Exhibitor Vehicle Management

Automated vehicle tracking, compliance monitoring, and car park enforcement for trade shows, conferences, and exhibitions

Complete Exhibitor Vehicle Control with Car Park Enforcement

MyCarPass's Exhibitor Management module transforms how you manage vehicle access during event setup periods for trade shows, conferences, and exhibitions. Enforce vehicle limits, monitor setup windows, prevent overstays, and now ensure exhibitors park in their designated car parks — all with zero manual intervention.

From exhibitor registration through to compliance enforcement, our system handles everything automatically—access credential generation with car park assignment, vehicle registration, ANPR-based tracking, wrong car park detection, overstay detection, multi-channel notifications, complete audit trails, and violation management.

Exhibitor Profiles QR Codes Hanger Cards Vehicle Limits ANPR Integration Time Windows Auto Alerts Car Park Assignment Wrong Car Park Detection Violation Management Compliance Audit Trails

Delete a vehicle. System stays in sync.

Deleting an exhibitor vehicle triggers a cascade that keeps the ANPR whitelist and pass states perfectly aligned — automatically.

  • Whitelist entry removed — vehicle loses ANPR access immediately
  • If below vehicle limit, reusable passes reactivated automatically
  • Single-use pass reactivated if it was used solely for this vehicle
  • Pass reactivation respects validity window — expired passes stay expired
  • Pass record itself is never deleted — preserved as audit history
Scenario Whitelist Removed? Pass Reactivated?
Deleted, reusable pass, drops below limit ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Deleted, reusable pass, still at limit ✓ Yes ✗ No
Deleted, single-use pass ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Deleted, manually registered (no pass) ✓ Yes N/A
Deleted, pass expired ✓ Yes ✗ No (expired)

Two ways to register a vehicle

Choose the approach that fits your event scale — or use both together for maximum flexibility.

Option 1 — Admin

Manual Registration

Admin enters the VRM directly against the exhibitor profile. Instantly creates a whitelist entry. No pass required.

  • Perfect for small events (under 20 exhibitors)
  • Ideal for walk-up or last-minute additions
  • Full admin control over what's whitelisted
  • No pass distribution required
  • Doesn't scale to hundreds of exhibitors
  • Admin becomes a bottleneck at peak times
Option 2 — Self-Service

QR Code / Hanger Card

Admin issues a pass tied to a specific car park. Exhibitor scans QR or enters hanger code to register their own vehicle.

  • Scales to hundreds of exhibitors effortlessly
  • Exhibitors register in advance — no day-of rush
  • Car park assignment enforced at pass level
  • Pass validity windows control registration window
  • Relies on exhibitors acting before deadline
  • Some exhibitors may need chasing

Best practice: Use Option 2 for pre-registered exhibitors and Option 1 for walk-ups and VRMs that change on the day. Both methods produce identical ANPR whitelist entries and are subject to the same vehicle limit, overstay, and car park enforcement.

Transform Your Exhibition Setup Process

Eliminate congestion, enforce car park assignments, and maintain professional communication with zero manual effort

Four notification types. Every vehicle movement covered.

Real-time alerts via email and SMS ensure exhibitors stay informed throughout the event lifecycle — from arrival to departure, with enforcement when needed.

Vehicle Entry

Arrival confirmation

The moment an ANPR camera detects a registered vehicle entering the event site, an entry notification is dispatched to all contacts who have opted in for entry alerts.

  • Triggered by: ANPR entry read at any gate camera
  • Includes: Vehicle registration (VRM), event name, entry time
  • Channels: Email and/or SMS based on contact preferences
  • Preference control: Each contact opts in/out individually
  • Frequency: Once per vehicle entry event
Email notification
Vehicle AB12 CDE Entry Confirmation

Hi Sarah,

Vehicle AB12 CDE for AutoParts Direct has entered Your Trade Show 2026 at 07:15.

Stand: B12
Setup window: 06:00 – 11:00
Overstay Alert

Setup window enforcement

A scheduled compliance check runs every 15 minutes identifying vehicles still on-site after their allocated setup window has ended. Repeat alerts are sent every 15 minutes until the vehicle exits.

