Diving Deep at BPA Live Bristol: Data, CX, and the Future of Parking
The most valuable aspect of BPA Live events is the opportunity to connect with industry peers, writes Hannah Fuller – Director of Commercial Strategy & Partnerships at Unity5…
I had the opportunity to be one of the hosts of BPA Live Bristol, one of the British Parking Association showcase events packed with insights, connections, and cutting-edge discussions about the future of parking. It was also the first event of the year for me, so a chance to step away from the daily grind and being part of a room full of industry peers, and I left feeling inspired and ready to embrace the challenges ahead.
The day’s focus for me was clear: technology is revolutionising the parking industry, and data is the driving force. Here are some of the key takeaways that really resonated with me:
- Data is Key
The recurring theme throughout the event was the absolute necessity to use data to generate insights. From ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) to user behavior patterns, understanding the data is crucial for making informed parking policy decisions.
- We delved into how data can be used to identify and address persistent evaders, optimise permit allocation, and even predict future demand.
- Knowing your customer is indeed key and data can help to make parking more accessible.
Unity5’s Hannah Fuller (far right) hosts a session at BPA Live Bristol 2025
- AI is more than just a buzz word
- The technology pod discussed how AI makes tasks quicker from personal use and in systems across parking. The group discussed camera technology, summarizing data & chatbots and how we demonstrate the value of this new technology to the sector.
- Using AI responsibly and ensuring users understand how and where AI is being used was discussed.
- Customer Experience (CX) Reigns Supreme
- In today’s digital age, ease and convenience are paramount. Customers expect seamless experiences, and parking is no exception.
- The discussions around payments and integrations highlighted the industry’s commitment to enhancing the user journey. It is clear that the customer experience and the environment should be a key consideration in decision making.
Unity5’s Hannah Fuller hosts a session at BPA Live Bristol 2025
- Leveraging Technology for Demand Management
- Technology is not just about automation; it’s also about intelligent demand management.
- We explored how leveraging technology can help us anticipate and respond to fluctuations in parking demand, optimizing space utilization and reducing congestion to better serve the customer.
- Strategic Insights: Policy Decisions & EV implications
- A fascinating session on Policy as part of our first panel including Councillor Ed Plowden emphasized the importance of understanding stakeholder perspectives when making strategic decisions as well as giving us valuable insight into pavement parking. Input from Professor Graham Parkhurst added a more strategic viewpoint into EV ownership and charging patterns, highlighting that there will be an inflection point where charging infrastructure meets EV demand.
- We tackled the complexities of parking policy decisions, discussing who should be involved, how often reviews should occur, and the impact of various policy choices on both operational parking teams, motorists and policy makers for issues including clean air zones and car park repurposing.
- These discussions really shed light on the multifaceted nature of our industry and the need for flexibility.
The use of AI was a major theme at BPA Live Bristol 2025
Networking and Collaboration:
Beyond the insightful presentations, the most valuable aspect of BPA Live was the opportunity to connect with industry peers. Sharing experiences, discussing challenges, and breaking ground on potential solutions with fellow professionals is always my favourite part of the day.
It’s clear that the parking industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by legislative change, technology and a customer-centric approach. I left BPA Live feeling energized and excited about the future, armed with new knowledge and a renewed sense of purpose.
If you’re passionate about the future of parking, further showcase events for 2025 Parkex and BPA Live Peterborough, both bring the opportunity to be part of the discussions on issues that impact our industry. I look forward to seeing you there!
Hannah Fuller
Director of Commercial Strategy & Partnerships, Unity5
I’m passionate about collaboration and technology which I combine in my role as Head of Commercial Relationships at Unity5. I also champion diversity and inclusion as co-founder on Women in Parking in the UK and am involved in mentoring female talent in our sector.
