Why Contactless Parking Technology Is The Way Forward?

Amit Lakhotia Mar 22, 2021

The future is digital, and mobility is no exception. As cars on the roads are gunning to turn electric, why should parking remain untouched by technology? New-age technology start-ups are already making this a reality, as they continue to deploy innovative solutions for smart, contactless parking.

The rising need for contactless parking

If you’re a city dweller and a car owner, you’ve probably experienced the parking dilemma. You reach your destination and then the search begins. Depending on the space available in the parking lot, you may spend 5 to 15 minutes looking for a spot to park. In some cases, you’ll find one and, if not, you may have to park in a nearby street. The result? Your car is in an unsafe spot and you’ll be stressed the entire time you’re there.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further added to this conundrum. Even if you do find a parking spot in a designated parking lot, you’ll have to exchange parchis and cash with a guard, putting both of you at risk of infection. In the case of residential parking areas, each car needs to stop and interact with the entry guard. These are just some of the factors that have led to the genesis of contactless parking solutions.

Solving the parking crisis with technology

Did you know that 30% of traffic jams in India are caused due to parking issues? This alone indicates the need for technological disruption in the parking sector. And now, such solutions do exist. As mentioned above, Parking technology start-ups are enabling drivers with the ubiquity to discover vacant parking spots and book these slots via an easy-to-use app and pay digitally instead of exchanging tickets and cash with a staff member and wait in long queues for payment.

In residential spaces, such platforms offer contactless, seamless, automated boom barrier services which do not require guards to regulate entry and exit. This is safer for residential societies as they can keep a track of their cars. Plus, with RFID and IoT technology, this is the safest and most efficient way of parking within residential societies. Leading start-ups are also consolidating different services like FasTag recharge, Insurance sales, Car Wash services along with their superior parking solutions.

Mapping the future of contactless parking

The COVID-19 outbreak had decimated the offline parking space and made digital parking inevitable. As the number of vehicles on the road returns to pre-COVID levels, people are naturally gravitating towards contactless, touchless digital parking solutions which are safer and more convenient. As social distancing becomes the new normal, the demand for contactless parking will only increase.

Automobile sales are also at an all-time high after the pandemic reduced the focus on shared mobility. As more cars emerge on the road, traffic jams due to wrongly parked cars will skyrocket. In such as scenario, digital parking will be preferred by city authorities, operators, parking owners, and customers. Thus, there will be more people in need of digital parking solutions, indicating a strong growth trajectory for the business in India. Whether it is at a mall, an office, a market, or our homes, we’ll forever be parking smart and safe.