30 days to launch
What does it actually take to go live with Metropolis? Go behind the scenes with the people who make it happen.
Launching a new Metropolis Location is a little like building a plane while it’s already on the runway. The clock is running, stakeholders are watching and the margin for error is slim.
Time and time again, however, our Operations and Launch teams have proven that 30 days is enough. Not barely enough — genuinely enough — to go from contract to live parking location with zero capital expenditure required from our Partners.
This is how we do it.
Days 30-21: Laying the foundation
Every successful launch starts long before anyone sets foot on site. At the 30-day mark, our team kicks off the Launch Journey: A structured, Partner-facing roadmap that ensures everyone knows what’s coming, what’s needed and who’s responsible for what.
The first order of business: a location survey. Before a single piece of hardware is ordered or a single cable is run, our Operations team conducts a thorough assessment of the physical space. It’s no small feat.
"A location survey can really make or break a launch before it even starts," said Kody Kirkland, a Computer Vision Field Operations Engineer. "Ensuring we have an accurate lay of the land and an understanding of how the flow of traffic truly moves through a space is key to future operations and a remarkable Member experience. We think of it as the backbone of a successful install: If it's off, the rest of the body suffers."
Around the same time, Partners receive their Launch Journey Overview — a clear-eyed look at everything that’s ahead. For more complex locations, our team schedules an Operational Theory Discussion to walk through site-specific considerations and answer questions before they become problems.
While the Operations team maps the physical space, the communications engine is warming up. Tenant and resident contact information gets collected so that Parker Onboarding — our process for introducing end users (Members) to the Metropolis platform — can begin on time. Early outreach sets expectations, builds comfort and ensures that when launch day comes, the people using the platform are ready.
"Our team knows that a successful launch is built on teamwork, transparency and the reliability of accurate information. By keeping communication lines open and steady from the start, we eliminate the guesswork, unnecessary back-and-forth and information silos that typically cause delays," said Alana Wolf, a Senior Launch Manager.
"It's essential everyone knows their specific roles and deadlines, updates our tracking in real time and flags concerns immediately so we can problem-solve at speed — which is what Metropolis does best. Getting ahead while driving forward is the only way to hit that 30-day mark."
Days 20-11: Building what you’ll see (and what you won’t)
This is where the location starts to take shape on screens and on site.
Our tech teams work in parallel with our design and Operations leads to finalize the site design and secure Partner approval. It’s a collaborative process, and one that matters: The location’s layout directly impacts how smoothly Members flow through the space.
"A seamless deployment starts with a high-quality site design — one that accounts for traffic flow, client requirements and the unique constraints of each location," said Eliza Samala, Deployment Manager, West. "We work closely with our vendors and Operations teams throughout the process to make sure every piece of the puzzle fits before we go live. Our primary objective is to implement Computer Vision technology that meets the highest accuracy thresholds that our clients expect and the parking experience demands."
Once the design is locked, we schedule the actual technology installation. Simultaneously, we design and order the physical signage that helps guide Members through a new experience. Good signage points people in the right direction, of course, but it also signals a location is ready, professional and trustworthy.
"Metropolis signs are one of the largest visible marketing tools of our brand — they're how we introduce our technology to the world," said Howard Schwartz, Manager, Creative Services. "Maintaining brand consistency across every location keeps our identity as memorable and recognizable as the experience itself. Client input is essential in that process: Every sign has to meet their expectations and deliver real impact."
For Partners wondering what their tenants and residents are hearing during this window, this is when Parker Onboarding communications are in full swing. We deliver email outreach, schedule in-person visits and set up on-site tabling events to drive account setups and answer questions before launch day.
"When launch day is approaching, our biggest priority is making sure tenants don't feel the pressure of the change," said Ricky Jean-Gilles, a Senior Operations Manager. "We stay close to them throughout with one-on-one sessions, on-site events, virtual walk-throughs for remote folks — whatever it takes to get them comfortable and registered before we go live. At the same time, we're coordinating signage installation and staffing the lanes in the days that follow, because a smooth launch doesn't end when the doors open."
Days 10-1: The final push
This stretch is where everything converges and our preparation — and brilliantly talented teams — pay off.
We wrap up and verify our technology installation, test every system and confirm every integration. By two or three days before go-live, signage is installed and tested as well. We don’t go live with something we haven’t checked.
Two days out, escalation paths are shared with our Partner and the property management teams. If something comes up on launch day — and sometimes things do — everyone knows exactly who to call.
Then come the people.
Metropolis staff are on site before and during launch, training Partner teams, fielding questions from Members and providing cross-functional support throughout the day. We do partnerships, not handoffs.
"Launch day is the culmination of everything — Tech Ops, Growth, Legal, HR and the local Operations team all converging at once," said Jon Tavares, a Regional Manager. "In January 2026, we launched two airports on the Big Island of Hawaii, KOA and ITO, onboarding more than 2,000 monthly parkers and hitting $10M in GPV within our first 30 days. That kind of result doesn't happen without the people on the ground. The unsung heroes of any launch are our frontline staff. Watching them step into their roles as Mobility Specialists is one of the best parts of this job," he continued.
"I've been part of more than 25 launches, big and small, and it never stops being remarkable to see our technology go live."
What does true launch support actually look like? It’s our operational leads walking the floor. It’s real-time troubleshooting. It’s a team that doesn’t leave until things are running the way they should.
Post-launch
Success is an ongoing process, and going live is a milestone, not the finish line.
In the days following launch, our team continues monitoring performance and optimizing operations. Partners receive access to Tableau reporting — and training on how to use it — so they can see exactly how their location is performing and where there’s room to grow.
This is the part of the Metropolis model that often surprises new Partners: The work doesn’t stop at launch. Location monitoring, staffing optimization and dedicated support continue long after ribbons are cut. Our platform is designed to improve over time, and so is our partnership.
What 30 days really means
Zero CapEx, four clear phases, one team with the expertise and operational depth to make it all happen on time. That’s the Metropolis difference.
The 30-day launch isn’t a promise we make lightly. We’ve built, refined and proven the process across 4,200+ locations. From the first survey to the last line of Tableau reporting, every step is designed to get Partners live faster, with less friction and more confidence.
That’s how we launch, how we work and how we deliver the Recognition Economy at scale with seamless execution.