Parkify
Revolutionizing the Urban Parking Experience with Seamless, Digital Convenience and Intelligent Parking Management Solutions
Redefining Parking in a Busy Urban Landscape
Parking in a bustling city like Montréal shouldn’t be a chore. Yet, the existing P$ Mobile Service app made a necessary task feel outdated and cumbersome. Residents and tourists alike grappled with a lack of real-time parking availability, rigid payment options, and an interface that hadn’t kept pace with user expectations. The question became:
How might we enhance Montréal's parking service to provide residents and visitors with a seamless, stress-free experience, ensuring they can park effortlessly and with confidence?
Discovery & Research: Understanding the Roadblocks
To uncover the pain points, I dug deep into user behavior and feedback through:
User Interviews: Personal stories revealed frustrations with finding parking, notifications, and the lack of flexibility in payments.
Competitive Analysis: Insights from leading apps like PayByPhone and Bixi highlighted features that worked well—and gaps we could fill.
Surveys & Empathy Mapping: Community feedback and journey and empathy mapping gave voice to users’ thoughts, feelings, and actions, paving the way for a user-centered redesign.
“The app looks really outdated like it was designed in the 90s. It doesn’t seem visually appealing at all. I wish it included features that other parking apps have like a map to search for parking spots so I don’t have to drive around looking for one.”
“I’m visiting Montreal from France and I can’t create an account on this app without a Canadian phone number. I guess they didn’t think about all the tourists when designing this app.”
“I prefer Calgary’s MyParking app over Montreal’s because it allows me to start and end the parking session for the exact amount of time. This way I don’t have to guess the duration or waste money.”
Key Insights: User Needs & Pain Points
From the research phase, these key user needs and pain points were identified:
User Needs:
Ease of Navigation: Users want a simple, intuitive app to quickly find parking spots without unnecessary steps.
Flexibility in Parking Duration: They need a system that allows payment only for the time parked, avoiding overpaying or underestimating time.
Accessible Information: Users value immediate access to parking rates, time limits, and restrictions to make informed decisions.
Account-Free Use: Tourists and occasional users seek the ability to park without creating an account for convenience.
Pain Points:
Outdated Interface: The current app design is cumbersome, visually unappealing, and not user-friendly.
No Real-Time Availability: The lack of real-time parking spot visibility results in wasted time and frustration.
Pre-Set Duration Model: Requiring users to pre-select parking durations causes stress and leads to inefficiencies in payments.
Inconsistent Notifications: Notifications for session expiry are unreliable, increasing the risk of fines.
Limited Discoverability: The old app name and design make it harder to identify and locate in app stores.
Lack of Accessibility Features: The app fails to accommodate diverse user needs, including accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
These insights guided the redesign strategy to ensure the new Parkify app met user expectations and resolved these challenges effectively.
Design Journey: From Frustration to Innovation
Reimagining the Experience
With users at the heart of every decision, the app was rebranded to Parkify. This name not only clarified the app’s purpose but also set a modern, approachable tone.Mapping a New Path
The redesign introduced a real-time map feature, showing available spots with rates, restrictions, and time limits. Users could now find parking without circling the block endlessly.Flexibility Redefined
The app’s pay-per-use model eliminated the need to pre-select durations, ensuring users only paid for the time they parked.Ease and Accessibility
Account creation became optional, welcoming tourists and occasional users, while regulars could still enjoy saved profiles and parking history. Face ID and Dynamic Island features added modern, convenient touchpoints.
Testing and Iteration: Perfecting the Ride
Prototypes and high-fidelity wireframes were put to the test:
Feedback on map readability led to clearer labels and improved contrast.
Confusion around payment flows resulted in a streamlined process and clearer prompts.
Notifications were revamped to ensure timely reminders using live activities.
These iterations ensured a polished, user-focused final product.
Outcomes: Driving Change
The redesigned Parkify app achieved its mission:
A modern, intuitive interface that redefines the parking experience.
Real-time tools to locate and manage parking effortlessly.
Increased app discoverability, engagement, and user satisfaction.
Looking Ahead
Parking is just the start. Future updates like car location tracking, favorite parking spots, and availability alerts will continue to enhance the user experience, making Parkify an indispensable tool for navigating Montréal.