Improve the Parking Experience with High-tech Security

The parking industry is rapidly moving towards a customer-centric model as IoT solutions are embedded into businesses to improve operations and customer experiences. The promise of the IoT is broad, but industry in general agrees with Oracle’s definition as a: “network of physical objects—“things”— that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the Internet.”  Networks that leverage the IoT will have some combination of sensors, network connectivity, cloud computing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Parking companies have a great opportunity to embrace the future by adapting early to keep current customers loyal and expand their base before competitors catch up.

Wondering what approach to take? It’s best to start with solutions that offer measurable improvements in customer experience and improve usability.  JLL lists safety and security as a key driver to demand at parking facilities, and therefore, these areas are meaningful places to start. But it’s easy to think that security isn’t an area for improvement. Security providers have made it easy for businesses to lose sight of the value proposition, which has kept many parking companies behind despite better, affordable IoT solutions available.

You may ask, what’s wrong with traditional security solutions? There are drawbacks to consider as more advanced technologies come to market (you don’t use a 10-year-old iPhone, do you?) Cameras don’t stop crime, they record. Patrolling security vehicles are avoidable – they’re easy to spot, leave long gaps of time between visits, and have limited site accessibility. What about on-site guards? Unless there are enough trained guards on full alert, actively covering large areas is a challenge. Unwanted visitors can easily bypass or distract them. On-site guards are rarely scalable due to cost and availability. What about video verification? That does not stop crime either, it just provides evidence of it.

So, what does stop crime? Proactive video monitoring does. It is a true IoT security solution that applies machine learning to camera footage to automatically detect human activity at the site perimeter. Highly trained Intervention Specialists receiving the alarm assess the live situation in seconds and issue custom verbal warnings to trespassers to deter unwanted activity. PVM is lightyears ahead of traditional solutions because it stops crime.

Here at Netwatch, we boast a 98 percent success rate of turning trespassers away BEFORE crimes are committed. This is because cameras detect activity at the point of entry, which provides more time to take action. The human factor is put to use – live, specific talk-downs that call out the trespasser, what they look like, and or what they’re doing get across to trespassers that someone is actively watching them and there’s a real possibility they’ll take action, such as dispatching police.

So, what makes a good PVM solution?

  • Talk-downs: they must be live, not pre-recorded (pre-recorded talk-downs are commonly identified as recordings by trespassers and written off as non-critical threats since there’s no proof someone is actually watching (and no one may be watching.)
  • Central station: they must be highly efficient, provide full redundancy, the latest in technology offerings, trained specialists, and be based in the U.S.
  • Site setup: your security provider should have an experienced team that will help you orient your cameras to provide proper perimeter coverage so that the service you are paying for works as described.

Interested in how PVM can take your parking operations to the next level? Contact us today to learn more.

Resources:

https://www.us.jll.com/en/views/parking-industry-considerations-for-investors

https://13wham.com/news/local/hockey-fans-notice-new-security-measures-inside-civic-center-parking-garage

https://parkingassetadvisory.com/blog/f/owner-vs-operator