Digitizing parking facilities: ROI, step-by-step and common mistakes
Many parking facilities in Norway still run on outdated systems – or no system at all. What disappears first is the overview: who is parked there, for how long, and what actually gets paid. This guide takes you through digitalisation step by step, in the order we normally do it ourselves.
Why digitize parking?
- Increased revenue through better occupancy and automated payment
- Lower operating costs by eliminating manual work
- Better user experience that attracts customers and tenants
- Data-driven decisions based on actual usage
- Compliance with regulations and BREEAM requirements
5 steps to digital parking
Step 1: Map the current situation
How many spaces do you have, who uses them, what is occupancy on an ordinary Tuesday – and what does operation cost today? These are the figures the whole decision rests on, and most people doing the exercise find spaces standing empty at times they assumed the facility was full.
Step 2: Define goals and requirements
What matters most? Increased revenue, better customer experience, control, sustainability – or everything? Requirements drive technology choices. A shopping center has different needs than a housing cooperative or office building.
Step 3: Choose the right technology partner
Key factors to evaluate: Do they offer ANPR and free-flow? Is the platform cloud-based? Do they have experience with your property type? Can they integrate EV charging? Do they offer 'parking as a service' so you avoid large investments?
Step 4: Implementation and rollout
A typical implementation takes 4–8 weeks from signed agreement to operational solution. It includes camera installation, software setup, testing, training, and user communication. A good provider handles most of it – the owner needs minimal involvement.
Step 5: Optimize and iterate
After rollout, the real value begins. Use data to adjust prices, optimize times, and adapt rules. The best results come over time, as the system learns patterns and the owner actively uses the insights.
What should you measure afterwards?
| Metric | Typical result |
|---|---|
| Revenue per space | Compare the same month before and after |
| Operating costs | Hours spent on operations, complaints and invoicing |
| Occupancy | Share of spaces in use in peak and quiet periods |
| Payback | Investment divided by monthly net change |
5 common digitalization mistakes
- Choosing the cheapest solution without considering total cost of ownership (TCO)
- Underestimating the importance of user experience – poor UX = fewer payers
- Forgetting to plan for EV charging from the start
- Not involving tenants and users in the process
- Locking into a vendor without open integrations
A typical sequence in an office building
An office building with around 150 spaces usually starts by sorting out who actually has a right to a space, before anything technical is installed. Then a camera goes up at the entrance and the rules go into the system: employees, tenants, guests and short-term parking. The effect shows first at reception, which stops spending time on guest lists and wrongly parked cars, and then in the accounts, when short-term parking revenue becomes visible and invoiceable.
Conclusion
The most common mistake is starting with the equipment. Start with the rules instead: who parks where, what it should cost, and who answers when someone complains? Once that is settled, the installation itself is a short job – and you also know what to measure afterwards.
Ready to digitize your parking?
We give you a free analysis of your facility with a concrete ROI estimate.
Book a free analysis