Parkit Explains

Automated Parking – The Future of Smart Mobility

Automated parking may sound futuristic — something out of a science fiction movie. But the truth is: it’s already here. From cameras and sensors that recognise vehicles to garages where cars park themselves, automation is transforming how we use space, time, and technology. Here’s what automated parking really means, how it works, and why it’s key to building a more sustainable city.
Underjordiskt parkeringsgarage med vita och svarta bilar parkerade mellan gröna och vita pelare.

What Is Automated Parking?

Automated parking means that technology manages the parking process for you — from entry to payment, and sometimes even the parking manoeuvre itself.

It can mean anything from:

  • ANPR cameras that open barriers and register your stay automatically,
    to
  • robotic parking systems that move cars into compact spaces with no human input.

In short: less searching, less stress — and more space for everything else.

How Automated Parking Works in Practice

Automation relies on a connected ecosystem of digital technologies:

<div class="knowledge-table"><div class="knowledge-table_header"><div class="knowledge-table_header-cell">Technology</div><div class="knowledge-table_header-cell">Function</div><div class="knowledge-table_header-cell">Example</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">ANPR (cameras)</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Reads licence plates at entry/exit</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Ticketless parking</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Sensors</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Detect available spaces in real time</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Green/red lights in garages</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Digital permits</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Link parking to the correct vehicle</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">BRFs, companies, guests</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Apps & payment systems</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Automatic start/stop of sessions</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">EasyPark, Parkster, Parkit</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">AI & algorithms</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Optimise space use and flow</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Smart placement & pricing</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Parking robots</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Move vehicles mechanically</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Compact automated garages</div></div></div>

Together, these systems create a seamless experience — from arrival to payment, with no manual steps needed.

Self-Parking Garages – Sci-Fi Turned Reality

Across Europe, fully automated parking systems are already in operation.

Here’s how they work:

  1. You drive into a reception area.
  2. Step out of the car.
  3. The platform lifts, rotates, and places your vehicle in an available slot using robotic arms or lifts.
  4. When you return, the car is automatically retrieved and ready to go.

Benefits:

  • Up to 70% less space needed than conventional garages
  • No risk of scratches, theft, or fender-benders
  • Lower energy use thanks to optimised lighting and ventilation
  • Higher capacity — more cars in the same footprint

It sounds futuristic, but these systems already exist in Germany, the Netherlands, and South Korea — and Sweden is on its way there.

Key Benefits of Automated Parking

<div class="knowledge-table"><div class="knowledge-table_header"><div class="knowledge-table_header-cell">Benefit</div><div class="knowledge-table_header-cell">What It Means</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Less congestion</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Fewer cars circling in search of a space</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Lower emissions</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Engines off — no idle traffic</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">More efficient use of land</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">More vehicles per square metre</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Smarter EV charging</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Charging can be integrated seamlessly</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Time savings</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Automatic entry/exit, no tickets or machines</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Greater safety</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">No cash, no dark walkways, no manual handling</div></div></div>

Automation isn’t just about technology — it’s about trust, convenience, and climate impact..

The Digital Systems Behind It

Automated parking is the sum of technologies that Parkit already works with today:

  • Digital permits – no plastic cards or paper lists
  • ANPR – cameras that open and close gates automatically
  • EV charging – smart chargers activated by the system
  • Data analytics – insights on usage, turnover, and optimisation

The technology exists. The challenge is connecting it — and that’s where Parkit’s strength lies.

Safety, Accountability and Transparency

Automation raises fair questions: Who’s responsible if something goes wrong?
That’s why modern parking systems are built with traceability, data protection, and full security logging from the ground up.

  • Every event — entry, exit, payment, camera capture — is recorded automatically
  • Systems comply with GDPR and Swedish camera legislation
  • Access is encrypted and role-based
  • Transparency is built in by design

Automation should never be invisible — only effortless.

The Future of Automated Parking

Automated parking isn’t “coming soon” — it’s already here and expanding fast.
We see three major trends ahead:

  1. Fully automated garages – self-parking robots becoming common in urban centres.
  2. Integrated mobility hubs – parking, EV charging, bikes and deliveries in one shared space.
  3. AI-driven parking management – dynamic pricing and flow optimisation in real time.

The parking space of the future isn’t just a spot — it’s part of the city’s digital intelligence.

Parkit’s Perspective

Automation isn’t about removing people — it’s about removing friction.

For us, the future of parking isn’t about robots. It’s about freedom:
to arrive, park, charge, and move on — without stress.

Parkit develops systems that feel as natural as turning on your blinkers:
you don’t think about them — but you’d never want to be without them.

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