Automated Parking System
Enterprise parking automation platform with SMS-based payments, subscription management, push notifications, and admin dashboard serving UAE markets.
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Automated Parking Payment System
Overview
A comprehensive parking payment automation system I took over with a functional backend handling basic subscriptions and parking zone detection. I extended the backend with full subscription management, rebuilt the entire mobile frontend from scratch, implemented push notifications for iPhone (which weren't working), added Android autopay, and developed both the marketing website and IP-restricted admin panel.
The Problem
The client had a parking payment app with a working backend that handled basic subscription signup and parking zone detection. However, the app lacked subscription management (no way to upgrade, downgrade, or schedule plan changes), iPhone push notifications weren't working, there was no autopay for Android users, and the frontend needed a complete overhaul. They also needed a marketing website and admin panel to manage operations.
The Solution
I extended the existing backend to handle complex subscription scenarios including upgrades, downgrades, and scheduled plan changes. Rebuilt the entire Flutter mobile frontend from scratch with a polished UI/UX. Fixed the iPhone push notification system that wasn't delivering alerts. Implemented Android autopay that automatically sends SMS payments when users enter parking zones. Developed a marketing website for the service and a secure IP-restricted admin panel for operations management.
How It Works
User downloads the app and creates an account with phone/email verification
User adds their vehicle(s) and selects a subscription plan or uses pay-per-park
When driving into a parking zone, the app detects entry via geolocation
User receives a push notification prompting them to open the app and pay
App displays pre-filled SMS with plate info, emirate, and parking zone
User sends SMS to Dubai parking number (7275) for payment
Confirmation SMS arrives from 7275 with plate, invoice, zone, validity, and fee
Active parking session shows countdown timer with option to extend
Android users with autopay enabled have SMS sent automatically
Admin panel tracks all transactions, user activity, and system analytics
Key Features
- Complete subscription management: upgrades, downgrades, and scheduled plan changes
- Android autopay for automatic SMS payment when entering parking zones
- Push notification system for iPhone (fixed from non-working state)
- SMS-based payment flow integrated with Dubai parking number (7275)
- 3-tier subscription model: Single (AED 14.99), Premium (AED 24.99), Family (AED 29.99)
- Family plan support with linked users and shared vehicles
- Admin dashboard with IP-restricted access (owner home + office IPs only)
- Real-time analytics with revenue tracking and user growth metrics
- Complete audit logging for all admin and system actions
- Marketing website for user acquisition and plan information
- Background job processing with BullMQ for scalability
Technology Stack
Architecture & Scalability
Built with production-grade infrastructure to handle enterprise workloads:
PM2 Cluster Mode
Node.js runs on max CPU cores with 512MB memory limit per process for auto-restart
Redis Caching
User locations cached with 2-minute TTL for sub-millisecond zone lookups
BullMQ Job Queues
10 concurrent notification jobs with retry logic
MongoDB Geospatial
2dsphere indexes on parking zone polygons for efficient location queries
IP-Restricted Admin
Whitelist middleware allows only owner's home IP and office CIDR range
Rate Limiting
Tiered rate limits protect against abuse (100+ req/sec per user)
SSE Streaming
Real-time notification count updates without polling
Nginx Unified Config
Single config manages 3 domains (app, API, admin) with SSL
Customization & Extensibility
The platform supports white-labeling for different parking operators. Zone configurations, pricing, and notification templates are fully customizable per deployment. The subscription tier structure can be modified, and the admin panel supports role-based access control for different operator staff levels.
Results
Extended and enhanced the platform from a basic subscription system to a full-featured parking automation solution. The subscription management system now handles complex scenarios like scheduled downgrades and family plan transitions. iPhone notifications now reliably deliver parking alerts. Android autopay streamlines the payment process for users who enable it. The IP-restricted admin panel provides complete operational visibility while maintaining security.