There LAPI (Automatic License Plate Recognition) is no longer reserved for law enforcement: by 2025, more than 60 % car parks in city centres across European capitals will use number plate recognition instead of a paper ticket or a mechanical barrier. Operators are banking on a frictionless customer experience: a car stops, the camera identifies it, payment is made in the background and the driver receives their receipt by email.
Operational benefits
- Reduced cycle time : a study carried out on 12 car parks in Rotterdam shows an average gain of 17 seconds per vehicle.[1]
- Reduced maintenance costs : Barriers represent up to 35 billion pounds of the annual maintenance budget. Removing them frees up capital for cybersecurity.
- New data : by cross-referencing plate, visit history and weather, a London operator increased the margin on its dynamic tariffs by 12 %.
Impacts on customer experience
The rate of complaints for "lost tickets" has almost disappeared. On the other hand, misreading remains the main cause of disputes (0.8 % of sessions). Suppliers recommend a double-check by LIDAR sensor to ensure that the vehicle's footprint matches the detected plate.
Security and GDPR
Each image containing a license plate is considered personal data. The CNIL recommends deletion within 24 hours, unless the user objects; most SaaS companies host their data in Europe to comply with the decision. Schrems II.
Advanced Use Cases
Helsinki Municipality is testing the negative pricing : if a driver leaves a parking zone in less than 15 minutes, they receive a mobility credit of €0.50. The objective: to free up spaces near interchange hubs.
Conclusion
In the “15 minute” city hour, LAPI appears to be a major facilitator of rotation and a lever for data monetization.
Sources :
[1] Shaghaei E. et al., “ANPR Utilized for Smart Parking”, Congress on Smart Computing Technologies, 2023.
[2] Smart Parking Ltd., “Keep cars moving – no need for a physical barrier”, November 2024.
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