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Beaven Dhliwayo Herald Correspondent
City Parking says it has moved in to address challenges faced by motorists when parking in the Central Business District as well as plug revenue leakages by introducing a self-service mobile application, capitalising on the capabilities of smartphones.

The application, which goes live next month, will direct motorists to the nearest parking bay and removes the need for parking marshals, potentially removing corruption while modernisation is hoped to better serve the public whose business trends are increasingly revolving around mobile communication gadgets.

“The application is self-service, it allows motorists to park and pay on their mobile devices without assistance from our parking marshals,” Mr Simon Muzviyo, City Parking managing director told The Herald yesterday.

“Our parking marshals will monitor compliance and validity of such payments.

“This is inspired by the need to offer greater parking convenience in our services.

“As a responsive company, the mobile application is a solution to complaints on unavailability of our parking marshals, who are sometimes strained or overwhelmed.”

The Park Assist Mobile App will work as follows: download and run Park Assist on mobile device; start application and sign up by filling all fields on the registration page; enter the seven-digit Pin (OTP) you will receive and click finish up button and start application.

Mr Muzviyo said the mobile application will give their customers greater convenience of parking.

He said the application now allows motorists to top up from wherever they will be by selecting the top-up button.

“When your ticket is about to expire and you are still attending to your business, the Park Assist mobile application sends an alert message five minutes before expiry as a reminder.

“This is to address complaints to the effect that customers were being clamped after ticket expiry before they completed their business meetings or other engagements, in the end paying a $57 fine. The Park Assist is here to help you comply without disrupting your business,” said Muzviyo.

He added that City Parking understands the cash crisis affecting its customers and the new innovation was the solution.

“Payments are made using the EcoCash payment platform, hence you do not need cash for parking.

“Other mobile payment platforms will be coopted soon.

“The mobile application is also part of our efforts to curb revenue leakages through collusion by minimising interactions and use of cash between our customers and staff members.”

Additionally, Mr Muzviyo said the app allowed motorists to pay and top up for their loved ones from anywhere by simply entering their vehicle registration details.

The advent of mobile phones has revolutionised modern society by   providing integrated services that have gone beyond making a call and sending a message.