Advancing technology is using cloud-based applications to bring innovation to many different industries and sectors of society. In the realm of transportation, mobile apps using the cloud, are solving difficult logistic problems like delivery, public transportation, and even parking. Let’s explore the possibilities by looking at ways the IoT is helping increase parking availability in major U.S. cities.
Connecting Users with Services
Most of the SaaS solutions are acting as brokers or liaisons, connecting customers with helpful services. These services are being provided by users of the application as well, which means all three parties are benefiting from the solution.
For instance, everyone who lives in a metropolitan city (or visited one) in the United States understands parking can be a headache and even impossible at times. Well, this problem is being solved through cloud-based technology, mostly using mobile devices through an app. ParqEx, a Chicago-based company, has created a liaison service where users are connecting to do businesses, specifically to find rent-able parking spots in real-time.
The IoT is the Glue
The Internet of Things is simply an all-encompassing phrase being used to describe every possible electronic mode of connecting, sharing, and collecting data. This means the devices and objects used in these processes are the glue, for instance, making parking available in large cities.
For instance, GPS plays a large part in showing users where the parking spaces are, and how to find them from their location. All the objects that makes this happen are part of the IoT. The mobile devices, the electronic garage openers the parking spot owner may use to facilitate the parking, the laptop used to gauge business for the month, etc…
The real-time exchange of data used to pay for and sign up to the cloud-based service, are all facilitated by distant servers and networked from hosting companies. Also, the automation processes allowing the exchange of funds from the customer to the parking spot owner, are made possible by the IoT in the form of card processing services.
Related Services and Inter-Connectivity
The IoT also helps users find the service in the first place. This could be done through a search engine, or possibly a related service. Say for instance, the Chicago Cubs organization begins to become an affiliate of ParqEx, in order to help their fans find parking during home games. A small ad shown when a fan purchases a ticket for a home game of ParqEx’s service, gives fans an option to find rent-able parking during the game.
Inter-connectivity with other services such as Uber, can help customers find a rent-able parking spot (even for months at a time), while they get a ride through Uber’s service to the airport. Even the airports, bus stations, taxi services, and other transportation services can help in solving the cities parking problem, by advertising ParqEx’s service. This could happen in the form of: using electronic billboards, telephone communications, emails, and other technological communications.
Summary
The IoT is an all-encompassing glue, connecting technology with innovative ideas. Sensors, marketing mediums, mobile devices, credit card processors, automation in logistical processes – all contribute to increase the rent-able parking spaces in a large city. The more people who find out they can make money renting their parking space, the more parking availability will increase.
ParqEx is using an innovative idea to solve a real problem, which is helping large cities find parking for visitors and residents alike. The IoT is helping to spread the word and connect related services together, in order to further along the smartness of the cities we’re serving. The more people who rent out their parking spaces, and the more people hearing “through the grapevine” that they can rent these parking spaces, the more the parking problem is solved.
We’re relying on the IoT to comprehensively glue our efforts together into a seamless service users can’t resist. With the help of the IoT, services like ParqEx can work together, not only solve common problems like parking, but also create opportunity for independent users looking to make some income. In the end it’s a win-win, which is always nice. Please contact us to learn more about ParqEx’s innovative parking app, and we’ll be glad to help.
