Parking - April 2010 - 27

For ParkingSOFT, which also offers hardware such as gates, ticket dispensers and fee computers, SaaS is an all-encompassing business strategy that integrates its hardware and soft ware both locally and via the Internet. Oldknow notes that ParkingSOFT is a “firmware-based company;” the firmware is micro-embedded in all of its devices, such as its touchscreen-based fee computers. This firmware communicates with the Internet-based software and means fewer moving parts to break down and less that can go wrong. Other parking soft ware providers may offer SaaS in some form as well.

Advantages of Being “Thin”

Cost—Because software applications are in essence rented, upfront and related acquisition costs are reduced. Soft ware expense is stable and easily budgeted. SaaS methodology, according to Oldknow, “can provide a low-cost alternative for parking facility owners and operators to obtain rights to use our management soft ware as needed versus licensing all devices with all applications. On-demand licensing enables the benefits of commercially licensed use without the associated complexity and potential high initial cost of equipping every device with the applications that are only used when needed.” Another pioneer in SaaS technology has been NPA member T2 Systems. “We’re committed to this model for our soft ware products,” says Blake Laufer, vice president of Product Development. “It’s how we sell soft ware today (regardless of whether it’s T2-hosted or self-hosted). Other items we sell may or may not be the SaaS model (example: services, hardware) but we are SaaS for soft ware.” Like ParkingSOFT’s SaaS product, T2’s Flex parking management soft ware is a “true” Web-based application. A true Web application requires only a browser; no helper programs or add-on interfaces, such as Citrix, are needed. Therefore, soft ware provided by manufacturers such as ParkingSOFT and T2 require nothing more than a browser on the “client,” or user, end. “For T2,” Laufer says, “some components have exceptions (like T2’s handheld computers) but the main application, permits, enforcement, access control, revenue control, event module, and eBusiness Solutions are all pure, thin-client apps [see ‘Some Key SaaSy Terms Defined’ in the adjacent sidebar].” Access—Parking activities can be managed from central locations rather than locally at each facility. This enables customers to access applications wherever they have access to the Internet—across the street or around the world. Internet accessibility offers the promise of enabling true remote facility management and perhaps, fewer bodies on site. “SaaS achieves efficiencies by enabling the ondemand licensing and management of the information and output, independent of the hardware location,” says Oldknow. Ease of Updating—Global and location-specific feature updates eliminate the need for end users to download patches and upgrades. Every version of the software in use is always the latest, and greatest, version. New features are instantly available to all users at all locations. Flexibility and Scalability—Soft ware isn’t tied down to one location. Therefore, it doesn’t have to be moved or trashed if the location operation is terminated; the subscription for the location is simply cancelled. Likewise, as locations are added,
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Parking - April 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Parking - April 2010