Civica Announces Key Business, Management and Technology Developments at Parkex

New contracts, appointments and offerings demonstrate Civica's unrivalled position as partner of choice for the parking sector

1st October 2003. London... Civica, the UK's most experienced provider of software and services to the parking sector, will be highlighting significant business and management developments at Parkex 2003 (Stand F1) as well as showcasing its latest enforcement solutions. In a highly dynamic market, the new developments demonstrate Civica's combination of unrivalled stability and ongoing innovation and the company's standing as the principal supplier of managed services to the sector.

Key announcements include:

• Industry figure and BPA Council member Jim Gales appointed as Services Director
• Launch of complete "integrated enterprise" model for local government and affirmation of commitment to .Net platform in strategic alliance with Microsoft
• Recent introduction of new technologies such as handheld systems with GPRS communication and emissions monitoring solution
• London Borough of Redbridge first authority to deploy ANPR solution for emergency planning

With over 20 years experience in parking, Civica supplies parking solutions to many of the UK's largest parking offices including half of the London Boroughs, and the sector remains core to Civica's business. Ten years after the first decriminalised parking enforcement regime, the company has built a position as a broad services provider and is focused on working as a partner alongside customers to achieve improved service delivery in the parking and highways enforcement sector.

Parking departments are increasingly demanding a flexible service-led approach to technology. Through its managed services portfolio, Civica takes on the responsibility for all aspects of the necessary applications and infrastructure, including desktop support, hosting, remote administration and regular technology refresh. As such, parking departments only have to work with one technical supplier thereby ensuring consistency and efficiency across the entire operation. This approach also frees up local resources, enabling the parking department to focus on its primary activity, namely serving the community.

Civica is committed to driving forward technology development in the parking sector and recent developments include:

• The introduction of hand held units equipped with General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) wireless technology to allow tickets to be issued in real-time , ensuring faster ticket processing and in turn revenue generation
• Electronic transfer of appeals information to the relevant appeals and adjudication bodies.
• An emissions monitoring solution which enables enforcement officers to serve notice on vehicles which are contravening emissions regulations. This system will help improve the environment for local communities.

Simon Parkes, managing director, Civica Enforcement says: "Today's public sector is about better, more responsive public services. Parking departments are no longer simply looking for a quick fix technical solution. Instead they want to work with a trusted partner who has sufficient knowledge of the industry and rock solid stability to offer support and added value in the long term. Through our breadth of experience and overall service focus, Civica is responding to the need for improved service delivery. Moreover, as parking enforcement is now a model for other forms of enforcement, such as emissions monitoring, bus lanes and road user charging, Civica is positioned as the partner of choice in this field both now and into the future."