QuickPark Blog

In recent months there has been a concerted effort by many cities to improve their parking operations.  In many cases this has been in the form of replacing outdated, standalone, coin-based parking meters with a more intelligent breed that can accept credit cards and manage multiple spaces.  Additionally there have been a number of deployments of pay-by-phone  systems using technologies from companies such as ParkMobile and Verrus.  Another relatively new development is the advent of demand based pricing models which fluctuate the cost of parking in a particular location depending on current demand and time of day.

While these advances of technology are definitely welcome in an industry that has been slow to change, they still leave a rather gaping hole for consumers.  No matter how convenient parking payments become, it will never matter if drivers cannot find an available space.  The number one benefit of QuickPark is allowing drivers  to quickly and easily find parking near the destination of their choice.  Everyday we work round the clock to improve this process by adding more data to our system and developing new features that better streamline the process.  One of the bigger new features we are adding is the ability to sort and filter your search results by location type, price, distance, rating, and amenities offered.  If you're all dressed up and don't want to walk too far, then minimize your walking distance.  Not carrying any cash, filter out all locations that don't accept credit cards.

Next month we will be releasing version 2.0 of the QuickPark website which will include the new sorting/filtering functionality, as well as version 1.0 of our new mobile app which will bring the QuickPark experience to the iPhone.  With these two releases, we will continue to solidify our product to meet our customer wants and needs.  Over the next fews weeks we will also be posting new blog articles outlining some of the new features in depth.  If there is a particular feature you would like to see included in a future product version, feel free to let us know at feedback@quickparkonline.com

Now that the industry has matured, what's next?  I can check-in in at least 5 different ways pretty much wherever I go, but what does any of it ultimately mean?  Yeah I can find out who's nearby, which for me is typically no one that I actually know.  Is the best application of this information a way for the unscrupulous to rob me when I'm supposedly not around?  There has to be some killer application that takes advantage of knowing where I am at all times.  Foursquare seems to be headed down the right path by partnering with local businesses to deliver specials to people who check-in at certain locations.  I would definitely be more apt to frequent a bar if I knew I could get a free beer by just checking in.

One of the more intriguing things we are currently working on is a mobile version of QuickPark.  This is a very important step for us as we want to deliver hyperlocal, realtime information to our users, and there is no better place to do this than your mobile device.  Part of the difficulty of building a quality app is determining the right feature set that doesn't make  just a "me too" product, but instead sets a new bar for what is possible on a mobile device.  Of course you want to be able to find available parking on your phone and make a reservation when possible, but what else?

What happens when you're in a long meeting and when you get out you can barely remember where you parked your car?  What about when you park at a meter and your appointment runs longer than you originally planned?  What if you could extend your time without going back to the car?  What if you found yourself with some extra time on your hands and you want to find a good local sandwich shop?  What if they knew you were nearby and sent you a coupon for $5 off your meal for checking them out?

I know that sounds like a lot of what ifs, but I believe it is all possible right now.  The most successful location based applications will be the ones that leverage your information to deliver useful information and services to you.  We still have a ways to go before apps reach their full potential, but we're committed to making sure that happens sooner rather than later.

While things have been a bit quiet here on the blog, please don't think that means we haven't been busy.  Today we have officially passed the milestone of having 1,000 locations listed on our site.  To add to this exciting news, this also means that we have over 560,000 parking spaces profiled as well.

While this is a major milestone for us, it is only the beginning.  In the coming months we hope to add thousands of more locations and increase the number of locations where you can book reservations.  Additionally we are working on some mobile products that are sure to make some noise in the industry.  Stay tuned for more news soon!

One of the most popular questions I get asked these days is , what I do.  My standard response is that I run an online parking reservations website, which is usually met by a blank stare.  I then spend the next few minutes explaining exactly what the site does and why it is needed.  At this point 80% of people are like "hey that's a cool idea" and the other 20% are like "yeah ok".  So if you're curious as to exactly what QuickPark is, this post is for you.

A few years ago I was driving around downtown Austin, TX, headed to have some drinks with a few friends.  As is the custom I spent around 15 minutes driving around looking for a parking spot, with the same blank expression on my face that we all have when performing this monotonous act.  After driving around the block a few times, I finally found a place and made my way over to the bar.

That evening when I got home I was thinking to myself, "what if there were a better way to find parking".  Of course then I got online and started researching the idea and found a wealth of information.  As boring as it sounds, parking is a huge industry in the US (about $15 billion) and even bigger around the world.  I realized I was onto something and there was definitely a demand for a service that would make finding parking quicker and easier for people.

I put together a basic framework of how the site should function and then began my creative process.  First of course was finding a name for this new idea which is never an easy task.  After I threw around a few ideas, I decided on the name PSpotz and promptly registered the accompanying domain name.  From there I began building out the site until I had a halfway working mock up done.

Eventually I realized that in order for the site to grow I had to come up with a better name than PSpotz since it didn't always make people think about parking when they heard it.  This was when QuickPark was born.  From there I had my graphic designer put together our present day logo and the revolution was born.

Fast forward to today and the site is still a work in progress.  I am still the head developer for the site and work with a few other people on a contract basis as needed.  Recently we rolled out an updated homepage that has the new look and feel that I've been looking for for some time.  Additionally we've been working on overhauling our search methods to make finding parking locations easier and more reliable.  Some of the other features that are currently in the works are a revamped reservations  and event parking system as well as mobile version of the site for iPhones and Android powered phones.

Ultimately QuickPark is becoming the leading destination for individuals looking for a place to park their vehicles.  Are you looking for a spot for a couple hours while you hang out at happy hour after work? Are you trying to find an affordable alternative to parking at the airport for your next business trip?  Are you trying to make sure you have a close in parking spot for this weekend's football game?  If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then we got you.  Helping you with these issues is our top priority.

We are working to build partnerships with other leading companies that will add even more value to our service in the future.  And to think all of this was born behind a beer.