Yonni Lopez, Regional Sales Manager
T2’s Parking Perspectives series draws from the experiences of T2ers that have previously worked in parking departments at universities, municipalities, and operators, including many who are former T2 customers. From this experience comes a level of expertise that understands parking and mobility from a holistic perspective, helping us provide better service and solutions to our customers.
I have held quite a few titles and worn many hats across the 15-plus years I’ve been involved in the parking and transportation industry. Prior to joining the T2 family in 2018, I had the opportunity to work in operations management for the University of South Florida, Tampa.
In the spring of 2017, I was tasked with introducing cutting edge parking technology to the Tampa campus in an effort to streamline operational efficiencies and enhance the customer experience. After a careful evaluation of the existing business practices, a thorough review of our desired customer service objectives, and the full support of leadership secured, I decided to start with a transition to the latest multi-space parking technology to enrich our transient parking program.
After months of research, visits to other universities, countless conversations with colleagues, and many hours of evaluating equipment/supplier options, it became evident that the Luke II Pay Station from T2 was the right solution for us. While organizational needs and circumstances will vary, I was able to use the following guidelines to decide on the best technology for the university, avoid potential pitfalls, and implement a robust solution that aligned with our objectives.
Do Your Homework
Invest the time necessary to understand your unique needs and challenges. There are many technology solutions available on the market today, and understanding your unique needs will allow you to select the solution that best fits your needs and ultimately address your challenges.
Make a Plan
Plan in advance and establish milestone goals in support of your purchasing and implementation timeline. An optimal timeline should span weeks or even months and should reflect the needs of your specific environment and the scope of your project.
Communicate
It’s important to keep open lines of communication with key stakeholders within your organization, as well as develop an external public relations strategy. This starts at the research stage but will become even more critical once a solution has been purchased.
Remember the Installation Logistics
There are many details that will require your attention in preparation for the delivery of your new equipment. Who will perform the install? Have I selected locations and prepared the sites for the new equipment? Will I need new signage? Will staff need training? Do I have contingency plans?
Evaluate the Installation
With a solid plan and careful execution, your new meters should be fully operational. However, you will want to evaluate the benefits after the installation has been in place for a few months. Are there refinements or adjustments that are needed? Are there new or overlooked items that need to be incorporated? What benefits have you seen to date?
In my experience, the ideas outlined above can be applied to the acquisition of any new technology and will truly allow you to leverage the benefits of the solution.
Yonni joined the T2 sales team in 2018 and has over 15 years of experience in the parking and transportation industry. He is a Regional Sales Manager for T2’s Iris, Pay Station and T2 MobilePay solution lines, in the Southeast.
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