Customer Relationships in an Online World

We all want the closest parking space possible - admit it!

Friday, June 11, 2010 by Tracy Maymon

Ok, I don't consider myself a lazy person... I like to walk, bike ride, swim; I always choose the stairs over the elevator (unless we're talking about more than 5 floors of course), and I get peeved whenever I see the same person circling a parking lot or parking garage multiple times just so they can get the closest parking space available. I just think that's ridiculous...by the time they find something, I'm already in the store getting my stuff done!

However, I must admit that there are definitely times when I sooo want to take advantage of the new "mommy" (or should I say "parent") parking spaces that many stores and other areas now provide - even when I don't have my kids with me! How horrible is that?? Have you seen these spaces? They usually are indicated by a drawing on the space that shows a parent with a car seat, stroller or other contraption for transporting your children. And even though my kids aren't with me, the car seats in the back are clearly visible. Would anyone really see me walk out of the car without the kids? Is there an enforcement officer walking the grocery store parking lot with a handheld ticket writer making sure that you really do have your kids with you? Would they really give me a parking ticket or citation?

Believe me, there have been days when I'm so tired and there are clearly no spaces that are close - so I've been tempted to snag one of the "parent" spaces, even without the kids. For those of you who may watch "Desperate Housewives", there was an episode in which one of the wives (Gabby) mis-used her husband's handicapped parking hangtag - just so she could be close and not have to walk far in her high heels. Does my tempatation put me in the same category as her? I certainly hope not!

Let's face it - there are times when we all want to park our car as close to our destination as possible...there are days when we just don't want to walk it. As one who works for a parking management solution provider, I understand the importance of parking rules. That's what keeps me employed! Businesses, cities/municipalities, colleges and universities all need rules, and ways to manage those rules and all of us that park. Why else would there by the need for parking system software, parking permit management systems, access and revenue control systems, and a ton of other parking management solutions?

It's because at the end of the day, we're all selfish - willing to fight, drive around, waste valuable time - and break the rules, in order to snag that coveted close parking space! We all just might as well admit it!

Parking Technology...It's for Real!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 by Tracy Maymon

For a girl who purposely chose a career in marketing and communications – not just because I’ve been writing since I was way young and everyone said I was good at it - but because I’m not AT ALL technical (just ask my IT husband or IT buddies here at T2), I’ve managed to build a career working for high-tech companies in high-tech industries.

It’s funny to me that I’ve gone from working in the cable-TV and wireless phone test and measurement industry to working in the parking industry…who knew? All of this without a technical or engineering degree! I never figured I’d be getting paid to make the installation and network monitoring equipment for CATV networks and test equipment for cell phones and wireless networks sound and look cool. And now I’m doing the same for software for parking: permit management, PARCS solutions, citation management and citation collections, etc. Wow! Isn’t that exciting (can you hear it in my voice?). Actually, it is kind of cool.

Yes, although most don’t know it, parking is actually a technical industry. Sure, it’s not the same as NASA or computers and servers, but there’s a lot of technology behind parking – and it is exciting.

And now that Spring is here (the couple of 70-degree days we have had here in Indiana have been teasing us), it’s also officially tradeshow season. In addition to Spring Break, I’m also counting down the days until the International Parking Institute (IPI) annual conference and tradeshow (no, not just because it’s in Vegas). For those of you looking to find more information about municipal or city parking solutions, campus parking solutions, access and revenue control, software for parking and parking technology, Spring brings many opportunities to meet with vendors and network with other parking professionals. From Chicago to New England, to Texas to Las Vegas – no matter what geographic area - there are many conferences planned in the coming months and now’s the time to go and see what’s happening in our industry! And of course come see T2 – we’re either exhibiting or sponsoring (and attending) most of these events. We have some new news to share about our PARCS and event parking management solutions. Learn how technology (and T2 of course) can be your friend as you try to improve your parking operations.

When you stop and think about it, even us non-techies watch cable TV, have a computer, use a cell phone, and sometime or another have to park our car. And there’s a whole lot of technology behind getting those parking gates to go up and down – “things that make the world go ‘round” I say!

Maintaining Customer Relationships in an Online World

Friday, January 22, 2010 by Tracy Maymon

Speaking (or writing) as a marketing professional who comes from the OLD world of “bingo” cards for sales leads and regular phone calls as a way of staying connected to customers, I now have to consider how to incorporate BLOGS and FACEBOOK into my corporate marketing plan. What? You mean Facebook…the way I stay connected with friends who aren’t close by…is also something I have to consider as a way to help my company? And for that matter… as a way to discuss parking and parking management solutions? Who wants to talk about parking if you don’t have to?

Well actually, those of you who live and breathe parking everyday do need to talk to others in the business. You know, the whole concept of sharing ideas, best practices…all that jazz (the stuff we like to say about our own User Group conference). You also just may need to blow off some steam to someone else who understands.

But you know what? You also need to talk to your vendors and providers. All of us here at T2 Systems are working hard to make “doing business” with us easier…developing new solutions for our customer website as well as other online tools that put information at your fingertips. But that’s not the same as really communicating with – and getting to know - your parking solution vendor. It's not always about the parking system or the software. T2’s strength has always been the tight relationships we’ve had with our customers and in this world of technology it’s often harder to maintain those relationships the way we’d like.

So - we’re finally venturing out… using blogs, Facebook and other tools to engage with you. And we really do want this to be about you. Whether you’re a current T2 customer or one who is managing parking or “touches” parking in some way, please talk with us and talk with EACH OTHER. Let’s share how we’re feeling, what we’re thinking; share ideas, suggestions, concerns, challenges, etc. Let’s talk to each other like we do our friends. I’m thinking maybe we can continue our history of maintaining great relationships and possibly even foster new ones!