News
Johannesburg Welcomes Parket: The Future of Parking Management
Johannesburg has found a promising answer to its parking challenges with the official launch of Parket, a prop-tech start-up revolutionising parking management. Joshua Raphael, the visionary Founder and CEO, is determined to transform the way we navigate parking through the power of modern technologies as reported by Ventureburn.
Raphael identifies the pressing need for a better approach to managing parking in South African cities. He declares, “As parking lots around the city edge closer to pre-pandemic levels, the nightmare of finding a parking spot resurfaces. Motorists waste valuable time and fuel circling in search of parking, while vacant bays in nearby buildings remain unused.”
Also Read: President Ramaphosa Vows to Punish Perpetrators of Truck Attacks
This urgency compels Raphael to advocate for a more efficient and digitised parking space management method.
Recognising the ubiquitous presence of mobile applications in our daily lives, Raphael firmly believes that parking should be no exception. He asserts, “People rely on mobile apps for almost everything nowadays. Why not embrace them for parking as well?”
He passionately argues for a transition to a cashless, ticketless system that offers robust parking management features and contributes to a more sustainable environment by eliminating the wasteful use of paper tickets. He quips with a touch of humour, “Why are we still clinging to paper tickets? Just think about how many trees we consume each day! And don’t get me started on the hassle of finding working parking pay points!”
Also Read: Deputy Minister Urges Community to Protect Employment Centres
Examining the current state of the parking industry, Raphael highlights the significant obstacle of fragmented parking systems. He observes, “Existing solutions focus on either access control, short-term parking, or long-term parking. However, they fall short of providing an all-encompassing solution.”
To address this issue, Raphael emphasises the necessity of a comprehensive, turnkey digital parking solution that enables real-time management of the entire parking ecosystem.
Delving into the features of Parket’s IoT-based solution, Raphael elucidates, “Our platform leverages mobile applications, cloud-based management dashboards, and contactless technology, including automatic license plate recognition. This ensures seamless communication between parking lots and managers while providing an up-to-date directory accessible to the public for locating the nearest available parking spaces.”
Also Read: Nigeria Leads African Cryptocurrency Adoption South Africa Trails
He highlights the convenience and user-friendly nature of Parket’s solution.
Recognising the importance of a customer-centric approach, Raphael acknowledges that not all users prefer downloading an app. He notes, “Motorists at a parking lot or retail center can conveniently pay by scanning a QR code, while once-off visitors can receive the QR access code via text or instant messaging for easy access.”
This flexibility caters to the diverse preferences of users.
Raphael explains the advantages of Parket’s cloud-based management dashboard: “Those responsible for managing and operating parking lots can effortlessly handle their inventory, monetise parking spaces, and fill previously vacant bays to generate additional revenue.”
Also Read: Kiffness’ Infectious Remix of the Bokke Spreads Joy Across South Africa
He emphasises the value of data analysis in identifying usage trends and enabling overselling, stating, “Vacant parking lots don’t generate any revenue.” The system also streamlines processes for landlords and tenants, reducing administrative requirements and eliminating manual errors.
Illustrating the success of Parket’s solution, Raphael shares a customer’s experience: “The Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital doubled its parking revenue within six months, demonstrating how IoT technology can bridge the supply and demand for parking bays while generating revenue for customers.”
He underscores the significance of Parket’s contribution to Johannesburg’s development as it strives to become a smart city.
Raphael concludes by highlighting the cost-saving potential of Parket’s turnkey IoT parking solution. He declares, “Legacy parking methods are not only inefficient but also burdened with exorbitant costs for ticket issuing and reading machines, traditional payment machines, and maintenance.”
He affirms that Parket’s solution offers a more affordable alternative while providing a digital, cashless, paperless, and contactless interface that enhances the overall parking experience.
Also Read:
Follow us on Google News
Photo: Facebook /@Ventureburn
