University of
South Australia

South Australia, Australia

Background

The University of South Australia (UniSA), a leading institution with multiple campuses across the state, faced significant challenges managing its parking facilities. The growing student and staff population resulted in high demand for parking spaces, leading to congestion and dissatisfaction. Additionally, managing parking permits was cumbersome, requiring manual processes that were time-consuming for both users and administrative staff.

Objectives

To address these issues, UniSA partnered with Parki, a white-labeled mobile parking app that offers both parking management and permit management through its VPermit product

Reduce congestion and streamline the parking process

Enhance User Experience

Provide a seamless and user-friendly parking experience for students, staff, and visitors.

Simplify Permit Management

Automate and digitize the permit application and management process.

Data-Driven Decisions

Utilize data analytics to inform parking policy and infrastructure decisions.

Solutions and Implementations

PARKi Mobile App Integration

The Parki app was customized with UniSA branding and integrated into the university's existing digital infrastructure. The app offers real-time information on parking availability, navigation to parking spots, and mobile payment options. Key features include:

• Real-Time Parking Availability: Sensors installed in parking lots provide live updates on available spots.
  
  
• Navigation: In-app navigation guides users to the nearest available parking space.
  
  
• Mobile Payments: Users can pay for parking directly through the app using various payment methods.
  
  
• Notifications: Alerts for expiring parking sessions and available spaces in preferred lots.
  

Our Process

Stakeholder Engagement

To tailor our services effectively, we conduct thorough consultations with students, staff, and facility managers. By engaging with students, we gain insights into their daily experiences and preferences, helping us create an optimal learning environment. Staff members share their operational needs and workspace enhancement ideas, contributing to streamlined processes and improved efficiency. Facility managers provide vital input on the practical aspects of building and ground management, guiding our maintenance and upgrade strategies. This collaborative approach ensures that our solutions are well-aligned with the diverse needs of our community.

Technical Integration

Integrating Parki and VPermit with UniSA's existing systems involves close collaboration with the university's IT department. This partnership ensures that the new parking management and virtual permit systems seamlessly align with current technologies and workflows. By working together, we can streamline user authentication, data management, and system interoperability. Regular coordination helps us address technical challenges promptly and ensures robust security measures are in place. This collaborative effort aims to enhance the overall user experience, making parking and permit services more efficient and accessible.

Pilot Testing

To ensure the successful deployment of Parki and VPermit, we will launch a pilot phase on one UniSA campus. This phase allows us to test the systems in a real-world environment and gather essential feedback from users. During this period, we will closely monitor performance and address any issues that arise. Engaging with students, staff, and facility managers, we will collect their insights to refine and improve the systems. This approach helps us make necessary adjustments, ensuring that Parki and VPermit are optimized for a smooth and effective rollout across all campuses.

Full Rollout

To ensure a smooth transition to Parki and VPermit, we will implement a gradual rollout across all UniSA campuses. This phased approach allows us to systematically expand the systems while minimizing disruptions. To support this process, we will provide comprehensive training sessions for students, staff, and facility managers, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to use the new tools effectively.

In addition, targeted promotional campaigns will be launched to raise awareness and encourage adoption. These campaigns will highlight the benefits of Parki and VPermit, showcasing how they simplify parking management and enhance convenience. By combining training with ongoing communication and support, we aim to foster widespread user acceptance and ensure the successful integration of Parki and VPermit into everyday campus life.

Continuous Improvement

We are committed to providing ongoing support and updates for Parki and VPermit, ensuring they continue to meet user needs and leverage the latest technological advancements. Regular feedback channels will be established to gather input from students, staff, and facility managers. This feedback will guide continuous improvements and refinements to the systems.

Additionally, we will stay abreast of technological developments to incorporate new features and enhancements that improve functionality and user experience. Our dedicated support team will be available to assist with any issues or questions, ensuring a seamless and efficient user experience. By prioritizing user feedback and staying current with technology, we aim to keep Parki and VPermit at the forefront of parking management solutions.

Results

We have substantially improve the overall experience for car park users

Improved Parking Efficiency

Reduced Congestion: Automated entry and exit systems reduced wait times and congestion, particularly during peak travel times.

Optimized Space Utilization: Real-time data on space availability allowed for better distribution of vehicles, increasing overall utilization rates.

Enhance User Experience

Convenience: The PARKi app provided a convenient and stress-free parking experience, with 90% of users reporting higher satisfaction.

Advance Reservations: Online reservation capabilities gave passengers peace of mind, knowing they had a guaranteed parking spot.

Automated Operation

Efficiency Gains: Automation of entry, exit, and payment processes reduced the need for manual intervention, freeing up staff for other tasks.

Reduced Errors: Automated systems minimized errors associated with manual processing, improving overall accuracy and efficiency.

Data-Driven Insights

Informed Decisions: Data analytics provided insights into parking patterns, informing infrastructure investments and policy adjustments.

Revenue Management: Improved revenue tracking and management from parking fees and fines.

Conclusion

The implementation of the Parki mobile app and VPermit system at the University of South Australia significantly improved parking management and user satisfaction.

The project demonstrated the value of leveraging technology to address common challenges in campus environments. The success of this initiative serves as a model for other institutions seeking to enhance their parking and permit management systems.

UniSA continues to work with Parki to explore new features and improvements, ensuring that the parking experience evolves with the changing needs of its community.