  • Triggered by: Scheduled compliance command (every 15 min)
  • Includes: VRM, minutes overstayed, setup end time, current time
  • Channels: Email and/or SMS based on contact preferences
  • Preference control: Each contact opts in/out individually
  • Frequency: Repeat every 15 minutes until vehicle exits
SMS notification
+44 7700 900002
OVERSTAY ALERT

AutoParts Direct — Vehicle AP70 XYZ has overstayed at Your Trade Show 2026.

Setup ended: 11:00
Currently: 45 minutes over
This alert repeats every 15 minutes until the vehicle exits or setup is extended.
Vehicle Exit

Departure confirmation

Exit ANPR reads trigger an immediate confirmation notification to opted-in contacts. Provides peace of mind that the setup crew has left the site and the vehicle is no longer occupying a bay.

  • Triggered by: ANPR exit read at any gate camera
  • Includes: Vehicle registration (VRM), event name, exit time
  • Channels: Email and/or SMS based on contact preferences
  • Preference control: Each contact opts in/out individually
  • Frequency: Once per vehicle exit event
Email notification
Vehicle Departure Confirmed

Hi Sarah,

Vehicle AP70 XYZ for AutoParts Direct has left Your Trade Show 2026 at 09:45.

On site duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Status: Within setup window ✓
Wrong Car Park — Urgent

Immediate enforcement alert

When a vehicle enters a car park that doesn't match its pass assignment, this urgent notification is sent to all contacts regardless of their individual notification preferences. The severity requires immediate attention from everyone.

  • Triggered by: ANPR read detecting car park mismatch
  • Includes: VRM, assigned car park, entered car park, time
  • Channels: Email AND SMS to all contacts simultaneously
  • Preference control: Preferences overridden — sent to everyone
  • Frequency: Once per violation (resolves when relocated)
Why override preferences?

A vehicle in the wrong car park creates operational urgency — it may be blocking a reserved bay, causing traffic confusion, or creating safety risks. The message needs to reach someone who can act immediately, even if certain contacts have opted out of routine entry/exit alerts.

Email + SMS to all contacts
URGENT: Wrong Car Park
WRONG CAR PARK ALERT

Vehicle PD20 WRG for Premium Displays Inc has entered the WRONG CAR PARK.

Assigned to: North Car Park
Entered: South Car Park

Please relocate immediately to the correct car park.

Notification Control Summary
Respects Individual Preferences
  • Vehicle Entry
  • Vehicle Exit
  • Overstay Alert
  • Custom Messages
Overrides All Preferences
  • Wrong Car Park Alert
Sent to all contacts via all channels regardless of opt-in status due to operational urgency.

Two independent date windows

The pass validity window controls when credentials can be used to register a vehicle. The exhibitor setup window controls when the vehicle is expected on-site. They serve entirely different purposes.

  • Pass can be valid days before the event so exhibitors register in advance
  • Pass can expire before setup starts to cut off last-minute registrations
  • Setup window drives overstay detection — not the pass dates
  • Both windows can be changed independently without affecting each other
Pass Validity Window

valid_from → valid_until

Exhibitor Setup Window

setup_start_time → setup_end_time

PurposeWhen can this pass register a vehicle?
PurposeWhen is the vehicle expected on-site?
Used byIs Valid?, vehicle registration form
Used byhas Overstayed?, compliance checks
TriggersBlocks registration outside window
TriggersOverstay alerts every 15 minutes
Typical scopeDays before to morning of event
Typical scopeHours on the setup day
Example14 Mar 09:00 → 15 Mar 08:00
Example15 Mar 06:00 → 15 Mar 10:00

Complete Exhibitor Vehicle Control

Everything you need to manage hundreds of exhibitors with zero manual oversight

Exhibitor Registration

Create exhibitor profiles with company details, stand assignments, vehicle allowances (1–5 vehicles), and precise setup time windows. Configure notification contacts with granular preferences for email and SMS alerts.

Car Park–Assigned Passes

Issue QR codes or hanger cards assigned to a specific car park. When multiple car parks exist for an event, each pass is tied to the correct location — ensuring exhibitors go exactly where they should.

Vehicle Registration

Exhibitors register vehicles using QR codes or hanger card numbers. System automatically enforces vehicle limits, validates pass codes, and records which car park the pass is assigned to before allowing registration.

ANPR Integration

Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras at entry/exit points detect vehicles by VRM. Real-time status updates transition vehicles through registered, on-site, exited, or overstayed states without manual intervention.

