Urban parking experience in Cologne

Contipark is Europe’s largest parking operator, managing approximately 570 parking facilities across more than 200 cities in Germany. Together with its parent company, Interparking, the group operates in 16 European countries with a total portfolio of over 1,000 parking sites. 

The featured site is a public parking garage located in the city center of Cologne, at Magnusstraße 20. The facility offers 263 parking spaces across three levels, including 13 spaces reserved for women, eight for parents with children, and two for disabled visitors. On the ground floor, 24 EV charging stations are available. The parking structure is fully wheelchair accessible and equipped with elevators for convenient access. 

The Challenge

With two entrances and two exits, the garage serves a broad mix of users-residents, nearby businesses, tourists, short-term visitors, and long-term parkers. This blend of users reflects the dynamic environment of Cologne’s city center, where flexibility, accessibility, and efficiency are key. 

As part of Interparking’s European expansion, Contipark set out to establish a standardized, seamless parking experience across all 16 countries in which the group operates. The objective was to ensure that a customer in Spain enjoys the same effortless process as a customer in Germany or Poland - a unified, digital, and modern approach to parking. 

The Solution

At the Cologne site "Parkhaus am Friesenplatz", this goal was achieved through the introduction of the P-Card, a key element in Contipark’s transition to a fully cashless and ticketless system. By registering their license plate in the customer portal, users can now enter and exit the parking facility completely contactless, without needing to pull a ticket or use cash. The P-Card serves as a convenient account link, ensuring that parking fees are billed automatically and transparently at the end of each month.

Results

This modernization has led to a faster vehicle flow, reduced congestion at entry and exit points, and an overall smoother user experience. At the same time, it has streamlined operations and minimized wear on traditional hardware components, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable parking process. 

The modernization of the Cologne parking facility has delivered clear and measurable improvements. Monthly billing and a fully digital payment process have streamlined administration for both customers and the operator. P-Card users now benefit from faster entry and exit, lower parking fees, and a smoother overall experience. 

Operational efficiency has improved through reduced hardware wear and a noticeable decline in call volumes to the control center, as fewer issues occur at the entry and exit terminals. The new system has also strengthened customer satisfaction and loyalty, thanks to the convenience and transparency of the digital parking experience. 

By implementing this solution, Contipark has successfully taken an important step toward a consistent, future-oriented, and user-centered parking experience across Europe—setting a new standard for digital mobility infrastructure.