Maintenance and Support- A Key Consideration When Selecting a Parking Equipment Supplier
1.45 min read
The leading cause of revenue loss is system downtime. In many cases, even one extra day of lost revenue can have a significant financial impact upon your parking operations. A proper technology support program is an essential part of your investment. Don’t let cost deter you. A less advanced support solution will lead to greater problems such as a shortened system life cycle and revenue loss.
In the long run a robust solution is a worthwhile investment. Here are some key maintenance and support criteria you and your team need to consider when selecting a parking equipment supplier:
E-commerce: Does your partner make ordering supplies and services easy for you?
“No Lemon”policy: Does the supplier honour a “No Lemon” policy? For example, if a device can’t be repaired quickly by replacing a component, will the supplier replace the entire unit immediately?
Service technicians: Does the supplier have enough service technicians to support your operation, along with all of its other clients? Do they have the tools and resources required to provide reliable service and support?
Word of mouth: Have you spoken to industry peers or researched the suppliers ability to deliver on their promise?
Real-time software communication: Does the equipment communicate real-time maintenance alerts and failures to a live central monitoring station? Is your supplier monitoring on a 24/7 basis?
Back-end troubleshooting: Do all potential failures require in-person service or is back-end troubleshooting an option?
Preventative maintenance: Does the supplier schedule and perform routine manufacturer-certified maintenance tasks as recommended by the equipment manufacturer?
Replacement components: Does the supplier have an appropriate local inventory of parts in stock for last-minute replacement needs? Have you verified their warehousing and inventory fulfillment capacity?
Warranty: does the supplier offer warranty packages that suit your needs?
Now, it’s easy for a parking equipment supplier to say yes to all of these questions. But you should do your due diligence as well. Verify the supplier’s capacity to fulfill your expectations by requesting an on-site tour of its facilities. While you’re there, take note of the combination of technology and human power that’s required to maintain a successful parking operation.
John Ivo
Director, Production and Support, Precise ParkLink