Wrong Car Park Detection

When an ANPR camera detects a vehicle entering a car park that doesn't match its pass assignment, the system instantly flags the violation, logs it for audit purposes, and alerts all notification contacts regardless of their preferences.

Setup Window Enforcement

Define precise setup windows (e.g., 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM) for each exhibitor. System automatically monitors compliance and identifies vehicles remaining on-site beyond their allocated time.

Overstay Detection

Scheduled compliance checks run every 15 minutes identifying exhibitors whose vehicles remain on-site past setup end time. Notifications repeat every 15 minutes until the vehicle exits.

Multi-Channel Notifications

Send automated alerts via email and SMS for vehicle entry, overstay warnings, exit confirmations, and wrong car park incidents. Contacts configure individual channel preferences — except wrong car park alerts which go to everyone.

Violation Management

Full violation lifecycle management: log wrong car park entries, track resolution status, filter and export violation reports, and resolve individually or in bulk — with notes and timestamps for complete accountability.

Real-Time Dashboards

Live compliance dashboard shows total exhibitors, vehicles on-site, overstaying exhibitors, and vehicle limit violations. Auto-refreshes every 30 seconds with colour-coded status indicators.

Violations Dashboard

Dedicated violations view showing total, unresolved, resolved, and affected exhibitor counts. Filter by status, exhibitor, and date range. Export to CSV for evidence and reporting. Resolve with one click.

Complete Audit Trails

Comprehensive logging of all vehicle movements, notification deliveries, status changes, violations, and resolutions. Full ANPR read history with timestamps, camera IDs, confidence scores, and car park references.

Transform Your Exhibition Setup Process

Eliminate congestion, enforce car park assignments, and maintain professional communication with zero manual effort

NEW FEATURE

Wrong Car Park Detection & Enforcement

When managing events with multiple car parks, ensuring exhibitors use their designated location is critical for traffic flow and operational efficiency. MyCarPass now automatically enforces car park assignments at the ANPR level.

  • Pass-Level Assignment: Each QR code or hanger card is assigned to a specific car park at creation. Passes without a car park assignment allow entry to any car park.
  • Instant Detection: The moment an ANPR camera reads a vehicle in the wrong car park, the system cross-references the pass assignment and flags the violation immediately.
  • Universal Notification: Wrong car park alerts are sent to ALL contacts regardless of their notification preferences — because this needs immediate attention from everyone.
  • Vehicle Still Tracked: Even when in the wrong car park, the vehicle is marked as on-site so compliance monitoring continues uninterrupted.
  • Auto-Resolution: When the vehicle subsequently enters the correct car park, the violation automatically resolves with a timestamped note — no admin action needed.
  • Multiple Resolution Paths: Violations can be resolved automatically, manually by staff, or via administrative override for legitimate exceptions.
Wrong Car Park — What Happens
Pass Created
Pass QR-ABC123 assigned to Car Park A
Vehicle Enters Car Park B
ANPR detects VRM — wrong car park!
Violation Logged
Assigned: Car Park A · Entered: Car Park B
All Contacts Alerted
Email & SMS sent to every contact — override preferences
Vehicle Relocates
Vehicle exits Car Park B, enters Car Park A
Violation Auto-Resolved
"Entered correct car park (Car Park A). Auto-resolved at 09:15"
NEW FEATURE

Four Ways to Resolve a Violation

Flexible resolution paths to match every real-world scenario — from automatic enforcement to administrative exceptions

Auto-Resolved: Vehicle Relocated
Resolution type: relocated_to_correct_carpark

When the vehicle exits the wrong car park and enters the correct one, the violation automatically resolves. The resolution note includes the car park name and exact time — no admin action required.

Manually Resolved by Staff
Resolution type: manual

Staff can mark a violation as resolved after physically verifying the vehicle has relocated. Requires a resolution note explaining what action was taken and when.

Administrative Override
Resolution type: administrative_override

For legitimate exceptions — oversized equipment, last-minute bay changes, or special permissions — admins can override the violation with notes explaining the authorisation granted.

Scheduled Stale Cleanup
Resolution type: vehicle_exited

A scheduled command automatically resolves violations older than a configurable threshold (default 24 hours). Keeps the violations dashboard clean and actionable after events conclude.

Bulk Resolution — Administrators can select multiple violations and resolve them all at once with a shared resolution type and notes. Ideal for post-event cleanup or when a systematic issue affected many exhibitors.

