Can Parking Apps Help Save the Mall?

Across the United States, brick-and-mortar stores are engaged in an existential war with online retailers. The newest weapons in the battle for customers are technologies that make the search for a parking spot a cinch.

1 minute read

November 30, 2013, 5:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


"The fight for a mall parking spot, long a necessary evil of Black Friday, is growing easier thanks to the proliferation of new technologies, from apps and sensors to color-coded lights and electronic boards," reports Jaclyn Trop. "It’s one way that malls and shopping districts are trying to lure customers away from their computers, into the realm of their brick-and-mortar stores."

ParkMeParkopedia, and QuickPay are just a few of the parking apps that can help drivers navigate the stresses of parking with services like advanced reservations and remote payment.

“Parking is the gateway to the shopping experience,” QuickPay’s founder, Barney Pell, said. “It can mean the success or failure of your whole business.”

Friday, November 29, 2013 in The New York Times

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