Skip to main content

Study calls Inrix off-street parking the ‘clear winner’ in US and Europe

An independent off-street parking benchmark study carried out by automotive technology research firm SBD has concluded that ParkMe, an Inrix company, beat Parkopedia in data accuracy across the key attribute categories in five cities in the US and Germany. According to the study, overall, ParkMe was 12 per cent more accurate than Parkopedia across a set of core attributes that are essential to automakers for customer satisfaction. Most important, ParkMe was 23 per cent more accurate providing the precise
January 21, 2016 Read time: 3 mins
An independent off-street parking benchmark study carried out by automotive technology research firm 4263 SBD has concluded that 6114 ParkMe, an 163 Inrix company, beat 7374 Parkopedia in data accuracy across the key attribute categories in five cities in the US and Germany.

According to the study, overall, ParkMe was 12 per cent more accurate than Parkopedia across a set of core attributes that are essential to automakers for customer satisfaction. Most important, ParkMe was 23 per cent more accurate providing the precise entrance location to parking lots as compared to Parkopedia. ParkMe was the ‘clear winner’ across parking attributes including pricing information accuracy (91 percent versus 81 percent) and correct parking lot operating hours (87 per cent versus 83 per cent).

ParkMe, acquired by Inrix in September 2015, has built the world’s most comprehensive parking database that includes more than 29 million confirmed spaces in over 90,000 accessible locations spanning 4,000 cities in 64 countries. ParkMe only displays publicly accessible, non-restricted lots, including both free and fee parking locations, unlike Parkopedia, which also displays restricted-access lots. By excluding restricted lots from its worldwide dataset, consumers using ParkMe are not misrouted to locations that are unavailable to the general public.

SBD’s assessment looked at 488 random parking lots in November 2015 across Berlin, Munich and Stuttgart in Germany, as well as Boston and San Francisco in the United States. SBD’s trained data collectors evaluated on-site attributes lot by lot (backed by photographic evidence), then compared the field results to published information on respective ParkMe and Parkopedia websites. From the findings, SBD assessed overall accuracy scores, and scores per attribute, lot and city. SBD was compensated for collecting the data, but the assessments and scoring were completed on an objective and independent basis.

“SBD’s off-street parking study tells a very compelling story about the quality of ParkMe’s coverage in the US and Europe,” said Mark St Andrew, senior connected car analyst at SBD North America and the study’s author. “These results reinforce the importance of automotive OEMs and service providers focusing on the end-to-end experience for consumers, the foundation of which is starting with the most accurate data possible.”

“Inrix has always striven to have the most complete and reliable dynamic driver services worldwide,” said Steve Banfield, chief marketing officer of Inrix. “SBD has confirmed what we were already very confident in – that ParkMe has the most accurate parking service in the industry, which ultimately leads to very happy drivers.”

Inrix has also announced a new licensing agreement with Parknav to expand its on-street parking services to more than 20 German cities, bringing its total coverage to over 40 cities worldwide.

Parknav uses machine learning, big data and predictive analytics to determine what streets will have open parking in real-time. The solution works on all road types and covers all on-street parking categories including free, metered and permit parking. BMW will be the first automaker to include Inrix’s breakthrough service into its ConnectedDrive cars.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Drover AI’s Alex Nesic: ‘We’re still in the basement level of micromobility’
    April 12, 2022
    The micromobility revolution has reshaped the way we get around cities, but it has created some problems too. Drover AI’s PathPilot is here to help cities – and pedestrians – Alex Nesic tells Adam Hill
  • PTV Group and Inrix partner on smart cities
    September 9, 2014
    PTV Group and Inrix are to collaborate on smart city solutions that will use big data and demand-based modelling software to solve urban mobility problems worldwide. As part of a multi-year global agreement, PTV Group is integrating Inrix XD Traffic into PTV Optima, its state-of-the-art tool for traffic prediction. With real-time information on traffic speeds and travel times for more than four million miles of roads in 40 countries, Inrix XD Traffic improves accuracy and offers detailed traffic informat
  • Advanced telematics and integration to revolutionise global connected car market
    May 22, 2015
    Advanced infotainment systems, over-the-air (OTA) updates, big data analytics, mobility services and in-car security are key technologies that will shape the global connected car market in 2015. Human machine interface (HMI) input and output solutions, as well as, heads up display (HUD) are set to take centre stage. However, car makers must create consumer-centric HMI solutions that will strike a balance between reducing driver distraction and meeting consumer need for connected services. New analysis f
  • Study finds drivers open to automated driving
    January 21, 2014
    A new study by automotive company Continental finds a clear majority of motorists would welcome automated driving. The Continental Mobility Study 2013 indicates that 79 per cent of drivers in China, 77 per cent in Japan, 53 per cent in Germany, and 50 per cent in the US realise the benefit of automated driving. When asked about their individual intentions for using the technology, drivers specified they would primarily like to be driven through freeway roadworks and congestion and long freeway stretches.