License plate recognition boosts efficiency at Sonny’s The CarWash Factory

Image courtesy of Genetec

Sonny’s The CarWash Factory (Sonny's) is a large manufacturer of conveyorized car wash equipment, with a network of more than 6,000 operators worldwide that engage with the equipment, services and resources needed to run a successful car wash business.

Sonny's sought to create a frictionless retail experience for consumers, new marketing opportunities and more efficient operations. To accomplish these goals, Sonny’s CarWash Controls team built out its point of sale (POS) and Cloud-Based Back Office Management software to utilize automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) and worked with Genetec to integrate it into the AutoVu Sharp V cameras to feed data back to the Sonny’s CarWash Controls system.

At car washes equipped with the license plate recognition (LPR) solution, customers can sign up for membership wash plans using their plate numbers, use express lanes that read their plates when they arrive, and get their vehicles washed according to their subscriptions. This process eliminates the need for RFID tags and readers & online payment and enables a smart queue that knows which cars are in the line next to ensure every customer gets the wash they purchased.

By collecting and correlating data from AutoVu LPR cameras, Sonny’s is able to further increase the value of their POS solution to car wash operators. LPR technology enables the businesses to capture and leverage consumer behavior data in meaningful ways to optimize customer flow and potentially increase spending. For example, they can offer discount enticements if a customer has not renewed, memberships to customers who visit frequently, or advanced services like high-level detailing based on past purchases.

Over 1,000 Sonny’s operations are now equipped with the ALPR solution. Some users have reported a rise in membership and average ticket sales, as well as a reduction of labor, after deploying it.

Read the full case study here.

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