Introduction

In 2019 – 2020, dotCode developed a new API for ParkFast, a parking service operating in New York and New Jersey, improving existing features and implementing new features for both clients and employees. The new architecture we built opened the door for expansion and faster scalability. In 2020 – 2021, we built on-premise API running in parking lots, as ParkFast was undergoing an upgrade process to their location hardware (gates, payment machines, etc.), moving from SECOM to SKI DATA machines. SKI DATA destined API had to replicate and improve the already available SECOM locations API functionalities. The new API also served as a bridge between SECOM and SKI DATA hardware and supported the new features implemented during the 2019 – 2020 upgrade.

Objective

Build service responsible for communication between API and parking equipment.

Challenges

New API had to integrate SKI DATA hardware with ParkFast API cloud services. New API must replicate and improve on functionalities of old SECOM locations API while also supporting newly implemented features. SKI DATA did not support a considerable part of out-of-the-box SECOM machines software, so the new API had to serve as a functional bridge.

Solutions

Software design and implementation. New API ensures communication between parking equipment and existing API, built by dotCode a year earlier and showcased in a previous case study. As ParkFast is transitioning, parking employees at still-existing SECOM hardware locations use punchcards for actions like a customer check-in, and most operations are done on paper. New service replaces all analog processes with an iPhone app (implemented by external party) provided to employees by ParkFast. dotCode also assisted in the transfer process of needed customer data from SECOM to SKI DATA.

Employee operations done by new API:

• Customer check-in / check-out
• Registering car in the parking lot (brand, color, parking spot)
• Live occupancy
• Reporting
• Tracking on-site employee work / actions / time
• Overall customer stay experience management from the employee point of view

Outcomes

Having a reliable bridge between SKI DATA hardware and existing API that is also compatible with old SECOM machines, ParkFast can continue its transition. One location already uses SKI DATA equipment with a new API. The next one is coming soon. New equipment has both legacy and new functionalities. ParkFast now has parking employee work tracking capabilities and parking operations tracking, including almost live location revenue control. New service provides live parking data (e.g., number of cars in a certain lot). Parking operations no longer require paper processes; everything is digital.

The upgraded system provides an improved claims process while reducing claim fraud. For example, a typical claim fraud attempt is when a person comes with an already damaged car claiming that it was damaged in the parking lot. To prevent that, new service stores photos and descriptions of existing car damages assessed during customer check-in.

The process

Very close work with the customer's development team and project manager, offering daily updates on the process. The customer's project manager oversaw business to functional requirement analysis. From functional requirements, dotCode covered all of the implementation processes:

• Designing software architecture
• Data modeling
• Implementation
• Integration design and implementation if needed (with other APIs, external and internal)

dotCode often suggest improvements and, even if we did not work on the frontend, design decisions. Apart from implementation, we also participated in testing. The customer was responsible for the deployment, but dotCode also took part in the process, ready to offer support if needed.

Our strengths

Strong communication. The entire project implementation process has been executed fully remotely. Our team has never visited New York. As an international-oriented company, we can offer high-quality services worldwide with the same speed and attention to detail as if we were in the client's city.Implementation speed without cutting corners, meaning fast turnaround, but with due thoroughness. Sharp assessment capabilities. We can understand requirements and business needs and develop solutions tailored to clients' profiles and their clients' preferences. Honest with our clients. Using our extensive experience, we can assess a solution, idea, or design from a software point of view and offer an honest opinion, having the ability to say no and discourage a potentially lousy strategy. dotCode is a small, agile, and flexible team, meaning we can adapt in no time to our client's business needs.