Automated Parking with ANPR in Practice

Read more about what ANPR is.

What happens when the car drives in?

The camera at the entrance reads the number plate, and the system checks whether the car has a valid permit.

• If the car has a permit, it applies immediately. In a garage with a gate, the gate opens automatically.
• If the car has no permit, a visitor session starts based on the visitor rate you have chosen.

A screen at the entrance can show different messages for contract customers and visitors. Contract customers can also receive a notification in the app or by email, depending on your settings.

The rules can also vary by time of day. A contract customer might be allowed to park around the clock, while visitors can only enter during the day. In a facility without a barrier, all cars drive in and the cameras handle the checks. Read when free flow parking is a good fit and when a gate is better.

What happens while the car is parked?

For contract customers, nothing happens. The permit applies, and they don’t need to show anything or start a parking session. When several employees share a company’s permits, each car is checked in and out automatically. If the company has more cars in the garage than it has permits for, the extra cars are charged at the visitor rate. You decide whether the employee or the company pays.

Visitors can pay in a payment app that is linked to the system, for example EasyPark. If the visitor has activated camera parking in the app, the parking session starts and is paid there automatically. Those who don’t use an app scan the QR code on the signs and pay by Swish or card. Regular visitors can join a customer club and receive one combined invoice per month.

No one needs to walk around checking payments, because the cameras already know which cars are parked. Parking attendants are only needed occasionally, to keep order. Read about the difference between parking attendants and cameras.

What happens when the car drives out?

The camera at the exit registers the car, and the parking session ends. A screen at the exit can show visitors a message based on how the parking is paid. Contract customers can also receive a notification in the app.

Visitors only pay for the time the car has actually been parked. If you want, you can offer a period of free parking before the rate starts to apply. If a contract customer stays longer than their permit allows, the extra time is charged at the visitor rate. Watch the webinar on hybrid agreements and customer clubs.

What happens if the camera can’t read the number plate?

The system flags it and sends the images for manual review. This usually happens when the plate is dirty or covered in snow, or when something is in the way, such as a bike rack. The cameras have a small cover over the lens and rarely get snow on them. To ensure reliable readings, two cameras are usually used to read the car from both the front and the back. At our ANPR facilities, the cameras read correctly 97% of the time.

If a number plate has been misread, your administrators can see it in the system and correct the parking session.

How can tradespeople and guests park for free?

With a whitelist or kiosk solution. Tradespeople, caretakers and cleaning companies often need to park without paying. Instead of setting up contracts with them, you add their registration numbers to a whitelist. There, you choose how long it applies and which zones the car may park in. When the job is done, you remove the number.

For shops and gyms, the kiosk solution is a good fit. Customers enter their registration number on a tablet at reception and get a temporary permit, for example two hours of free parking.

What does day-to-day management look like?

Most things are handled automatically, but you have an overview and can step in when needed.

In a dashboard, you can see the number of parking sessions and revenue. You can also see how many cars are in the facility hour by hour, and which payment methods your visitors use. This gives you a basis for decisions about, for example, prices and permits. Read how ANPR affects profitability.

If a customer has a question about a parking session, you can view the images from the entrance and exit, follow the payment history and cancel the session if needed. You can also send receipts directly from the system. You change prices and terms digitally, and there are no payment machines to maintain. Read about more processes you can automate.

What is needed in the facility?

The cameras are installed at the entrance and exit, where they need to see the number plate as the car passes. It works in both garages and surface car parks. If you already have cameras, they can often be used, as ANPR46 works with several camera suppliers. We go through what to ask ANPR suppliers in 6 Things to Consider When Choosing an ANPR System.

Want to see how this could work for you? Read more about ANPR46.