| Operators |  | Key points about RingGo |
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Any local authority seriously considering pay by phone parking will, by definition, already have made a considerable investment in existing pay and display machines and the back-office processes that support them.
The introduction of RingGo doesn't mean any of this existing asset base needs to be swept away or changed. RingGo has been designed to complement all current P&D machines including those supplied by Ascom, Metric, Schlumberger, (Parkeon), WPS and Zeag.
As more and more motorists choose to use RingGo the volume of parking transactions through the two alternative payment channels will change in favour of RingGo. It's fair to say though, that parallel-running with coin-based cash payment is likely to be needed at most parking facilities for some time.
In practical terms, setting up a RingGo phone parking zone is relatively easy. Firstly, the major task of planning and overlaying the zones across the borough's existing structure of available bays must be undertaken. Once this is complete, signage is prepared and installed in partnership with the local authority. Mindful of the need to avoid clutter RingGo signage has been designed to be sensitive to the environment in which it will function. Cobalt can therefore offer several alternative options for the practical implementation of Zone signage.
All phone parking fees that accrue each day from RingGo transactions are automatically passed to the local authority by means of a batch payment on a nightly basis. Because the funds are despatched directly to the local authority's bank all the usual costs and delays traditionally associated with cash handling are entirely avoided. This leads to several advantages for the local authority - including improved cash flow, reduced banking costs and a reduction in shrinkage through fraud or theft.
Every local authority that operates coin based parking machines is keenly aware of the problems associated with cash handling. Whether it's the loss, or more importantly the damage, caused by the drilling of cash boxes, the use of foreign or counterfeit coins, or simply the health and safety implications of having to handle, transport and count large amounts of small change, it all amounts to hassle.
RingGo is an entirely coin-free solution that can make a considerable contribution to the reduction of these problems. Because RingGo is naturally attractive to motorists who undertake a lot of parking transactions, it can quickly begin to create a significant reduction in the volumes of cash taken.
Research shows that a significant proportion of motorists now deliberately and systematically choose not to pay for pay and display parking and take the chance of a penalty. There are several reasons for this but predominantly:
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The widespread use of credit and debit cards in the UK means that cash is simply not carried so readily. |
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The scale of parking fees may mean that the amount of coinage required to be carried is exceptional. |
The cashless nature of RingGo sweeps away these barriers at a stroke. The flexibility and availability of the service encourages use even for very short parking actions. The evidence from the various global pilot implementations of cashless parking consistently indicate a rise in parking revenues as a result of this factor.
One of the recognised problems with cash driven based pay and display systems is the practice of ticket sharing in which "public spirited" motorists pass on unexpired tickets to others. Although traditionally a difficult practice to control RingGo entirely eliminates the issue at source.
RingGo has been designed to be highly convenient, and attractive to users. Similarly, the enabling technology is scaleable to allow the service to be used by millions and deployed nationally. Nonetheless, the sheer handiness of cash ensures it will remain the simplest means to pay for parking for most people, in most circumstances, for some time to come.
Prudent local authorities will recognise that a structured approach in which the service is initially introduced into carefully chosen trial sites followed by phased, authority-wide expansion, is necessary. The RingGo pricing structure has been expressly designed in a similarly structured way to directly reflect that reality.
Our commercial structure builds in a volume related way with low start-up costs so there is no need to blow the budget on the first day. Quick wins, in the form of carefully designed trials in key locations, are the secret to the deployment of cashless parking and we know exactly how to achieve them for you.
If you have previously associated cashless parking systems with very sizeable start-up costs then you may have been talking to the wrong people. When we meet, we'd be happy to outline how we can begin a rollout in your area. We are certain you'll be pleasantly surprised by our approach.
Typically armed with a pocketbook, a mobile radio, a handheld, a printer, and a stock of stationery, the last thing a patrolling parking attendant needs is more hefty kit to carry around. RingGo takes a unique approach to the need to equip PAs and provides a portfolio of field solutions that can be tailored to meet the need of individual local authorities.
In every case the technology is not only robust but makes the very best of the cutting-edge telephone technologies for which Cobalt is rightly respected. For some local authorities the lightweight Nokia phone based enforcement devices that we ourselves supply provide an ideal solution. Others prefer to enforce RingGo from exisiting GPRS enabled handheld devices such as DAP terminals or Psion Workabout Pro's. Some others, mindful of TMA 2004 legislation prefer to combine these with the use of ANPR enforcement. Regardless of the scenario, the enforcement of RingGo phone parking can be implemented in a flexible, practical and effective way.
Most local authorities operate relatively simple parking tariff structures within both their car parks and CPZs and there's a lot to be said for simplicity. Naturally, the RingGo administrative servers can be very easily configured to model the conventional "elapsed time period" tariff model and also differentiate between short stay and long stay parking areas even if they are adjacent to one another in the same street.
RingGo gives the opportunity to go further however and offers not only differential pricing to different users but the ability to extend the service to include paperless permits.
Cobalt Telephone Technologies, the company behind RingGo is no newcomer to the parking market. Well known for our PCN processing services, we have implemented well over forty major projects in association with the parking departments of UK local authorities since the year 2000 and are proud of our record of competence and effectiveness.
Our experienced implementation teams know that working in support of local authorities requires a sensitivity to the many agendas that may be in play. The introduction of cashless parking will inevitably attract attention and it's critical that it's attention of the right kind. We will therefore work with you from the start making sure that your implementation is not only well planned but the necessary involvement of third parties is done within our structured and proven framework.
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