Benefits of Virtual Permitting

Jan 16, 2018

Most people who have purchased parking have had the experience of using a physical parking permit in the form of a hang tag, sticker, or paper receipt. While this system works, it can be clunky, labor-intensive to enforce, and inconvenient to customers. Here’s why virtual permitting may be a better alternative:

Customer Convenience
Buying a virtual permit online is user-friendly and convenient. Once purchased, unlike physical permits, the virtual permit can’t be lost, stolen, or faked. If a customer needs to change parking locations or the parking time needs to be extended, updates can be made via the web or through an app. 

Efficient Enforcement
Enforcing physical permits requires someone to walk around parking garages, lots, or streets and peer through windows to view parking permits, a labor-intensive process. When enforcement requires someone to walk into the flow of traffic, this raises safety concerns.

By contrast, an enforcement officer driving a License Plate Recognition (LPR)-enabled vehicle can accurately and quickly monitor the same amount of space in much less time and with less effort. Based on NuPark’s customer data analysis, LPR-enforcement coverage compared to visual enforcement is dramatically higher and is more than 95% accurate depending on location. 

Flexibility
With LPR, automated rules for enforcement can be quickly changed depending on the organization’s need. For example, Baylor University uses NuPark’s software system to manage their satellite lot permits. Students are permitted for the commuter lots and are also allowed up to five uses of a premium space each semester. Once the student has parked five times in premium spaces, an email notification will be sent advising that the premium space permission has been removed from the vehicle’s permit. Permission for five more uses of a premium space will reload the following semester.

Cost-Effectiveness
The value of a virtual permitting system is well worth the cost. Some users have experienced a return-on-investment in less than three months. In many cases, enforcement operations are already understaffed, so by adding technology to increase efficiency, organizations can meet operational goals.

Integrated Data Analysis
Unlike physical permitting systems, virtual permitting data can be used to evaluate pricing and time limits to create rules that optimize turnover, location distribution, and revenue. Based on the metrics gathered, organizations can create new parking programs to achieve business objectives and customer service goals.

"NuPark’s native, real-time, LPR-based system gives us the flexibility and tools to manage our shrinking resources and still maintain the high level of service our customers demand."

- David Allen, Executive Director of Transportation Services for The University of Maryland, College Park

As a smart parking management solutions provider, NuPark finds that our clients consistently explore creative solutions to manage the parking permitting process with virtual permitting being a popular option.

"Without a doubt, customers and organizations love the benefits of virtual permitting. Many of our customers started off using physical permits but very quickly realized the advantages of virtual permitting and moved in that direction."

- Jim Leida, VP of Sales for NuPark

If you are considering making a transition from physical to virtual permits or want more information about how other institutions and organizations apply virtual permitting in their operation, contact the team at NuPark.

Further Reading

Chapman parking enforcement vehicle in front of university sign
white truck scanning license plates in a surface parking lot
man in white shirt and black pants speaking to two ladies in white and orange clothes with men in the background talking with NuPark sign in the. back