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News

Send SMS reminders to customers to extend their session

by
Lydia McKenna
November 5, 2025
Ever rushed back to your car, worried your parking might be about to expire? For many customers, that creates unnecessary stress - and for operators, it often leads to complaints, enforcement disputes, or lost revenue when visitors leave earlier than planned.

Inugo’s new SMS Reminder feature removes that pressure by giving customers a simple, timely way to extend their session - without returning to their vehicle.

A Smarter Way to Stay in Control

With SMS Reminders enabled, customers who start a session via Scan to Pay or the Web App can choose to receive a text message shortly before their parking expires.

Approximately 15 minutes before the session ends, they receive a reminder containing a secure link to extend their stay online.

No queues. No rushing. No need to re-enter the car park.

Just a quick tap to add more time.

How It Works

The process is designed to be effortless for both customers and operators:

  1. Customer starts a parking session digitally
  2. Customer opts in to receive reminders
  3. SMS notification is sent before expiry
  4. Customer taps the link to extend and pay online
  5. Session continues without interruption

This creates a smoother experience while keeping vehicles compliant on site.

Better Experience, Better Outcomes

Traditional parking systems often leave customers guessing about how much time they have left. When sessions expire unexpectedly, the result can be frustration, penalties, and negative perceptions of the facility.

SMS Reminders shift the experience from reactive to proactive.

Customers gain peace of mind knowing they won’t accidentally overstay, while operators benefit from fewer disputes and a more positive user experience.

A Simple Way to Increase Revenue per Session

Beyond improving customer satisfaction, session extensions naturally increase average revenue per parker - without requiring additional infrastructure or operational effort.

Rather than customers leaving early to avoid penalties, they can simply top up their time and continue their visit.

Operators already using SMS Reminders are seeing:

  • Increased session extensions
  • Higher revenue per space
  • Reduced complaints and disputes
  • Improved overall parking experience

All from a lightweight feature that runs in the background.

Cuts Through Notifications

App notifications can be easily missed, especially if customers don’t have the app installed or have notifications disabled.

SMS, however, remains one of the most reliable ways to reach users instantly. The reminder arrives directly on the customer’s phone, prompting immediate action when it matters most.

Quick to Activate, Easy to Manage

SMS Reminders can be enabled across sites with minimal setup and configured to align with existing pricing and operational rules.

Once activated, the feature operates automatically — delivering timely reminders without staff involvement.

While each message carries a small delivery cost, many operators find the additional revenue generated through extensions more than offsets the expense.

Helping Parking Feel Less Stressful

Parking is often the first and last touchpoint of a customer’s visit. Small improvements at this stage can significantly influence overall satisfaction.

By giving customers a convenient way to manage their time, SMS Reminders help transform parking from a source of anxiety into a seamless part of the journey.

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