The Complete Workflow

From exhibitor registration to compliance enforcement — fully automated

1
Pre-Event Setup

Event administrator creates exhibitor profile with company details, stand number, maximum vehicle allowance, and setup window. Notification contacts configured with preferences for entry, overstay, exit, and wrong car park alerts.

2
Access Credential Generation with Car Park Assignment NEW

Administrator issues QR codes or hanger cards, now with optional car park assignment. For events with multiple car parks (e.g., North, South, VIP), each pass is tied to the correct car park location. Passes without a car park assignment allow entry to any car park.

3
Vehicle Registration

Exhibitor presents QR code or hanger card at registration. System validates pass (not expired, within validity window, not already used if single-use), checks vehicle limit, creates registration record linked to the pass and its assigned car park.

4
ANPR Entry with Car Park Validation NEW

Vehicle enters venue and passes ANPR camera. System checks VRM against registered vehicles and validates whether the car park matches the pass assignment. Correct car park: status updated to on_site, normal entry notification sent. Wrong car park: violation logged, all contacts alerted immediately, vehicle still marked on_site.

5
Compliance Monitoring

System runs automated checks every 15 minutes identifying exhibitors where current time exceeds setup_end_time and vehicles are still on-site. Validates against latest ANPR reads and sends escalating overstay alerts.

6
Violation Resolution NEW

If a vehicle enters the correct car park after a wrong car park violation, the violation auto-resolves. Alternatively, staff can manually resolve or apply an administrative override. A scheduled job cleans up stale violations after events conclude.

7
ANPR Exit Detection

Vehicle departs and passes exit ANPR camera. Status updated to exited, exit timestamp recorded, optional exit notifications sent to relevant contacts.

8
Reporting & Analysis

Administrator reviews compliance dashboard and violations dashboard. Exports violation reports with ANPR evidence for penalty enforcement. Historical data informs car park layout and pass assignment improvements for future events.

Why Exhibitor Management Matters

Traditional event setups suffer from congestion, overstays, and exhibitors parking wherever is convenient. MyCarPass eliminates all of these with complete automation and real enforcement.

  • Eliminate Congestion: Vehicle limits and car park assignments prevent overcrowding during critical setup periods
  • Enforce Car Park Assignments: Automatically detect and alert when exhibitors use the wrong car park — no manual checking required
  • Enforce Fairness: Automated time windows guarantee equal setup access, preventing exhibitors from monopolising limited space
  • Zero Manual Burden: No spreadsheet tracking, no manual ANPR checking, no manual notification sending — fully automated
  • Professional Communication: Multi-channel notifications maintain relationships while enforcing compliance — no awkward confrontations
  • Complete Evidence Trail: Full audit trails with ANPR read history, violation logs, and resolution notes for dispute resolution and penalty enforcement
  • Flexible Resolution: Auto-resolve, manual resolution, admin override, or scheduled cleanup — every scenario is covered
  • Scalable Solution: Handle 10 or 1,000 exhibitors across multiple car parks with identical effort
100%

Automated Tracking

15min

Check Interval

Real-time

ANPR Validation

4

Resolution Types

Zero

Manual Entry

Full

Audit Trail

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Exhibitor Management module

When an exhibitor pass is created, it can be assigned to a specific car park. When the ANPR camera reads the vehicle's registration on entry, the system checks whether the car park ID from the camera matches the car park assigned to the vehicle's pass. If they don't match, a violation is immediately logged, all notification contacts are alerted (regardless of their preferences), and the vehicle is still marked as on-site. If no car park is assigned to the pass, the vehicle can enter any car park without triggering a violation.

The system handles this automatically. When the vehicle exits the wrong car park and subsequently enters the correct car park, the violation auto-resolves with a timestamped note — "Vehicle entered correct car park (Car Park A). Auto-resolved at 09:15". No admin action is required. The violation log preserves the full history including when it was created and when it was resolved, providing a complete audit trail.

Yes. Administrators can resolve a violation using the "Administrative Override" resolution type, with notes explaining the exception (e.g., "Special permission granted due to equipment size — authorised to use Car Park B"). This closes the violation with a clear explanation in the audit trail. Alternatively, the exhibitor's pass can be updated to a different car park before the event if the change is planned in advance.

