We’re all creatures of habit, but this can drag us into a rut when technology is evolving at a rapid pace and the competition is integrating new ways to increase accuracy without sacrificing efficiency. Over the past couple of years License Plate Recognition (LPR) has become so accurate (some systems are recording 99.02% or higher); it has surpassed the 98.5% average set by humans when considering typos. These near perfect results are a testament to the quality of cameras and the analysis software behind them.
When digital parking permits are validated with license plate technology, the permit abuse rate plummets. This decline can be directly correlated to the lack of having a tangible item that is easily passed from one person to another without any sort of data or paper trail.
Mistakes from outdated and missing information is more than an annoyance to enforcement companies – it’s downright costly. Aside from the obvious cost of payroll and vehicle overhead when correcting a mistake, it can damage the reputation of the enforcement company.
A major benefit in using LPR Technology in conjunction with digital permits is the ability to have data pushed to the driver and/or monitor in real-time. This constant data stream gives access to the real-time permit status, information on when it was purchased, and any potential notes or violations tied to the permit. Not only will this help minimize mistakes, it will rejuvenate the property’s confidence in the parking management.
A few years ago, a parking enforcement company could expect to pay $5,000-$25,000 for the LPR camera(s) and software. This staggering price doesn’t include an integrated permit system (digital or tangible) nor the cost of the vehicle and ongoing maintenance of the system.
To add insult to injury, if the permit solution wasn’t digital, the enforcement company was responsible for purchasing custom hang tags or stickers. This process is not only time consuming and can quickly add up in costs, it’s also frustrating and any involvement from the property is typically put on the backburner.
With today’s technology, things have changed… dramatically. By skipping the drawn-out process of issuing physical hang tags and stickers, digital parking permits can save a tremendous amount of time and resources for the property management and enforcement company.
The cost of license plate recognition has also changed in ways that was unforeseeable just a few years back. Instead of expecting to spend tens of thousands of dollars to integrate a vehicle with one or more LPR cameras, it’s now free with the SimplyPermits LPR mobile application on any smart device.
Because SimplyPermits LPR is a mobile application, the driver or monitor doesn’t have to setup and manage any hardware before visiting a property. Logging in takes only a few seconds and switching between properties is even faster from the quick dropdown menu. Permit statuses are instantly verified by snapping a photo of the license plate.
When integrating LPR to your company’s tool belt, it’s important to consider all factors: