Background
UOB is rated as one of the world’s top banks¹. With a commitment to innovation and productivity through continuous digital transformation, the switch to a cloud-based smart car park system was a timely move to optimise parking operations, enhance efficiency, and improve the parking experience at its four commercial buildings.
These buildings include UOB Plaza, Far Eastern Building, Alexandra Building, and Tampines Centre, each catering to drivers with various parking needs. UOB Plaza, comprising two towers, offers seasonal, hourly, and complimentary (pre-paid) parking for VIPs, while the other three buildings provide only seasonal parking. Across these four buildings, UOB manages a total of more than 750 car park lots.
Challenges: The Need to Enhance Operational Efficiency and Parking Experience
Recognising the need to streamline processes and reduce the manpower required for managing multi-site car parks, UOB began exploring solutions that harness technology and innovative approaches to digitalise its operations and enhance parking services for its tenants, visitors and staff.
Previously, season parking applications and renewals were submitted and processed manually. To purchase complimentary tickets for VIPs, designated staff had to compile requests from various stakeholders and manage requests, invoicing, payments and the issuance of physical tickets and receipts.
The process was time-consuming, inefficient and resource intensive.
Solution: Harnessing Innovation to Improve Productivity
Optimising parking operational efficiency and enhancing motorists’ parking experience at the buildings was a top priority. To address these challenges and provide a future-proof solution for UOB, ST Engineering implemented its GoParkin™ Smart Car Park System to provide integrated management of the car parks, paired with a feature-rich mobile app for motorists.
Cloud-based GoParkin system unifies car park management with real-time visibility and data-driven analytics
Integrated GoParkin Management Platform and Mobile App
The secure, cloud-based GoParkin system unifies car park management on a single, robust platform. It provides real-time visibility of lot occupancy, remote access control, aggregated revenue reports, and data-driven analytics to improve operational efficiency and service delivery. It also minimises the manpower required to manage car parks across multiple locations and ensures parking issues are swiftly resolved through timely notifications to on-site staff, enabling them to take prompt action.
One of the most well-received features is the implementation of AI-driven Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology for seamless car park entry and exit. The technology accurately identifies and validates vehicle numbers, enabling smooth access for motorists who have pre-registered their vehicles or successfully applied for season parking via the GoParkin mobile app.
GoParkin for Seamless e-Transactions
Applications and renewals for season parking can be conveniently submitted through the app, with in-app alerts keeping motorists informed of their application status.
For the purchase of complimentary tickets, requests are submitted digitally, and unique QR codes are issued for every ticket. This offers a contactless and paperless method for sharing QR codes, eliminating the need for in-person exchanges and contributing to the Bank’s sustainability efforts.
Non-registered or hourly parking motorists can simply download the app and register to pay by credit or debit card, providing a cashless, hassle-free experience upon exit. Alternatively, they can choose to pay by scanning a QR code displayed on an LED screen at the exit.
Motorist-centric GoParkin mobile app
New Motorist-Centric Features
Capitalising on the fully digitalised GoParkin system, other new features were progressively implemented to address parking challenges at UOB Plaza:
GoParkin will be among the first in Singapore to introduce a Reserve-a-Lot system in the first quarter of 2025. This system offers motorists the convenience of booking a parking spot in advance through the app². Lot barriers, also known as ‘lot blockers’, are deployed at lots designated for reservation.
How it works: The lot barrier automatically lowers, unblocking the space for reserved parking shortly after the registered vehicle number is detected via ANPR at the entrance and matched with the reserved lot’s vehicle number. Once the vehicle leaves, the barrier reactivates, keeping the lot reserved for the driver. For motorists without a reservation, they can easily scan, pay and park instantly using a QR code designed for quick transactions.
The lot barrier is also deployed to secure season parking lots for specific vehicles, preventing them from being accidentally occupied by non-designated vehicles.
With flexible work-from-home arrangements leading to unused season parking days at UOB Plaza, GoParkin will be introducing a Season Parking Sharing Portal in the last quarter of 2024. This online marketplace allows staff to ‘sell’ their unused season parking days/weeks to other colleagues. Sellers can easily indicate which days/weeks will be used by another vehicle in the app, and the GoParkin system will automatically grant access to the vehicle accordingly.
This initiative optimises parking availability at the buildings, ensuring the efficient use of limited parking spaces. This allows season parking holders to save on parking costs by selling unused sessions, while making lots available to other staff.
The Results
Launch of the fully digitalised GoParkin Smart Car Park System at UOB Plaza
The transition to a fully digitalised GoParkin Smart Car Park System has significantly enhanced parking operations, resource management, and the user experience at UOB buildings. It provides an important solution that paves the way for integrating other motorist-centric features to improve accessibility, convenience and overall service delivery for tenants, visitors, and staff.
Looking ahead, GoParkin can also offer electric vehicle charging and in-app services as well as promotions through its mobile app. Its data-driven platform can be enhanced to provide valuable insights for optimising future planning and parking development, fostering a sustainable and more efficient parking ecosystem for UOB.
Know more about GoParkin Smart Car Park and Electric Vehicle Charging solutions.
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