Challenge
The city of Wels faces a variety of challenges regarding parking enforcement that call for innovative solutions. Currently, inspections are mainly carried out on foot by security personnel—a process that is both labor-intensive and time-consuming. Checks are performed manually to determine whether a valid parking ticket, parking disc, resident permit, or electronic payment is present.
The current solution is neither standardized nor fully digital. Different parking zones (paid zones vs. short-term parking zones) have their own rules and enforcement mechanisms, which further complicates transparency. Digital interfaces with existing fine and payment systems are only available to a limited extent. Although electronic fines exist, there is no simple option for filing complaints.
Manual inspections frequently lead to data capture errors, and there is currently no transparent interface for tracking payments at all.
The existing process is not always perceived as user-friendly. Occasional complaints about procedures or responsibilities highlight the desire for clearer, more modern solutions.
In short: Wels is interested in smart, integrated solutions for parking enforcement—solutions that are user-friendly, efficient, and future-proof.
Question
Desired result
The city of Wels is looking for a modern, future-proof parking enforcement system that combines quality, efficiency, and user-friendliness. The goal is a solution that delivers higher control quality at lower ongoing costs while meeting the requirements of a smart city.
A digital, automated method of recording parking activities, ideally with minimal errors and no manual entries, is sought. Using technologies such as automatic license plate recognition, parking tickets, payments, and vehicle data should be reliably captured without direct human intervention. The solution should not only reduce the workload for enforcement personnel but also minimize complaints from citizens.
Access to parking should remain easy and flexible for all citizens. Although app-based solutions are welcome, they should not be the sole method of usage. QR codes, anonymous payment processes, or machines with license plate-based registration should also be considered. The latter may require technical upgrades of the existing parking meters.
Ideally, the collection of all relevant parking data (including license plate numbers, payment status, and parking duration) is handled by a digital system that communicates seamlessly with existing administrative and transaction systems such as administrative fine procedures (VStV), the police, or municipal authority responsible for mandate processing. This would not only improve efficiency but also enhance the transparency and legal security of all processes.
The solution should therefore be scalable and deployable in specific areas without requiring a comprehensive infrastructural overhaul (e.g. ground sensors). Existing infrastructure should be integrated and reused wherever possible.
The technologies must be EU-compliant, particularly regarding data protection and cloud hosting. Hosting within the EU is mandatory. Solutions with a German user interface are desired and English elements as an optional feature.
The sponsor is looking for a fully functional concept with references and experience from comparable cities or regions, which can serve as the basis for an innovative, digital, and citizen-focused parking system for Wels.
Not within scope:
• Complete replacement of all parking machines
• Solutions that require app usage only
• Prototypes or beta products
Call for submissions
Take the opportunity to present your innovative solutions. The city of Wels is looking for companies or cooperation partners that offer proven, digital solutions for efficient and citizen-friendly parking management—that intergrates into existing systems and can be implemented within an urban environment.
The required system integration includes:
• Connection to administrative and settlement systems such as administrative fine proceedings (VStV)
• Integration of the parking system with systems for paying parking fees via app (currently EasyPark, Parkster; expansion to other providers must be possible)
• Optional possibility for direct integration with existing parking ticket machines
Companies submit via the online form until 29.08.2025 (Submission deadline):
Description
Focus on how your technical solution will contribute to the desired result. Describe the overall approach of your solution as well as any necessary modifications, and explain how, in addition to technical implementation, ongoing support or training requirements will be addressed.
The description should focus on the evaluation criteria and the requirements described.
Convince us with comprehensible use cases and references. Share your ideas for the project timeline and how you would implement the project by 01.01.2026. What measures would you take if a transitional solution is needed (schedule, requests, and notes for the project managers).
Summary of Added Value
Highlight your unique selling proposition and key advantages! What makes your solution particularly innovative? What sets you apart?
Confidential Information (for the jury only):
Use the city map provided—with marked parking areas (942 above-ground parking spaces in the fee zone and the approximately 1,150 spaces in the short-term parking zone) —as a general reference and estimate the costs based on this. The estimated costs will help the city of Wels to plan the procurement project within the right framework early on. This information can be submitted confidentially via the platform.
You may use this text field to share additional information exclusively with the project leaders. Alternatively, you may send a PDF via email to the challenge moderators.
Please describe this information, ideally with reference to your own projects.
Additionally, you will need a cover image. This visual will serve as your portfolio image for the overview of submissions to this challenge.
Optionally, you may also attach files or graphics that complement, but not duplicate or replace, the texts in the form fields!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Submissions as a consortium are possible. Please be brief (guideline: maximum 10-12 presentation slides or 4-5 DIN A4 pages). This challenge is part of a market exploration. It is therefore not necessary to prepare specially developed drafts or feasibility studies for this occasion.
Benefits of the challenge and further project development
The City of Wels wishes to gain an overview of potential innovative solutions. The jury, composed of internal experts, will then invite those companies whose solutions particularly stand out according to the evaluation criteria to an innovation dialogue. This is where the solutions can be discussed in more detail and approaches to implementation can be discussed for the first time.
Please reserve 11.09.2025, for the innovation dialogue!
For companies, this means: By participating in the challenge, you get noticed by the public contracting authority. Your submission will remain visible as your business card for further interested parties even after the challenge concludes. You position yourself for future public procurement projects. If you are among the winners and are invited to the final innovation dialogue, you have the opportunity to present your solution in a market discussion and interact directly with those responsible for the project.
This helps create awareness and understanding of relevant innovations on the part of the public contracting authority. This is important so that, following the market exploration, innovative approaches can be considered in any subsequent procurement project under the Federal Public Procurement Act
Depending on the results, the further project plan foresees the following:
The City of Wels intends to issue a new tender for the services related to parking enforcement according to the Federal Public Procurement Act (BVergG 2018) in autumn 2025. As part of this market exploration, the city aims to discover new solutions in order to take innovative concepts into account in the upcoming tender.
The contract is awarded after the tender deadline will be in accordance with BVergG 2018. Companies that did not participate in this market exploration challenge are also eligible to take part in the upcoming tender.
Files & Info
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Then submit!
Questions about the challenge
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