Parking Sense goes global

Cambridge company Parking Sense has been selected to be part of Vodafone’s national business growth programme.

Parking Sense makes a guidance system for undercover carparks. The business is one of 10 chosen for the first six-month Vodafone Xone programme.

The chosen businesses are innovators from a diverse range of sectors.

The winners are offered $150,000 of value from the programme, including $25,000 seed funding, mentoring and the use of a purpose-built innovation technology lab in Christchurch.

Parking Sense uses lights and sensors to lead drivers to empty parking spaces. Its systems have been installed in an office building in Dallas, US and in Auckland.

The company has also won a tender to install the system in Los Angeles. Parking Sense commercialisation manager Stacey King said partnering with Vodafone would help the company with international growth.

‘‘There is a huge global opportunity in the smart parking industry, so Vodafone is the perfect partner for us to take the business to the next level with their expertise across the communication networks.’’

Parking Sense’s system requires wi-fi and bluetooth, Vodafone is helping the company connect with global contacts and gain access to networks.