7 things you need to know about ANPR (camera-based parking)

1 - What is ANPR?

ANPR stands for “Automatic Number Plate Recognition” and can be used by anyone with parking assets who wants to automate their process for charging visitor parking and collect more detailed and reliable data on how parking facilities are used. What they do is install ANPR cameras in their parking facility, which then record the entry and exit of vehicles. A parking session is automatically activated in the system, and the visitor is charged according to the time they have been parked.

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2 - How can ANPR be used?

ANPR has mainly been used to automate the charging of visitor parking, such as in malls and other commercial properties. However, ANPR can also be used in so-called “hybrid facilities”, where you have both visitors and contractual customers (for example, customers with monthly permits). The advantage of using ANPR in such facilities is that you get a data base for how all customers park in the facility. This data can then be used to plan what the facility will look like, what type of parking is most profitable, etc.

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3 - What are the benefits of ANPR?

There are several benefits of camera-based parking, such as:

1. You can reduce your costs because the need for manual parking monitoring is reduced.
2. It also leads to increased revenue as it automatically monitors and charges all people who park in the facility (compared to visitor parking without cameras where it is up to the visitor himself to register and pay for his visit in an app or parking machine).
3. You get an accurate data base on how people move in and use the facility. For example, how long they park and what percentage are visitors compared to contract customers. This basis can then be used in the planning and development of its parking offer.

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4 - Can ANPR contribute to increased occupancy?

Yes, there are a few different ways that ANPR can contribute to an increased occupancy rate. Since one gets to know the actual use of one's parking assets, one can make informed decisions about occupancy optimization.

For example, imagine a residential parking lot where you have sold parking permits for all spaces. By installing ANPR cameras, data shows that on average 20% of places are empty during the day. In this way, the occupancy rate can be optimized by making the vacant places available to visitors during these times. Good for anyone looking for visitor parking and good for your operating net!

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5 — What should be considered when choosing ANPR systems?

There are a few things that might be useful to consider before choosing a camera-based parking system:

1. Look at the accuracy of the supplier's solutions — how good is the camera/system at reading vehicle license plates?
2. What is the user experience like for the visitor? It should be as easy as possible to pay for their parking.
3. The solution should also be able to handle contractual customers, otherwise you exclude the possibility of using the solution on hybrid plants (and the data it then provides).
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6 — What is special about the ANPR46 system?

ANPR46 is seamlessly integrated with our parking management system Park46. This creates unique opportunities:

1. Ability to optimize both your visitor business and the contractual business in the facility with the help of ANPR
2. You, as a property owner or operator, and your brand, are behind the services for both contract and visitor parking. This gives you control over the entire customer journey and a direct relationship with the people who visit your facility.
3. By combining contractual parking and visitor parking in one system, you get a unique opportunity to convert visitors into contract customers, as you have both an overview of their use and a direct relationship with them.

These are unique opportunities that are missed when you outsource the visitor service to a third party, such as a visitor app or similar.

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7 — Why should we invest in a system of combined visitor and contract parking?

If you, as a property owner or operator, use a system of combined visitor and contract parking, you can create nice incentives for your customers to choose the product that suits them best — while optimizing their occupancy and utilization.

In conclusion...

How can ANPR contribute to your parking business? Today you simplify the flow for parking customers and staff, but tomorrow you might be the world's best at valet parking! Wouldn't it be great if you could send this message to a visitor:

“Hey, now you've averaged 6 days a month for six months. If you plan to continue with that use, we recommend switching to contract parking to save money. You can find more info here [link]”.

With ANPR46, great business opportunities are created for your parking.

Want to know more?

Read more about our camera parking system, ANPR46:

ANPR46

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