Efficient management of free parking spaces will help ease traffic jams.
WePark from Zagreb has developed an IT solution for parking problems – an app which can enable you to find, reserve and pay for a parking space. Karlo Starčević, the company’s owner, says that they came to the idea after experiencing daily problems of finding free parking spaces in Zagreb. Another reason was a 2015 study which indicated that Zagreb lacked at least 16,00 parking spaces, reports Poslovni.hr on November 20, 2017.
“We were motivated by the lack of modern digital solutions for finding, reserving and paying for parking. Also, we also wanted to take part in new ecological trends, so we will include electric vehicle charging stations in our app, which will also help reduce traffic jams, noise and air pollution,” said Starčević.
It took them a year for their idea to come to fruition. The app development process is at the end, and the commercialisation phase has started in mid-November. WePark’s smart parking devices, which detect the number and location of unused parking spaces, have been implemented not far from Zagreb’s Kvaternik Square and will soon be installed at six more locations.
“The device is manufactured by our partners from the Bytelab company, according to our designs and ideas. During the testing period, we will focus mostly on the user experience, suggestions and wishes of the end users. After we launch our operation in Zagreb, we will expand to other towns in Croatia and the wider region,” he added.
Starčević explained that their product was better than the competition due to the simplicity of use for both drivers and owners of parking lots. “The system is expandable and flexible, and, in the future, in addition to electric vehicle charging stations, it will also include other options. We are currently concentrating on developing WePark as the best digital experience for every driver in the city, and we will then turn to new projects linked with the Smart City principle,” Starčević explained.
As far as the competition is concerned, according to their business model, many of these companies can become partners. “Our international competitors are familiar with similar models based on the shared business approaches, and therefore we are preparing to enter the international market where users can choose the best value for their money. We believe that our motto will soon become a reality and that we will be able to greet the public with it: WePark – Park with Smile”, he said.
Translated from Poslovni.hr.
