IPS Group

: Empowering Smart Cities through Intelligent Parking Systems

Chad Randall, COO

If you grew up in the 1960s, chances are you may remember, “The Jetsons,” a popular animated TV series set in the future that conceptualized the Internet of Things (IoT). Fast forward to the present and the Jetsons’ sci-fi premonition of flying cars and smart devices has become a reality, fueled by rapid technological advancement and the ubiquity of cloud computing. IPS Group, an innovator and forerunner in the creation of smart cities, specializes in IoT-driven parking ecosystems. IPS Group has revolutionized parking with a comprehensive portfolio of smart city applications that help cities optimize limited parking resources. The IPS Smart Parking Platform features technologies that enhance the user experience, like contactless payments, offering a greater level of efficiency to smart cities and convenience to customers.

“Smart cities leverage innovative technologies to make urban living as friendly as possible; parking space optimization is a vital component of a smart city program,” says Chad Randall, Chief Operating Officer at IPS Group. “When successful, it ensures easy access to parking for motorists.”

Powered by the 4G LTE network, IPS Group is the only manufacturer within the parking industry to offer a fully-integrated system that consolidates the management of all parking peripherals into a single, web-based portal, the IPS Data Management System (DMS).

Built for the future of big data, this robust system aggregates data collected from Smart Parking meters, vehicle sensors, enforcement, permitting, and pay-by-cell applications into a single back-end system.

Smart cities leverage innovative technologies to make urban living as friendly as possible; parking space optimization is a vital component of a smart city program

IPS strives to innovate in ways that will reshape the role of parking and consumer interaction within urban environments. In collaboration with Honda Developer Studio and Visa, IPS Group unveiled their in-vehicle payment technology at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The connected car eliminates the need for drivers to scramble for change or even exit the vehicle to pay for parking at an IPS meter. The process begins when the driver is notified of available parking via the IPS mobile app, PARK SMARTER™, which is fully integrated with the vehicle's dashboard. The driver selects the time increment needed and pays for parking using the application and secure Visa payment technology. The meter immediately displays the time purchased. Drivers will also be able to add additional time to the meter using their mobile phone.

The fully-integrated solution by IPS helps customers manage resources more efficiently while improving the customer experience. Mobile apps such as the IPS-engineered PARK SMARTER™ help navigate motorists to available parking; vehicle detection sensors provide cities with real-time occupancy data; and Smart Parking meters with the latest in contactless payment technologies make the act of paying for parking easier than ever before.

In order to better manage parking turnover, the City of Los Angeles has partnered with IPS to introduce Smart Parking meters and a demand-based parking rate structure as part of LA Express Park™. Following the installation of smart meters, the city realized a 99 percent uptime—dramatically reducing the number of complaints citywide. Further, the number of contested citations decreased 75 percent. Enhanced payment options such as credit card and contactless now constitute one-third of parking revenue.

“We strive to innovate in ways that will reshape the role of parking and consumer interaction within urban environments. At IPS Group, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible,” says Randall.