Old infrastructure, new opportunities: Retrofitting for parking spaces and access points

The digitization of processes and infrastructures is part of everyday work for companies, cities, and municipalities. While work processes and documents have long been digitized, parking spaces and access points (such as doors, gates, or barriers) are still operated with keys, chips, or tickets; even though people in an increasingly networked world convenient and efficient solutions for parking and access .

Why is this area so often neglected? Often, the budget to modernize the infrastructure . The focus is therefore initially on things that can be implemented quickly and cost-effectively. However, digitizing parking and access management doesn't have to be expensive or complex. Often, it's neither practical nor economical to redesign the entire parking and access infrastructure from scratch. This is where retrofitting in: a smart method for adapting existing solutions to the needs of the digital age without having to overhaul the entire infrastructure.

What is retrofitting?

Retrofitting describes the upgrading or modernization of existing solutions, systems, or infrastructures. These are brought up to the latest technological standards or expanded with new functionalities without affecting the existing structures. In this way, the existing infrastructure is preserved while simultaneously adaptability to future requirements .

A practical example: Retrofitting barriers

To illustrate the advantages of retrofitting in parking management , let's look at a practical example: the barrier gate. Many parking garages, businesses, and facilities still use traditional mechanisms like tickets with ticket terminals, tokens, or keys to open barrier gates. These systems are often incompatible with the modern requirements of digital parking management .
Retrofitting involves equipping the barrier gate with a communication module that integrates it into the digital world. This allows users to conveniently operate the barrier gate, for example, via their smartphone or computer . Other existing access methods remain unaffected and can continue to be used as needed. This concept applies not only to barrier gates but also to other access infrastructure such as doors and gates, as well as lockers and bicycle boxes .

Advantages of retrofitting for the management of parking and access control systems

1. Cost efficiency: Instead of installing expensive new infrastructure, existing solutions can be easily and cost-effectively modernized and brought up to the latest technological standards.
2. No resistance from users: Retrofitting makes it possible to renew existing processes and solutions without confronting users with major changes. This minimizes potential resistance to change.
3. Small projects instead of one large one: Instead of undertaking a comprehensive redesign, retrofitting allows for the gradual modernization of individual components. This makes it possible to break down the digitalization of parking spaces and access points into smaller, manageable projects.

4. Tests for new procedures can be easily mapped: New technologies and processes can be more easily tested and introduced using retrofitting, without having to rebuild the entire infrastructure.
5. Sustainability: Upgrading existing systems and components extends their lifespan. This allows companies, cities, and municipalities to save resources, reduce waste, and thus contribute to sustainability.

Retrofitting parking facilities and access points offers a smart and economical way to adapt existing infrastructure to the demands of the digital world . New technologies and processes can be seamlessly integrated without requiring a complete overhaul of existing workflows and solutions. This flexibility is key to the efficient management of parking facilities and access systems – even without a large budget or major renovations.