SchlumbergerSema, a business unit of Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB), today announced the Toronto Parking Association's deployment of 1,300 of its web-based Pay & Display terminals has increased the city's parking revenue by 60% since their installation in early 1999. This SchlumbergerSema solution allows the Toronto Parking Authority to track meter status, while utilizing the system's web-based communications capabilities to keep equipment operational and minimize the down time associated with maintenance.
The new web-based multi-space parking solution was developed, manufactured and continues to be maintained with a centralized data management system as a joint effort between SchlumbergerSema and Precise ParkLink. The new centralized data management system requires no capital investment by new parking system customers, as the control server is managed centrally and can be accessed by multiple operators.
Since the implementation, Toronto's parking operation has achieved significant efficiencies because the Toronto Parking Authority is able to evaluate the status of an on- or off-street terminal via an Internet web-site connection. The new technology is able to determine the status of each machine by assessing its condition, the amount of funds that have been collected, and whether funds need to be emptied from the terminal. The terminals are also able to accumulate credit-card security and statistical data. Because of the efficiencies of the technology, the Toronto Parking Authority has been able to decrease the amount of support staff needed to maintain the parking terminal.
"Cities require advanced methods today to manage on- and off-street parking," stated Maurice Anderson, president of the Toronto Parking Authority. "The day of walking to a meter to obtain information is in the past. Toronto is pleased to set a new standard in North America for parking solution equipment and services."
The reliability of the SchlumbergerSema parking technology and effective use of data provided over the Internet through Precise ParkLink's data management center has provided the city with the tools to see their annual revenues continue to increase.
"Web-based parking technology is a major step in decreasing cost, increasing revenue and decreasing maintenance time for parking authorities," stated Paul Beverly, vice president, eTransaction Systems, SchlumbergerSema, North America. "The success of the Toronto project underscores the system's strong value, and we expect to see this technology play a growing role in the modernization of parking systems across North America."
SchlumbergerSema is a world leader in innovative technology-based parking solutions. Globally, its systems control more than two million parking spaces in more than 3,000 cities and 40 countries. The company currently has an installed base of 2,800 units controlling over 100,000 spaces in cities across the US and Canada, including Portland, Oregon; Chicago; New York City; Aspen and Denver, Colorado; Ft. Lauderdale and Hollywood, Florida; the San Francisco Bay Area; Park City, Utah and other metropolitan areas, vacation destinations and university campuses. Additional information on SchlumbergerSema parking solutions is available at http://www.slb.com/smartcards
About SchlumbergerSema
SchlumbergerSema is a leading information technology services company providing consulting, systems integration, managed services and products to the telecommunications, energy and utilities, finance, transport and public sector markets. With more than 30,000 employees serving customers in 65 countries, SchlumbergerSema is one of two business segments of Schlumberger Limited, a global technology services company. For more information about SchlumbergerSema, visit http://www.slb.com
About Precise ParkLink
Precise ParkLink division of Precise B/I Systems Limited is a Canadian Parking System Integrators with parking solution in most Canadian municipalities; others include universities, hospitals and institutions. Servicing the Canadian market place in both centralize stand alone parking systems with offices in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver,
Visit, http://www.preciseparklink.com
For further information, contact:
Karen A. Hodgson
Public Relations Manager, North America
SchlumbergerSema
Tel: 905 315 9719
Cell: 416 464 9006
khodgson@slb.co
Kathryn Marshall
Metzger Associates
Tel: 303 786 7000
kathryn@metzger.com
