Granola Parking

Facilitating the Asset Management class at T2's User Group always proves to be a learning experience - even for the instructor. This year I was happy to see the turn out was as good as it was a few years ago when I taught the class.  In those few years, T2's Asset Management module, which is part of of the T2 Flex parking system software, has evolved quite a bit.  It now includes automatic assigned work order responsibilities and scheduling for reoccuring work orders.

We discussed ways to become more unified in how we use T2's advanced parking solution during the session.  Many customers also take advantage of T2's Parking Access and Revenue Control solution, Handheld Ticket Writers, and Event Parking Management solution.  With the Asset Management module, users can now track the hardware and other assets used for those solutions!

Tracking regular maintenance of parking garage equipment, handheld ticket writers, customer self service kiosks, even elevators and vehicles with T2 Flex's Asset Management makes our customers live's easier, and nothing feels better than that.  Asset Management in T2 Flex conveniently maintains the scheduling for an asset to be used with an event or scheduling regular maintenance or a repair as it prompts the user when a schedule conflict occurs.

Many of T2's customers were also excited about taking another approach at being unified in that they could use the T2 Flex Report Scheduler to send automatic notifcations to workers about assets they manage that require maintenance.  Even better is the fact that parking enforcement officers can enter, maintain, and close work orders (including attaching photos!) right on the handheld ticket writer!

Becoming unified means becoming more efficient with your parking system software. 

Do you have to pay for it?
Are you susceptible to a parking citation?

The real question is - how long should a person be allowed to attempt to park in a space?  

My mom recently told me a story (one of many of her driving experiences) when she was attempting to parallel park.  She was having a difficult time, and she had to keep trying and trying.  A crowd began to form to watch the event as it was taking THAT long!  She kept trying, but eventually realized her ability to conquer this parking space was nonexistent. At this point she was halfway angled in the spot. Mom put on her blinker, looked over her shoulder, and pulled away as if she was actually trying to leave this whole time and not park.  

I remember getting my first parking ticket - I knew it was coming long before it ever arrived on my windshield and it was gut wrenching knowing it would be there when I returned to my vehicle. 

Let's just say my keys went missing one night while enjoying a good time among friends in lovely downtown Boulder.  Thankfully I had a friend drive me home anyway, but when I went to go get my car the next morning I had no keys.  Although I desperately tried to return before the parking meter enforcement began, I wasn't able to coordinate a ride and a locksmith in time.  Reality sunk in that I'd be receiving my first ever parking ticket.

This is not a big deal, right? Now, you've forgotten where I said I was -  Boulder.  Parking tickets ARE a big deal! Ultimately I decided I should pay it and not make this a huge moment in history.  I wanted to pay online as I thought many city parking solutions allow for that.  Much to my disappointment an online payment option was not available, so I mailed in a check (on time, mind you).

Little did I know at the time it would be a foreshadow of my future career.  A year or two later I went to work for the city and was heavily involved in the implementation of a new parking ticket management system.  I worked very closely with our vendor, T2 Systems in making sure our new parking management system was successful - including offering online citation payments and appeals.  I loved working in T2 Flex and taking the trainings offered by T2 that not only increased my knowledge about Flex but also all the available reporting options.

Not a long time later I found myself working at T2!  I love sharing my personal experience working with a parking management system as a customer while introducing new concepts to our clients such as an online parking payment system (which Boulder now has - thanks to T2!).