Going digital? Set up your parking the right way

So you’ve decided to go digital – great call!

Whether you’re managing a gated garage or a wide-open surface lot, the right digital tools can transform your parking operation. But if we’re being honest, the switch isn’t as easy as plugging in some cameras and launching a parking app. A smooth setup depends on a few key decisions you make right at the start.

Here are some digital parking best practices for operators to follow from day one, so that the switch to digital parking is smooth for everyone involved.

Start with the site

Before diving into tech, take a walk through your parking locations. 

For gated spaces, make sure your barriers, LPR cameras, and access systems can work together without delays. For gateless setups, positioning is everything – your cameras need a clear line of sight at both entry and exit. AI-powered LPR can help fix tricky lighting and plate angles, but a good layout is still your best friend.

Pro tip: AI-powered cameras with the right height and angle make all the difference, especially in low-light or high-speed environments.

Choose tech that works with what you already have

Upgrading your tech doesn’t mean replacing everything you’ve already invested in. Your new solution should integrate with your existing hardware and software – from permit databases and validation tools to cameras and barrier gates.

For example, Get My Parking’s ExpressLane is a Plug & Play solution that retrofits any existing setup with minimal CapEx. It digitizes entry/exit with AI-powered LPR, enables license plate-based automated payments, and works seamlessly with your current infrastructure. Choosing retrofit-friendly tech saves time, reduces installation effort, and protects your bottom line.

You should also make sure the platform offers multiple payment options. Frequent parkers might prefer a parking mobile app, but one-time users will thank you for a QR code or text-to-pay option. And make sure you can configure your rate codes with your new platform. This includes tiered pricing, grace periods, time-based rules – whatever your business model demands.

Don’t forget the humans

A digital system is only as good as the team behind it. Train your staff to monitor live sessions, handle overrides, and resolve exceptions fast. Walk them through what to do when a gate won’t open, a plate doesn’t scan, or a customer challenges a charge.

And before you go live, simulate real-world use: test camera reads, payment flow, signage, and what happens when things go wrong. It’s the best way to make sure your system can handle the everyday chaos of a parking lot.

Make it easy for your users

For unregistered users, keep onboarding simple: scan, enter plate, pay online. For regulars, a dedicated parking app can set up instant receipts, payments, notifications, and reminders. You’ll build trust fast.

Great parking signs gives you fewer support calls. Clearly show parkers what to do: whether it’s scanning a QR, registering a plate, or simply driving in and out with auto-payment. Use consistent, simple messages and make sure it’s obvious whether payment is automatic or required.

Tech should make parking as easy as possible – as Nicole Yzaguirre from Cornerstone Parking put it, digital parking is “very easy, everything’s on the screen. Anybody can work it – even my grandma!”

Prep for a smooth transition for your most valuable parkers

Your regular, pre-paid parkers – like permit-holders from office buildings or contract parkers at residential properties – are often your most loyal customers. Make sure their transition to the new system is seamless! 

Their data, access rules, and permits should be fully onboarded in your new system before you go live. The same goes for validation programs or reservation integrations – these should be set up and tested in advance.

Communicate clearly and early. Use email, app notifications, signage, and even staff outreach to tell your parkers how the new system works and what they need to do. The earlier they’re in the loop, the smoother your transition will be.

Set yourself up to scale

Even if you’re starting with one location, choose a platform that grows with you. It should handle gated and gateless models, support flexible rate structures, and let you onboard new locations easily. Cloud-based software that updates in the background? Even better.

Regular check-ins on cameras, connectivity, and software help avoid surprises down the line. Think of it as digital maintenance for your digital parking location.

Let AI do the heavy lifting

If you’re going gateless, AI isn’t just nice to have – it’s essential. It helps match entry and exit reads in real time, even when plates are dirty, poorly lit, or partially blocked. GMP AI, for example, can match vehicles by make, model, and color.

Worried about errors? Look for a solution with a human-in-the-loop system that catches and resolves edge cases, and learns from them to make the AI smarter over time. Learn more about how GMP AI pulls this off.

Curious about parking AI? Check out our AI parking playbook to know more about how AI-PARCS works, with a downloadable checklist of what to keep in mind when you’re digitizing with AI.

After go-live: monitor, adapt, and optimize

No parking setup is perfect on day one. Expect a few hiccups from parkers who are new to the system, and be ready with a plan to monitor the location’s performance in the first few weeks. Are there delays at the gate? Are validations applying correctly? Is signage doing its job?

These insights help you fine-tune the flow and make proactive improvements. That’s why it’s crucial to work with a provider who doesn’t just hand off the tech – they stay involved to troubleshoot and optimize post-launch. At GMP, our launch and support team helps operators resolve issues in real-time to make sure every parker has a smooth experience from day one.

Ready to digitize your parking the right way?

At Get My Parking, we’ve helped operators around the world launch seamless digital parking – gated or gateless, big or small. Our platform is built to adapt, scale, and simplify your operations with tools that actually work in the real world.

For a faster, ticketless experience, check out ExpressLane – Get My Parking’s AI-powered, Plug & Play solution. It layers over your existing setup to enable 3x faster entry and exit with license plate-based payments and minimal hardware.

See how we can help you go digital and earn more from your parking locations.