b'PARKINGYQR 73James Vergie, regional manager ofover, Vergie laments. The network could not handle everything Platinum Parking Canada, is more definitive:because there was too much data going through. With the Since taking over operations in October,upgraded network, calls rarely drop. parking revenue has gone up every month.In addition, the new application programming interface We are fixing the immediate problems sointegration between Parker and TIBA allows customers to pay at we can collect parking revenue from everyterminals inside the parking garage and drive through exit gates customer. without scanning tickets.JAMES VERGIEIntegrating the Upgrades Vergie notes that the new system is allowing YQR to capture Like many airports across the globe, YQR uses technology andrevenue that was previously not collected when customers lost applications from TIBA Parking Systems to track the comings and(or claimed to lose) their parking tickets. Now, Parker can scan goings of vehicles at its parking facilities. In total, the airport haslicense plates to retrieve objective information about when such seven entry lanes and eight exit lanes for its short-term, long-term,customers enter and exit, and collect the appropriate fees. overflow and employee parking garages and lots. Local businesses that frequently fly employees in and out of Because the airport didnt want to replace this technology andthe airport have also benefited from the tech upgrades. We associated equipment, all new changes had to integrate with itscreated a validation program with a QR code specific to those existing systems. Theres a lot of things that TIBA equipment canclients, says Vergie. Employees receive a ticket by scanning do, and we needed companies that could take advantage of that,the code. Later, they scan that ticket on their way out, and the Reves explains. Platinum was aware of the system inside and out,system sends the company a bill at the end of the month. and Parker Technology had an API integration with the equipment.Reves says that the valuable upgrades came at a nominal cost Parkers application programming interface allows its offsiteto the airport. Its been a seamless transition, he adds. We did customer service staff to troubleshoot misread tickets, calculatenot need to buy new equipment. There were some minor costs in fees and push receipts to mobile devices so travelers can get onswapping out a few credit card readers inside the terminals. But their way. all of that was pretty minor because of the integration within the TIBA system.Platinum also needed Parkers software platform to integrate smoothly with the TIBA equipment so the team could dispatch onsite personnel. We needed that integration on the call center side to ensure calls connected correctly, and customer service representatives could see where the call was coming from, says James Vergie, regional manager of Platinum Parking Canada.Vergie explains that each TIBA device is set up as an endpoint in Parkers software to indicate which machine a call comes from. This allows the remote customer service reps to use the appropriate script for YQR and its specific equipment. TheySMARTER, BETTER, even have photos of each device, so they can instruct them how to insert their ticket or credit card correctly, he says.FASTER, STRONGERThe technology also tells Platinum the precise location ofCEDD AGLthe smartest customers who need help from onsite staff.airfield ground lighting New Capabilities From Existing Systems now available in the USAIn addition to providing onsite customer support, Platinum also manages YQRs 1,610 parking stalls spread out in four locations. Before it came on board, the airport wasnt fully benefiting from its TIBA systems because the software hadnt been properly updated. In fact, some functions, including the license plate readers, didnt work at all. We couldnt run audits or see who was on the lot for extended periods, Vergie notes. We didnt have a way to track when people abandoned vehicles on the lot, which happens more often than you might think. Platinum Parkings sister company, Nortech, updated all software and rebuilt a new network on site. This solved many issues, including chronic technical problems during customerVisit us at the AAAE Conference & service calls. The customer could be in the middle of explainingExposition | Stand 1530their problem and the call would drop and they had to start AirportImprovement.comMay | June 2023'