How awesome would it be if you never had to scrounge in your handbag for a parking ticket, or get out change at a parking station (while furiously scratching the R5 and R2 coins on the station so that they'll go in), or "lose" your ticket in your car, just as you're about to exit?
Well, there is a solution for that – Kaching. It's a cashless ticketless parking app and system used at various shopping centres, and I'm pretty sure it's going to make my shopping life easier. I love shopping, but I hate the "admin" of keeping a ticket safe in my bag (usually I have to dump out the contents before I find it, and sometimes I leave it in the car), paying, and then holding onto the ticket until I've exited. They sound like simple things, but often I'm multitasking, and the ticket literally slips out my hand – or car.
KaChing uses licence plate recognition (LPR) technology to open the boom when you arrive at and leave a parking lot (yay – no more leaning out the car) so that you feel like a VIP entering and exiting a centre. The app then automatically deducts the parking fee from your credit card, once you've done a quick setup via the free app. There are no extra costs to the service – you literally pay the same amount as you do for the parking, without the paperwork – literally.
The service is already available at Melrose Arch, Campus Square and Morningside shopping centres in Joburg, and will be available at Pavillion (Durban) and Thrupps (Johannesburg) shopping centres shortly. There are also plans to expand to South Africa’s other favourite shopping spots (here's hoping for Sandton City, Benmore and Hyde Park!!!!)
Discovery Insure members and Discovery Card holders who sign up for KaChing will receive parking benefits and rewards, with other similar deals in the pipeline. You can also enjoy one free parking for each new user who signs up using your unique KaChing code.
For more information, visit http://www.kachingparking.com/, or follow KaChing on Facebook and Twitter. You can download the free app from iTunes or Google Play stores.
