Enhancing the campus tour experience: How Offstreet revolutionized parking at UCR
Campus tours are a critical touchpoint in the decision-making process for prospective students and their families. These tours allow visitors to experience the campus environment firsthand, often serving as the deciding factor in choosing where to spend the next four or more years of their lives. For universities, providing a seamless experience during these visits is paramount, and parking logistics play a crucial role in that experience.
The parking challenge
At many universities, the admissions department is tasked with organizing campus tours. While their focus is on creating a welcoming and informative experience, they often face significant challenges when it comes to providing complimentary parking for visitors.
Traditional methods like physical permits, coupon codes at pay stations, or promo codes in mobile apps are cumbersome for guests and difficult for Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) to administer.
The problem is compounded at institutions that use License Plate Recognition (LPR) for enforcement. These campuses require a simple, virtual permit solution, yet many are still relying on outdated systems that detract from the overall experience and increase administrative burdens.
A case in point: University of California Riverside
The University of California Riverside (UCR) adopted digital permits and LPR in 2021, with the goals of achieving cost savings and operational efficiency. However, they soon discovered that managing complimentary guest permits for events like campus tours was both costly and complicated.
UCR was issuing over 5,500 guest permits each semester, with each permit costing approximately $1.35—resulting in significant expenses for the university.
UCR needed a solution that would simplify the process, reduce costs, and improve the guest experience. That’s where Offstreet came in.
How Offstreet simplified UCR’s parking process
Offstreet helped UCR transform its parking management for campus tours by eliminating transaction fees on complimentary guest permits, realizing a 93% savings on permit administration costs. Here’s how:
- Pre-Registration: Guests could easily register for parking in advance, right up until the event’s start time. This allowed for better planning and a more organized process.
- Guest Checkout Flow: Through a simple web-based registration page, guests could register their vehicle without needing to download an app or create a user account. They simply entered their license plate number, and a virtual permit was automatically generated—no decals, no pay stations, no hassle.
- Guest Communication Features: Offstreet ensured that all necessary instructions, files, and directions were sent via email, providing clarity and reducing confusion.
- API Integrations, Including LPR: By integrating with UCR’s existing enforcement software, Offstreet ensured that registered vehicles were recognized as having valid permits, preventing citations and ensuring a smooth experience for visitors.
Implementation made easy
The implementation of Offstreet at UCR was a straightforward process:
- Configuration: Offstreet’s team worked closely with UCR to configure the system according to the university’s specific operations. This included uploading locations, setting registration parameters, and establishing user accounts and permissions.
- Integration: Offstreet seamlessly integrated with UCR’s existing enforcement software, ensuring that the transition was smooth and without disruptions.
- Staff Training: During onboarding, Offstreet provided comprehensive training to UCR’s staff, ensuring they were comfortable with the new system and ready to assist guests.
- Gradual Rollout: UCR chose a phased rollout, allowing departments to adapt at their own pace while benefiting from insights and tips shared by other institutions.
- Simplified Billing: Departments were billed for usage through an internal billing system, with reports generated in Offstreet to streamline financial management.
The results: A seamless experience and significant savings
Thanks to Offstreet, UCR eliminated the transaction fees associated with complimentary guest permits, reducing TAPS costs by up to 93%. Over 11,000 guests benefited from a seamless parking experience, with the ease of digital registration and the assurance that their vehicle was recognized by the enforcement software.
“Having a parking session go smoothly is extremely valuable to us. We trust Offstreet to create that seamless experience for our campus guests. I’m not typically someone who likes using different vendors for different use cases, but in Offstreet’s case, nobody is doing what they are doing, let alone with the level of service and care that they’re doing it with.”
— Andy Stewart, Associate Director of Transportation & Parking Services, UCR
Transform your campus tours with Offstreet
If your university is struggling with the logistics of parking for campus tours, Offstreet offers a proven solution that enhances the guest experience while dramatically reducing costs.
Ready to learn more? Discover how Offstreet can revolutionize your campus tours and streamline your parking process today!
