When non-essential shops reopened after months of lengthy restrictions, many of us rejoiced, knowing that we could get back to what we love. Every brick and mortar business values footfall, especially when the world of e-commerce is growing so rapidly against the high street. That is why parking facilities are such a valuable asset to certain businesses. Efficient parking can draw in customers from all over the country and give them the chance to develop a strong loyalty to your business. But how do you ensure your car park is keeping up with the times? YourParkingSpace takes parking very seriously, focusing on how we can revolutionise the stubborn ways of the traditional parking industry and bring it up to date with the needs of the modern consumer. Here are some of the best ways to modernise your parking facilities.
Protect your assets
Your car park is a very valuable asset. It can help retain existing customers as well as have the potential to draw in new customers. Thus, it is vital that you protect your premises with effective parking enforcement measures. Although many businesses reject these enforcement measures because they believe they will be a deterrent for customers, these enforcements can help increase positive customer experience. When a customer knows that their vehicle is safe and secure in your car park, they are more likely to visit your business again and again. Plus, YourParkingSpace uses superior ANPR technology to monitor the misuse of your car park and issue the driver a PCN through the post. Therefore, your staff do not have to deal with any unnecessary confrontation, enhancing the positive reputation of your business.
Make your car park accessible
Every car park is unique and those nuances need to be detailed to your customer. In the modern world where everything is labeled, your car park needs to do the same. Thus, it is vital that you show where your customers should pay and whether they are supposed to pay on entry or exit. As a result, there is less confusion and less pressure on certain parking enforcement measures.
Moreover, touchless payment options can make your car park more accessible for disabled customers. For example, YourParkingSpace’s Intelligent Payment Kiosk can transform into a touch-free payment option with a quick scan of a QR code. As a result, a customer can easily pay for parking using a web based checkout, if they struggle to access the kiosk itself.
Similarly, our Intelligent Payment Kiosk offers a wide range of cashless payment options including contactless cards, chip & pin cards and mobile device options, such as Apple Pay. These efficient payment options make paying for parking quick, simple and hygienic, something very important to contemporary customers.
Diversify your pricing strategy
Pricing is an integral part of any business, including parking. Techniques such as dynamic pricing help to keep your car park competitive, particularly if your premises are close to popular locations, such as stadiums or shopping centres. If done correctly, affordable pricing can help to strengthen the popularity of your business and help you develop an effective USP. In fact, a detailed report from NCP informs us that: ‘two of the three most important factors for consumers when visiting either a shopping centre or retail park are parking related: low cost parking (72%), a good range of shops (61%) and good parking facilities (55%).’ Thus, it is evident that pricing has a large impact on the overall behaviour of your customer base.
Car parks will always be an important aspect of any consumer experience, offering a safe space to store your vehicle before you move on to your next destination. That is why businesses need to ensure that their parking facilities meet modern customers’ expectations and are able to handle whatever comes next.
References
NCP (2021), Parking behaviour and attitude within retail parks and shopping centres, Available at:https://www.ncp.co.uk/download/1965.6/parking-behaviour-and-attitude-study/