Integrating parking, EV Charging and ANPR technology – Improving the Customer Journey
Gone are the days where the motorist has to pay separately for EV charging and then walk across the car park to pay for their parking at a different point of payment. Now we have improved the customer journey by allowing them to pay for both services via one payment terminal or one phone App.
The Twin payment system is the first universal, payment platform that allows shoppers to pay for their parking and also their EV charging at multiple EV charge points (irrespective of the make and model of charge point).
The secret behind Twin’s success is that we are the first company to be able to interface with all makes and model of EV Charge Point.
So as demand grows on Retail car parks for more EV Charge points, it is now possible to install newer models without making the older ones obsolete, which allows the EV infrastructure to grow organically.
The shoppers will still have the same seamless payment interaction via the Twin payment terminal or phone app.
Landlords will benefit from reduced cost, only requiring one credit card reader in one payment terminal (as opposed to one in every charge point) and the payment terminal will also take payment for parking as well.
This simple cost saving concept has gained national recognition by winning the Revo Innovation Award in 2023!
Twin has not stopped at just integrating with EV Charging and Parking.
2024 has seen Twin integrating with ANPR technology (automatic number plate recognition) which has led to us launching two exciting new products to the retail sector.
TwinVIP – The ANPR controlled Customer Loyalty Programme.
This cutting-edge system will allow retailers to have real-time visibility of when their customers have entered their car park/shopping centre. Meaning they can now seamlessly connect with their customers at the right moment, delivering personalised and timely special offers directly to their mobile phones when it matters most, when they are shopping.
These messages can include exclusive special offers, discounts, and promotions tailored to their individual purchasing preferences, creating a truly bespoke shopping experience.
In essence, TwinVIP acts as a powerful tool that streamlines customer engagement and ensures that special offers are delivered to customers when they are most receptive, ultimately driving increased footfall and sales within the retail establishment.
The other exciting product that has come through the ANPR integration is TwinBay – The ANPR controlled EV Bay monitoring solution.
TwinBay has been developed as a result of the Governments ambitious target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, with the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles ending by 2035. It is now more important than ever to optimise the use of all EV Charging Bays.
All too often EV’s are left in their parking bay once the charge session has ended, preventing other EV’s being able to charge. Even worse inconsiderate petrol engine motorists will park in these high demand spaces, preventing EV’s getting re-charged. EV Charging and Range anxiety are a manifestation of this underutilisation and a major factor in why more motorists are not going electric.
TwinBay is the world’s first ANPR system that can fully interface with EV charge points and the Twin Back Office. This means that the TwinBay will know when a charging session has commenced and ended, how much power has been used, what payment has been taken and how long was the vehicle was parked in the EV Bay.
TwinBay has been designed to optimise charging activity and prevent vehicles taking up charge point bays once the vehicle has completed its charging session. Each ANPR camera can monitor between 8-10 EV bays and will raise an alert if a vehicle is still parked after the charging session has ceased. The Twin Back-Office will then either continue charging the motorists credit card a premium parking rate or where there are persistent infringements automatically send a PCN (via the Twin Back Office).
This will encourage motorists to vacate the EV Bay as soon as the charging session has ended, immediately making it available for the next EV. Furthermore, it will end inconsiderate petrol engine motorists from parking in EV Bays.
In conclusion:
Integration is the way forward towards creating a seamless customer journey and enjoyable retail experience.
Through integration, the motorist benefits from having one familiar point of payment for both EV charging and parking and only requires one user friendly, phone app, to control all parking and charging activity.
The client benefits from only requiring one back-office system that will report on all EV, parking and ANPR activity for their entire portfolio.
Furthermore integration with ANPR can lead to a whole host of additional benefits that will ultimately encourage the motorist to visit the retail car park again and again which will ultimately increase footfall.
Head of Sales at Twin
For more information, please visit www.twinbank.co.uk
