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PIE Technology Camp – Be Sure You Are an Educated Consumer

March, 2015

 Take a moment to try to imagine your life today without some degree of reliance upon technology. Whether you are a hard-core user who insists on texting or speaking into your cellphone while in a restroom or a casual user with a lawn-watering system with an automatic timer, we all have embraced technology to some degree or another. As a result, we all have become dependent on and expectant of technology. 

 

Not sure of this? Think about the last time you were in line ready to board a plane and grew impatient when a passenger did not properly scan his barcode image from his cellphone and the boarding process came to a standstill. Or when you were at a gas station and the pump refused to provide a receipt at the conclusion of your sale. Or the GPS audio directions on your car insisted you make a right-hand turn onto a one-way street with traffic coming toward you. 

 

Many planning to attend the PIE sessions this year have a heavy reliance on technology, whether as a provider of said technology or a primary user of it, offering the functionality and capabilities to your customers. In any case, technology and its proper application are fundamental to the parking industry.

 

In the PIE 2015 Technology Camp, we will discuss the state of affairs of payment processing, EMV, electronic wallets, the application of license plate capturing for mobile and fixed operation, the importance of wayfinding and signage, and parking apps.

 

We also will cover the unintended consequences associated with the implementation of new technology. These could include the development of new policies and procedures, retraining of staff and the hiring of new staff, greater dependency on the solution vendor, and adjustments to overall cost of ownership.

 

The session will not be able to tell you what technology you should consider, which product is the best of breed, or how much you should spend. Rather, its goal is simple – create a more educated consumer: 

 

Make you more aware of what you need to know, what you need to ask, and what to plan for when you take the plunge. Recognize your responsibility in the process and the importance of evaluating your needs and business practices, and examining your operation before any consideration to new technology is given.

 

The sessions are designed for a traditional classroom environment with subject matter presentations, with the expectation of open dialog and discussion. We will include examples associated with each item.

 

This is not a marketing presentation focused on any one brand, but rather an educational session to illustrate initial analysis, practices, expectations, planning and operations that lend themselves to successful and effective technological implementations. Active participation is encouraged, and testimonials / “war stories” are welcome.

 

Contact Tom Wunk, Vice President of PARCS Solutions for

T2 Systems, at twunk@t2systems.com.





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