As a result of the global
recession, the retail industry is constantly looking for new ways to cut costs
and better develop its services. The company Digital Payment Technologies (DPT)
makes and sells computerized parking management systems in North America. The company’s
main product is the Digital Payment Station which is an electronic terminal
that has a Web-based Enterprise Management System which permits operators to
manage their parking lots from any location around the world as long as they
have a device that allows for an Internet connection. The devices collect and
track parking lot information, such as the parking time usage, as well as
credit card payments. The devices use cellular CDMA2000 connectivity for most
of its units. CDMA2000 offers global coverage and a very high level of security,
both of these factors are important since the company and devices are dealing
with financial transactions. These devices will also send text warnings to your
cell phone when your parking meter is about to run out of time, allowing you to
add more time via wifi through a credit card transaction. This allows the user
to completely avoid a citation or tickets.
The main reason that businesses are purchasing these devices
are because of the results produced after installing the digital payment
stations, which increase parking revenue by 20-30%. The new devices being
implemented cause an increase in customer satisfaction due to the convenience
of credit card transactions. Also consumers are no longer required to guess
(usually overstating the amount/overpaying) for the time they need to park
there. In addition, real-time credit card authentication eradicates lost
revenue in regards to overdrawn accounts or non-working/stolen cards. Most
purchasers report a return on investment within 12-15 months.
Reference: http://www.cdg.org/resources/files/case_studies/Digital%20Payment%20Case%20Study_JUN2011.pdf
