Share

Parking Association of Georgia Show: The Broken RFP Process

Networking, learning, and innovating – the key components to growth. As a mobile payment technology company, we strive to learn, network, and continue to grow both professionally and personally through collaboration with like-minded professionals.

Broken-RFP-Process

On April 27-29, Kelsey Owens, Sales Associate at Passport, got the opportunity to attend and present at the Parking Association of Georgia Conference and Trade Show at Jekyll Island, GA. Attendees at the conference represented a variety of Georgia parking professionals including municipalities, universities, hospitals, and parking operators – all eager to learn about the innovations that are happening industry-wide.

Broken-RFP-Process

Presentations were given by parking industry professionals featuring a variety of topics, such as permitting, citation management and parking enforcement, on-demand parking (on-street and off-street), mobile pay for parking, and more.

Broken-RFP-Process

Owens’ presentation focused on the Request for Proposal (RFP) process. The neverending check boxes, extensive steps, and wait time can make the entire process feel outdated, inefficient, and well, unnecessary. It can be frustrating. We get it.

Technology is advancing at such a rapid pace, the RFP process can’t keep up. It’s losing traction and trailing behind. With the shift in technology, one minute you want an iPod Shuffle and the next day you have the option of an iPod Shuffle, iPod Touch, iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 4, and more. This cycle has a name: Moore’s Law

According to Moore’s Law, every 2 years computing power doubles. Meaning if you were procuring for an iPod Shuffle, by the time the RFP process finished there would already be a significant amount of products out there that do what an iPod Shuffle does, but better.  

As we innovate, especially in the transportation industry, we have the ability to procure for products and services much more efficiently – however, that’s not always the case with the government’s RFP process. The process is tedious and full of unnecessary steps, which can ultimately deter the municipality from picking the best company to work with. Although the RFP process is inherently good; it’s main purpose is intended to bring in competition and give government the best possible product, it can counteract the end goal with its frustrating process.

As a mobile payment technology company, we know that the RFP process can be a major pain point for many parking professionals. By continuously innovating and providing users with the best possible products and services, we believe a process that can keep up with our pace is significant.

A solution to the inefficient process is incorporating a monthly RFP contract that can keep up with our changing technology. The month-to-month contract puts us, as a company, at risk, however, pushes us to continuously deliver the best possible product and quality support to our clients. If you’re at risk of losing, then you will always innovate, enhance, and push boundaries to make sure you stay true to your contract.

As the transportation industry advances, we must take steps to keep up with the ever changing technology. If we don’t make changes now, we’ll be left behind.