6 Things to Consider When Choosing an ANPR System

The six things are:

• that it reads number plates reliably
• that it works with the cameras you already have
• that it handles both contract customers and visitors
• that it is easy for visitors to pay
• that it suits your facility, with or without a barrier
• that it gives you data and integrations you can use

Read more about what ANPR is.

1. How accurate is the ANPR system?

Accuracy shows how large a share of cars the system registers correctly. It determines whether charging and statistics are correct. A car that isn’t registered correctly can cause errors both on the invoice and in the data you base your decisions on.

How accurate the system is depends on the cameras and how they are positioned. The cameras need a clear view of the number plate as the car enters and exits, and external factors such as dirt on the plates also play a part. That’s why we recommend dual cameras. Accuracy is also one of the things property owners ask us about most often. At our ANPR facilities, it is on average 97%.

Ask the supplier: How accurate is the system at your facilities, and what happens when a number plate can’t be read?

Read more about the benefits of ANPR cameras.

2. Does the system work with the cameras you already have?

If you already have ANPR cameras, you shouldn’t need to replace them. A system that works with several camera manufacturers makes it easier to get started and gives you the freedom to choose cameras in the future.

ANPR46 works with cameras from several manufacturers, including Axis, ARH and Tattile.

Ask the supplier: Which cameras does the system work with, and can we keep the ones we have?

3. Does the system handle both contract customers and visitors?

If both contract customers and visitors park in your facility, the system needs to handle both. You can then see how the whole facility is used and make use of spaces that would otherwise sit empty.

In ANPR46, cars with a valid permit are recognised automatically. Other cars get a visitor session based on the visitor rate you have chosen. If a contract customer stays longer than the permit allows, the extra time is charged at the visitor rate. You can also have different rules at different times of day, for example letting visitors park only during the day.

Ask the supplier: Can contract customers and visitors be handled in the same system, and what happens when a contract customer stays past their time?

Read how to combine contracts and visits with hybrid agreements and customer clubs.

4. How easy is it for visitors to pay?

Visitors should be able to park and pay without having to look for a pay station.

With ANPR46, the visitor pays in a parking app connected to the system, such as EasyPark or Parkster. Anyone who doesn’t use one of the apps scans a QR code and pays with Swish or card in a digital pay station. So there’s no need for physical pay stations. The visitor only pays for the time the car is parked.

We recommend placing the QR code on clear signs in the facility, so that visitors find it straight away.

See what happens from entrance to exit with ANPR.

Ask the supplier: Which parking apps are connected, and how does someone without an app pay?

5. Does the system suit your facility, with or without a barrier?

ANPR works in both garages and surface car parks, as long as there is a clear entrance and exit where the cameras can be placed. What sets facilities apart is whether they have a barrier, a gate or free flow.

In a garage with a gate, the system should be able to open the gate for cars with a permit. Without a barrier, everyone drives in and the cameras register the cars instead. ANPR46 handles both set-ups and can also combine them.

Read when free flow parking is a good fit and when a gate is better.

The biggest problem we have seen in other solutions is cameras connected to barriers that don’t open. The car is left waiting, and the experience suffers for the person parking. Without a barrier, that problem doesn’t arise.

If every customer has their own reserved space, ANPR is less useful, because the cameras can’t see which space the car is parked in. ANPR makes the biggest difference where several customers share the spaces.

Read when parking attendants are a better choice than cameras.

Ask the supplier: Can the system control a gate, and what happens if it doesn’t open? Does it also work without a barrier?

6. What data and integrations does the system provide?

Because the cameras register every car, you get a picture of how the facility is actually used. A good system presents this in a way you can base decisions on, for example occupancy hour by hour and when most cars are in the garage.

The system also needs to work with what you already have. Mobility46 is vendor-neutral and can be connected to parking enforcement companies and parking apps, among others. So you don’t need to replace systems that work.

Ask the supplier: What statistics do we get, and which systems can it be connected to?

Our most important advice: start with the person parking

The most important thing when choosing a system is the experience for the person parking. Signage should be clear and payment simple. Cars with a permit should get in automatically, and if you have charging spaces, charging should work in the same flow. The system should also give you data you can rely on.

Lower costs for parking attendants are part of the benefit. What usually makes the biggest difference is higher revenue and more satisfied customers.

Read more about how ANPR increases revenue.

More questions to ask before you choose

How do support and operations work?

Ask who you contact if a camera stops working and how quickly the fault is fixed. Also ask how often the cameras are out of service and what happens to parking in the meantime.

How is vehicle data handled?

The system registers every car that enters and exits. Ask how long the data is stored and who has access to it. Read about GDPR and privacy with ANPR.

What is included in the price?

Ask what is included and what costs extra, such as cameras and installation. Read more about what ANPR costs.

Checklist: questions to ask the supplier

• Accuracy: How accurate is the system, and what happens when a number plate can’t be read? A good answer is a figure from the supplier’s own facilities and a clear answer on what happens then.
• Cameras: Does the system work with the cameras we already have? A good answer is that the system works with several camera manufacturers, so you can keep what you have.
• Contract customers and visitors: Can both be handled in the same system? A good answer is yes, and that time beyond the permit is charged at the visitor rate.
• Payment: Which parking apps are connected, and how does someone without an app pay? A good answer is several parking apps and a digital pay station via QR code.
• The facility: Can the system control a gate, and what happens if it doesn’t open? A good answer is yes, a clear answer on what happens then, and that the system also works without a barrier.
• Data and integrations: What statistics do we get, and which systems can it be connected to? A good answer is occupancy hour by hour and integrations with the systems you already use.
• Support and operations: Who do we contact if a camera stops working, and how often does it happen? A good answer is a clear point of contact and information on how quickly faults are fixed.

Read how to get started with ANPR once you have chosen a system.

Want to see how ANPR46 answers these questions?

Book a demo, and we’ll go through your situation together. If you’d rather have advice before choosing, you’re welcome to contact us. Read more about ANPR46.