CHICAGO, 2016-Jul-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today GGP announced a new tool to give shoppers visibility into parking availability at its properties using historical and real-time data to predict parking accessibility. By using heat maps enabled by GPS data to show open parking spaces closest to shoppers’ favorite stores or restaurants, the industry-first parking feature provides shoppers with added convenience and solves one of their most pressing problems.
“Mall traffic continues to rise, and during peak shopping seasons, such as holiday and back to school, parking continues to be one of the largest pain points,” said Scott Morey, executive vice president of technology and marketing at GGP. “We’re always looking for opportunities to incorporate technology into our retail real estate to elevate the shopping experience. Providing more options for parking and promoting valet services are two ways we’re freeing up parking spaces for our shoppers. Combined with our new technology, our solutions are leading the way in providing mall shoppers with convenient and reliable parking.”
As shopping center traffic continues to increase and technology plays a larger role in the consumer experience, GGP is focused on creating new and innovative digital experiences that provide convenience, support and personalized engagement to its shoppers. According to a recent survey by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), approximately threequarters (75 percent) of American adults went to a mall at least once in the past three months and approximately two-thirds (66 percent) of Americans use mobile devices while shopping in store. GGP’s first-to-market parking feature is the first in a series of updates planned to create digitally-enabled experiences at its properties.
“Technology, and specifically mobile, continues to play an important role in every shopper’s journey and GGP remains committed to leveraging it to provide shoppers with a more convenient, engaging and relevant experience,” said GGP chief executive officer, Sandeep Mathrani. “Parking is the very first and very last engagement we have with our shoppers. We see great potential in our ability to develop innovative digital tools that create quality shopping experiences.”
To instantly view parking availability, shoppers simply open the GGP app on their iOS or Android device, select a mall location and choose the parking option to view availability and plan their shopping trip. GGP is currently testing its parking technology through a pilot program at four malls across the country, including Oakbrook Center (Oak Brook, Illinois), Alderwood Mall (Seattle, Washington), Stonestown Galleria (San Francisco, California), and Ridgedale Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota).
Following analysis of the pilot program’s performance, a broader rollout to GGP malls will occur in the third quarter of 2016. By sharing its mapping information and parking data with its technology partners and third-party mapping companies, such as Google and Apple, GGP aims to bring its parking solution to consumers across different devices and services.
INRIX, a leading provider of on- and off-street parking information to automakers, transportation agencies, technology companies and drivers around the world. The INRIX Parking database includes more than 29 million off-street spaces in 65 countries – making it the most comprehensive source for parking intelligence.
“Parking is a major pain point in our daily lives, whether going to work, out to dinner or shopping,” said David Weld, general manager of enterprise at INRIX. “GGP’s new mobile app powered by INRIX is an innovative approach to provide timely, relevant parking information to enhance the mall shopping experience.”
GGP’s mobile app can be downloaded via the following:
About GGP
General Growth Properties, Inc. is an S&P 500 company focused exclusively on owning, managing, leasing and redeveloping high-quality retail properties throughout the United States. GGP is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol GGP.
About INRIX
INRIX is the global leader in connected car services and movement analytics, a new approach that leverages big data and the cloud to help manage urban mobility. By aggregating a variety of sources and applying intelligence, INRIX delivers comprehensive data and solutions to help move people, cities and businesses forward. Our partners are automakers, governments, mobile operators, developers, advertisers, as well as enterprises large and small. We are literally everywhere with over 450 customers across 60 countries. INRIX has offices in Kirkland, Seattle, Santa Monica, London, Manchester and Munich.
Contact:
Lindsay Kahn,
GGP Public Relations Manager
312-960-2616
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- GGP launches new parking app powered by INRIX
Source: GGP