Product
Availability is a promise, not a number
A free space on the map means nothing if it is taken on arrival. How we made live status come from the hardware itself.
A free space that is taken is worse than no space
Early on our map showed availability from the booking table. It was right most of the time — and the exceptions cost us the trust of exactly the drivers we most wanted to keep.
Status now comes from the hardware
The barrier knows whether it is up or down, and whether a session is running against it. The map reflects that, so “available” means the space is physically held for you rather than merely unbooked.
Frees up soon
Some spaces are taken now but end shortly. Rather than hide them, we show them amber and let drivers pre-book the moment that opens. It turned out to be one of the most used states on the map.