With contactless technology on the rise, the shift towards cashless payments has been steadily gaining momentum over the past few years – a transition that’s only been accelerated in the aftermath of the global pandemic. With Barclays reporting record numbers of contactless payments being made in store in 2023, it’s clear that offering contactless payment options is becoming a necessity moving forward.

There are plenty of benefits to going cashless, from a streamlined payment experience to improved support for patrons, but how necessary is it for car parks to make the change? In this blog, we’ll discuss why you should consider making your car park cashless in 2024.

How Can Your Car Park Benefit From Cashless Pay & Display Machines?

More Versatility in Payment Options

By ditching cash, car parks open the door to a number of different payment options – users could pay by card, mobile app, online platforms, phone services, payment portals or pre-booking. This variety provides plenty of convenience and flexibility for drivers.

Offering multiple payment options also ensures that users are in control of their parking experience. In the rare event of on-site issues, like a faulty pay and display machine or a driver without their card, an alternative solution is still available.

Smoother Customer Experience

When you’re in a rush, the last thing you want to do is wait in a long car park queue, exacerbated by cash-only payment systems that frequently reject notes and change. The simple fact is that outdated technology leads to unnecessary delays, causing frustration for car park users.

Fortunately, cashless options can prevent this scenario from happening. Contactless payments allow for swift transactions, allowing users to bypass queues altogether in some cases and massively improving the customer experience as a result.

Effective for Upselling

Studies have shown that customers tend to spend more when using cards over cash. After all, with cash there is a finite amount available, which imposes a limit on how much you can spend. On the other hand, card payments offer flexibility, which can lead to up to 18% more spending.

Certain customers are even more inclined to spend more when they see a credit card symbol – a phenomenon known as ‘friction-free spending’ – which can be great for business revenue. The same goes for car parks: extending your parking session or leaving your car overnight after an evening out is a much more frictionless decision when you have contactless options at your fingertips, rather than having to run back and forth to put cash in the machine.

Pay & Display Machine Management in London

Here at Park Direct UK Ltd, our objective is to provide the most effective solution to all of your parking predicaments. We can supply, install and service a wide variety of pay and display machines to ensure users of your car park are paying for their stays. When you get your pay and display machine through us, you can rest assured that your system will be managed correctly and in compliance with the current laws and legislations, allowing for effective parking enforcement in your car park. Want to know more about our services? Get in touch today.