Create an all-encompassing solution that caters to rapid increase of vehicles that need parking and charging services.
TIMELINE
2021 - 2022
PLATFORM
Android, iOS
APCOA "Flow"
Introduction
The cityscape is rapidly transforming, brimming with more vehicles and a remarkable transition toward electric transportation. Conventional parking systems are struggling to keep pace with the intricacies of contemporary urban mobility, and electric vehicle enthusiasts encounter extra obstacles in their quest to find accessible charging points. Our mission was to create an all-encompassing solution that seamlessly merges these two requirements into a streamlined and user-friendly experience.
Role: Experience Design
(Data-driven design, Wireframing, Prototyping, User Testing, Cross-functional team collaboration, Client feedback and co-ordination)
Context
Drivers across 14 EU countries that own traditional and electric vehicles prefer to have cash-free parking and charging services. The following outcomes were expected from the project:
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Improving consumer module which has search and navigate, ticketless entry and exit, cashless payments, prebook parking and value-added services.
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Design a registration flow for users in cities still using RFID technology and have ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) being rolled out.
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Introduce EV charging features and help user find the perfect charging spots for their vehicle and parking duration.
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Provide information to the user succinctly and clearly such that the users are clear on what to do next.
Product Features
APCOA Flow was in an MVP state at the start of the design process. Along with reimagining existing features, our team had the privilege of introducing new ones from the ground up.
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Registration
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Search
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Navigation
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Parking Sessions
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EV Charging
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Management of Payments, Profiles, Vehicles
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Season Pass
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Favorites
User Needs
Quick an Easy parking
Efficient use of space
EV Charge + Park
Real-time check
Previous System Integration
RFID Chip access
Pain Points
RFID management
Find nearest spot
Remote Access
Plug compatibility
Business Goals
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Streamlining Parking Operations
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Enhancing Customer Convenience
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Integrating Advanced Technologies
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Data-driven decision making
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Supporting sustainable urban mobility
Strategy
Improvement in all-round parking experience with provisions for value-added services. Increase the number of active users. Enable multiple types of parking services. Measure success by app store ratings.
Improving the Registration experience
One of the most important steps of the user experience, the service often faced the problem of having installations, yet, registrations were incomplete due to the lack of a streamlined experience. To mitigate that, we introduced a conversational sign-up process which enabled country selection, setting up payments as well as ordering an RFID parking access chip card.
User reviews mentioned missing parking duration notifications and faced the trouble of paying overtime fees. Insights from data helped us discover that by priming users to enable notifications while registration, it significantly reduces the occurrences of such events while also opening room for other relevant communication.
Vehicle owners primarily wanted quick and easy parking solutions; Parking providers sought more efficient ways to monetise their spaces.
The “Quick Park” feature aimed to bridge this gap for users who trust the app based service to find the nearest car park for their needs, saving time on search and navigation.
Our research and various iterations showed us the following benefits about Jog Dials:
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More compact than sliders, depending on the surrounding layout
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Visually interesting than sliders
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Skeuomorphic benefits - since the product is a digital version of a physical product such as a parking meter that typically uses knobs / dials
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Appealingly "tactile" for data input
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Support infinite / indefinite data ranges (Sliders have a definite beginning and end; dials can just keep spinning)
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To clearly differentiate the particular control of setting a parking duration, from a set of other controls which are tabs, chips and buttons.
Consolidating client feedback
Integrating multiple pointers to solicit good aspects of each option and combine them into a newly designed parking experience.
EV Charging
APCOA Parking first introduced electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Stuttgart, Germany, in September 2022. This initial rollout is part of a broader strategy to deploy up to 100,000 EV charging stations across its network of over 12,000 sites in Europe by 2035. The infrastructure includes both AC and DC charging points, ranging from 11 to 50 kW, with additional plans for high-power charging stations up to 350 kW in partnership with industry leaders.
The Carpark Charging Problem
For Denmark and Sweden, there are some car parks that you need to start both a parking and charging session to proceed with the app based EV charging experience. This gives three individual scenarios, when user wants to viz. only charge, only park, both.
For Sweden (combined carpark)
If user wants to charge EV,
toggle intent ON,
Park + Charge,
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Start separate parking and charging sessions
For Sweden (normal carpark)
If user wants to charge EV,
Choose EV charge,
Scan Dock
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Start charging only session
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If car is parked in charging spot, and requested charge is complete; user should either;
1.Vacate Spot (or)
2.Pay extra to park
Notification that charging is done. User can respond with a timed trigger.
Options:
Unplug & Move
Continue to park at higher tariff
At trigger time, response 2 is auto selected
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Co-Creating
At each significant step of the project, a collaborative sketching session with the product managers helped the designs develop more efficiently.
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Closing Comment
One of my most rewarding projects to date has been the redesign and integration of parking and EV charging solutions. Working APCOA's innovative mobility infrastructure and Brewex's exceptional leadership has significantly contributed to my growth as an international designer. This collaboration not only enhanced the user experience but also set new standards in sustainable design.
