The new AXS Drive app shows that parking payments can be a painless, hands-off process. Will it take off?
Remember the last time you were stuck at a parking gantry, trying to stretch out of your window in a futile attempt to pay with a card? As we say hello to AXS Drive, a new super app-to-be that will make parking in Singapore smoother than your car’s paint job after a fresh wax, those days might be on the brink.
So, what’s the big deal?
Imagine this: You roll up to a car park exit, and… that’s it. No fumbling with cards, doing the OBU front seat dance, no praying to the gantry to play nice, and no more swearing under your breath (or openly) because you forgot to top up. AXS Drive links your credit card to your license plate and IU number, and from then on, let the magic of seamless integration — and account-based payment — deliver a painless parking experience.
Because of how the algorithm is set up, AXS Drive slots in seamlessly with the existing infrastructure. The exit gantry of the supporting car park uses an algorithm that prioritises things like season parking and coupons before it logs a transaction to your account. Failing which, it connects with your In-vehicle Unit (IU) as per usual.
At launch, you can use AXS Drive at 12 commercial car parks (malls, offices, etc.), including hotspots like Downtown East (hello, weekend getaway) and Far East Plaza (shopping, anyone?). It might seem like a damp squib, but AXS is projecting to increase its coverage to 100 car parks by the end of 2024. That’s roughly 12% of the commercial car park market, which is not too shabby given the pace of the rollout.
So, what’s in it for me? (And the car park operators)
For drivers, it’s pretty obvious. No more card errors, insufficient funds, and awkward reverses of shame when you realise you can’t get out. But what about the folks running these car parks?
For one, less congestion at exit gantries means happier customers (that’s us!) and fewer headaches for them. The system also makes it extremely difficult to cheat the system by tailgating and minimising lost income. AXS Drive also works with both License Plate Recognition (LPR) and Electronic Parking Systems (EPS), so it’s easier for car park solutions providers and operators to implement the system. AXS Drive can also be integrated with existing parking privilege programs and supports digital coupons for parking tickets and passes, reducing paper waste and simplifying the process. This way, facilities management staff can focus on more important things, like… well, whatever they do when they’re not up to their necks dealing with angry drivers.
A host of positives
Setting up AXS Drive is quick and easy and costs nothing — download the free app, punch in your card details, link your credit or debit card (only Mastercard for now), and voila! Have multiple cars? No problem. You can link them all to one card, making it perfect for families. It’s also perfect for claim submissions, as every transaction can be itemised and easily shared; no more keeping track of receipts.
While the app is primarily built around the parking feature, it looks like the idea is to make it a ‘super app’ that manages all drivers’ needs. It’s still in its infancy, but AXS has included a few useful features at launch. Aside from itemised expense tracking to simplify reimbursements, users can also pay their traffic fines and road tax renewals and renew season parking through the app.
Other driving experience features include real-time updates on traffic conditions (nothing new, but good to have) and the ability to check available parking spaces, reducing the chances of driving to a parking lot that’s already full. It’s also a feature that also benefits car park operators. AXS isn’t stopping here. They’re talking about partnering with malls to integrate rewards points directly through the app for added convenience and to reduce paper clutter.
The bottom line
The truth is that this isn’t groundbreaking technology — the real magic behind the scenes is getting the major cogs in place and getting the system integrators and car park operators to buy in. Throw in the fact that it is platform agnostic and open source, and AXS Drive might have the legs to garner enough partners to err, drive this towards critical mass.
The app is now available to download on iOS and Android, and there’s a referral program: for every referred driver who uses the app to pay for parking, you get a $1 voucher towards your next parking payment. Given that you don’t need to purchase a card or go through elaborate signups, AXS Drive looks like a handy app to have on your phone. Remember: the future waits for no one, especially not at a parking gantry.
