A Palmerston North technology business is flying high after winning a major parking guidance contract with Wellington International Airport.

Frogparking has created what it says is the world’s first cloud-based parking management system. The indoor/outdoor parking guidance technology has been selected by the airport for its new $70 million multi-level transport hub. This is due to be completed in November next year. Airport bosses were so impressed they will start implementing the smart parking system throughout the airport’s existing parking area next month, simultaneously installing 650 wireless parking occupancy sensors.

What Frogparking had to say about it all

Frogparking Managing Director, Shareena​ Sandbrook, said the parking guidance system would smoothly guide motorists to carpark spaces.

“Conversely, they are easy and cost-effective to install and maintain and provide accurate, real-time data on each parking space.”

Signs are being installed, displaying real-time information on where parks are available. By the same token, drivers are guided by LED lights to those spaces.

Who is Frogparking?

Frogparking has clients all over the world. Undoubtedly, with brands such as Disney and Nike, the company are on the rise. Importantly, Frogparking creates niche parking systems, particularly in the airport market, with Christchurch and Auckland international airports both using its parking guidance systems.

Shareena Sandbrook would not give the value of the Wellington Airport contract which was awarded by tender.

Frogparking was started by Chief Executive, Don Sandbrook, in 2010 after he sold out of his aircraft tracking business Spidertracks, and seeding and harvesting technology company Seed Spider.

Accordingly, the entrepreneur keeps key development staff and employs 27 people. Frogparking’s turnover has tripled since 2014, and is forecasted to rise by 170 per cent in the 2017 financial year. Shareena Sandbrook said this would be the result of adding new clients in the United States. Equally in Australia & New Zealand, and more work from existing clients.

The company is the only one offering a fully integrated wireless indoor/outdoor parking guidance product with solar or battery powered occupancy sensors, she said.

Furthermore, there is so much demand for the parking technology, the company cannot keep up and needs to recruit more staff.

Ultimately, Frogparking has started a capital raising venture and are asking for feedback from companies interested in partnering. “I believe we have the potential to become a $100M company within the next five years,” she said.

What does Wellington Airport think?

Wellington International Airport manager of transport and commercial development Pippi Kettle said the airport had considered a range of options. Especially weighing up the benefits of camera-based versus wireless cloud-based technologies.

“Our main goal is customer experience. We’re investing a lot of money in car parking and we want it to be user-friendly.”

The cloud-based system would provide real-time parking guidance and comprehensive data to the airport.

The data would open opportunities such as dynamic pricing based on data, future add-ons such as an integrated app for motoristsas well as a wealth of enforcement tools, Kettle said. – Stuff