Parking management in the municipality of Nissewaard: a leap forward with ParQ

ParQ replaces the previously used system, which no longer met the municipality's requirements and for which no more updates were being made. The story of the municipality of Nissewaard is not only one of innovation, but also of the collaboration and adaptability that were central to this project. An important role in the implementation and commissioning of ParQ was taken by Henny de Jong, former team coordinator parking management at the municipality of Nissewaard.

"My goal was to work as much as possible within one management system. ParQ and Qualogy made this possible for us."

From challenge to innovation in parking management

Henny de Jong, on the eve of his retirement, shares his experiences with a sense of satisfaction about the milestones achieved. As team coordinator of thirteen team members, he is responsible for the daily affairs around municipal parking, including street parking, seven parking garages, a truck parking, bicycle parking and even a bridge. The need for a new parking registration system came for the municipality of Nissewaard quite abruptly, when the vendor of the previous parking management system announced to stop the product. This led after a European tender to a further search for a replacement system. A search that ended at Qualogy and ParQ.

ParQ distinguished itself by its flexibility and ability to quickly adapt to Nissewaard's specific needs. The system, for example, did not offer standard functionality for garage subscriptions and blue zones. Something that was a requirement for the municipality of Nissewaard because they also used it within the previous system. By listening well to the municipality's wishes and working on them in a targeted way, the municipality of Nissewaard now has a system with all required functionalities and with which they can expand quickly and easily in the future. Henny says: "That's what I find beautiful about Qualogy; everything is thought through with us. Adjustments can be made quickly within the existing software to meet our wishes. My goal was to work as much as possible within one management system. ParQ and Qualogy made this possible for us."

Flexibility and customer satisfaction in parking management

The implementation of ParQ led to a beautiful improvement in Nissewaard's parking management. One of the biggest advantages is the possibility for residents and entrepreneurs to arrange their parking matters themselves. This not only reduces the workload at the municipality but also increases customer satisfaction through a user-friendly system in which one can manage permits and subscriptions themselves. In addition, the flexibility and scalability of ParQ ensure that the municipality can respond quickly to changing needs and efficiently implement new parking policy rules. Henny: "That's the fun part, we can meet each other halfway. We have a problem, Qualogy comes with the solution. And they can then also offer that solution to their other customers (municipalities)."

"We went with Qualogy. And we haven't regretted a single day."

At the helm of innovation

Henny was the driving force behind the introduction of ParQ, ensuring a smooth process and good communication between the municipality and Qualogy.

He understood that the transition to a new system could evoke resistance, because people are often hesitant to let go of familiar methods. Henny emphasizes patience and adaptability, with an eye on the benefits of digitalization and innovation. His approach was aimed at removing fear of change. He showed that by adapting to new technologies, such as ParQ, work processes could be made more efficient, which ultimately benefited the organization. "With every change and transition you get that moment when you start thinking whether the things you do and the way you do them are still logical and necessary. And in the case of a municipality, policy and legislation also come into play. Ultimately, the municipality of Nissewaard has taken another step with the implementation of ParQ in setting up parking policy even more strictly and quickly." says Henny.

"With ParQ we offer citizens the freedom and control to manage their products completely themselves."

Efficient implementation and benefits of ParQ

The implementation of ParQ was a smooth process. While the municipality also replaced all equipment in the garages in the same period, ParQ went live successfully in the municipality of Nissewaard on June 1, 2023. "People are always skeptical at first. Why do things have to change? We had this with every change, such as the introduction of license plate parking. Over time people notice that it is actually easy and they don't want to go back. In this case it was not only the transition to a new system and new way of working, but also for the first time that permit holders had to renew their products themselves within the system. Such a first time is quite exciting.

But with ParQ we offer citizens the freedom and control to manage their products completely themselves. In addition, the role of the municipality is shifted from an executive to a controlling role. The time this saves us, we can spend on other activities that require attention. And of course we remain available to support citizens where needed. In addition to being able to arrange everything yourself in the application, you can always go to the counter where we can guide people step by step in using the application."

"The short lines we have with Qualogy to get things adjusted, that works very pleasantly."

Innovative linkages: Realizing an integrated system

The integration with external systems such as Tobias Fiscaal and Skidata has, according to Henny, streamlined administrative processes and improved service delivery. The collaboration between ParQ and Tobias Fiscaal marks a strategic step towards advanced financial processing of parking products, something that was a crucial requirement from the start for the municipality of Nissewaard. The synergy between Qualogy and Tobias Fiscaal, both companies with a focus on innovation and customer orientation, has ultimately produced a solution that not only meets requirements but also offers benefits such as more efficient billing processes.

The integration between ParQ and Skidata also represents an important progress, with a significant reduction in administrative actions and error-proneness realized. Previously, a license plate change involved various steps: submission via website or email, processing in the parking application, entry in ParQ, and registration at Skidata. Now, with license plate parking and ParQ's direct link with Skidata, updates happen automatically, making double entry redundant and increasing efficiency. This improvement relieves the administrative burden and significantly improves user convenience, with Skidata facilitating seamless access to parking garages for verified license plates.

"The municipality of Nissewaard has taken a step with the implementation of ParQ in setting up parking policy even more strictly and quickly."

Service and collaboration: The heart of the project

The collaboration with Qualogy and the personal commitment of the ParQ team were crucial to the success of the implementation project. "The short lines, the willingness to listen and act quickly, really made the difference," emphasizes Henny. Through, among other things, biweekly meetings with team members of the Parking Management department and specific one-on-one sessions, the ParQ team ensures a smooth implementation and a continuous dialogue about improvements and updates. A service that is also standard part after the implementation phase at Qualogy.

Looking ahead: The future of parking management in Nissewaard

Reflecting on the journey, Henny looks to the future with pride: "What we have achieved within our parking management and now with the implementation of ParQ is just the beginning." With a wide range of parking permits and subscriptions, ranging from business and medical permits to subscriptions for residents and parking garages, the municipality strives for a streamlined and efficient management of its parking facilities.

For the coming year, the focus is on the integration of visitor permits and caregiver permits, which are currently outside the system. This initiative, planned for execution within the year, emphasizes the municipality's ambition to bring all parking-related services under one roof. Through this step, Nissewaard will not only improve its service to citizens, but also lay a foundation for future expansions and improvements in parking management.

Henny hands over the baton of parking management to his successor at the municipality and enjoys his retirement. His advice to Qualogy and future projects is to continue the vision of innovation and customer orientation, aspects that he considers essential for success.

(At the time of publication of this article, Henny de Jong is enjoying his well-deserved retirement.)