the item(s) is and where it’s going and allow the schleppers to save you time.

Want to learn more about how you can make good use of the sharing economy as a parent? We would love to hear from you! Please contact us today.

The post How Parents Can Save Time, Energy and Money using the Sharing Economy appeared first on ParqEx.

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.

The post Make money with these new parking apps appeared first on ParqEx.