The parking app’s UK Managing Director, Rebecca Maisey, talks to Travellowdown about the company’s past, present and future…
Q: Was PayByPhone the first parking app?
Certainly one of them. The company was founded in Vancouver in 2001, so we’ve been around 25 years. But back then, customers paid via text message or the automated phone line.
In 2010, the business – then called Verrus – was bought by PayPoint and rebranded PayByPhone. Since then, the service has adapted with time and, of course, the app was launched. Globally, around 90% of our transactions happen through the mobile app, but some people still prefer to phone the automated service or use the SMS facility.
Q: So it’s a worldwide company?
Yes, the service is available in 1,300 cities across six countries: UK, USA, Canada, France, Germany and Switzerland. So, you can use your UK account in any of those countries. The app also covers eleven languages, including Mandarin, and more should be introduced soon.
Q: How many UK car parks do you cover?
That’s a good question! In the UK, we have just under 200 clients, comprising 150 local authorities plus universities, hotels, hospitals and private parking operators. As for the number of car parks, we’re talking thousands – plus on-street parking, too, because many local authorities allow you to park on bays in the street.
Q: Are other apps classed as competitors or do you work well together?
There had definitely been competition over the years in what is predominantly a single-vendor market but with the introduction of the National Parking Platform (NPP), we work alongside them to offer motorists the choice of which app they want to use where the council has decided to join the NPP. This is a government launched initiative where local authorities offer motorists a choice of which app they’d like to use for their parking.
Peterborough and Coventry Council City councils plus the London Borough of Tower Hamlets are some of the councils already live on the NPP – now a not-for-profit independent company – and more are expected to follow. The programme allows PayByPhone to become more customer-centric, ensuring our app works as a travel companion for motorists planning their journeys.
Q: Your company is also working on ways to benefit drivers via EV and fuel-finder solutions. Can you explain more?
We have a tagline at PayByPhone which is to simplify a driver’s journey and that’s why we’ve introduced “more than parking” elements in the app. One which helps EV drivers is the ability to search for the nearest electric charging point. You can then navigate to those points to charge your car and pay through the app. There are around 53,000 chargers in 19,000 UK locations that are now pinned within the app; it’s proving popular.
The Fuel Finder, meanwhile, shows drivers nearby fuel stations as well as the price of petrol or diesel.
Q: Do you feel it’s important for parking app companies to think outside the box and offer a range of services?
Yes. Nowadays, parking rarely stands alone anymore and what we’re trying to do is ensure our app is ready to cover all areas. Something we’re trialling in Paris is real-time parking space availability. If you’re travelling and have decided where you want to park, you also want to know that you’ll find a space when you get there. It’s proving successful in Paris and we’re hoping to roll-out with a UK trial later this year.
Q: Finally, how many people does PayByPhone employ?
Approximately 250 globally. We work with new clients as well as supporting existing businesses. Although PayByPhone is relatively small in head count, we completed over 250 million transactions globally last year – 90 million of those in the UK. So, it may be a small team but we’re delivering a lot for our partners and customers with much more to come under our new parent company, Lightyear Capital’s stewardship.
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