A vehicle in the wrong car park is an urgent operational issue that needs immediate attention — it may be blocking a bay, causing confusion for other exhibitors, or creating safety risks. Because of the urgency, we override individual notification preferences and alert every contact for that exhibitor. This ensures the message reaches someone who can act on it immediately, even if certain contacts have opted out of routine entry or exit notifications.

A scheduled command (violations:resolve-stale) runs daily and auto-resolves any unresolved violations older than a configurable threshold (default 24 hours). This handles violations where the vehicle left without ever entering the correct car park — keeping the violations dashboard clean and actionable. The resolution notes record how many hours old the violation was and that the vehicle did not relocate. The threshold can be adjusted using the --hours option.

Yes. The violations dashboard supports bulk resolution — select multiple violations using checkboxes, choose the resolution type (manual or administrative override), enter shared resolution notes, and resolve them all in one action. This is particularly useful after a post-event site inspection where multiple exhibitors have been confirmed as compliant, or when a systematic signage issue caused widespread wrong car park entries.

ANPR cameras at entry and exit points capture vehicle registration marks and write timestamped reads to the database, including which camera and car park recorded the read. The system automatically matches VRMs against registered exhibitor vehicles, validates the car park against the pass assignment, and updates status in real-time. No manual ANPR read checking required. The exhibitor system is decoupled from the ANPR hardware, operating through the shared database to ensure both systems can evolve independently.

The violations dashboard provides full filtering by status (resolved/unresolved), exhibitor, and date range. Export to CSV includes violation time, exhibitor name, stand number, vehicle registration, assigned car park, entered car park, resolution status, resolution timestamp, and resolution notes. This provides complete evidence for penalty enforcement or post-event analysis. Historical violation data also highlights exhibitors or car parks that regularly cause issues, informing future event planning decisions.

ANPR cameras at entry and exit points capture vehicle registration marks (VRMs) and write timestamped reads to the database. The system automatically matches VRMs against registered exhibitor vehicles and updates status in real-time—from "registered" to "on_site" when entering, "on_site" to "exited" when leaving. No manual ANPR read checking required. The system uses the most recent ANPR read to determine current status, handling re-entries and multiple movements throughout the day.

The system enforces vehicle limits at registration. When an exhibitor attempts to register a vehicle that would exceed their limit, registration is blocked with a clear error message showing current count vs. maximum allowed. Administrators can manually increase limits if circumstances require (e.g., unusual equipment needs), but the default behavior prevents over-registration. Exited vehicles don't count toward the limit, so exhibitors can swap vehicles if they remain within their allocation.

A scheduled command runs every 15 minutes checking for exhibitors where current time exceeds their setup_end_time and vehicles remain on-site. For each overstaying vehicle, the system sends notifications to all contacts with "notify_on_overstay" enabled. Emails include company name, VRM, setup end time, minutes overstayed, and action required. SMS sends concise alerts. Notifications repeat every 15 minutes until the vehicle exits, creating escalating pressure while maintaining professional communication. All notifications are logged for audit purposes.

Absolutely! Each exhibitor can be issued multiple passes of different types. For example, issue QR codes to exhibitors with digital capabilities for convenience, while providing physical hanger cards to those preferring traditional windscreen permits. Both credential types function identically in the system—same validation logic, same vehicle registration process, same ANPR integration. You can even issue both types to the same exhibitor for flexibility.

Vehicles remain in "registered" status until an ANPR entry read is detected. If a camera malfunction or poor visibility causes a missed read, administrators can manually update the vehicle status through the admin interface. The system also supports checking for historical ANPR reads when vehicles are registered—so if an ANPR read exists before registration (vehicle arrived before registering), the status updates immediately. For systematic camera issues, administrators can manually manage statuses while equipment is repaired.

Administrators can edit exhibitor profiles anytime to extend the setup_end_time. Once updated, the system immediately stops treating the exhibitor as overstayed and won't send further overstay notifications. This is useful for legitimate extensions due to complex stand builds, equipment issues, or venue access restrictions. Changes are logged in the audit trail. Alternatively, administrators can manually send custom notifications explaining the extension approval.

The system maintains complete historical data including total vehicle registrations by exhibitor, average setup duration, frequency and duration of overstays, compliance rates (percentage completing setup within allocated window), notification delivery rates, and ANPR read volumes by camera. Export functionality provides CSV/Excel files for external analysis. This data informs future planning decisions like optimal setup window durations, exhibitor vehicle allowance adjustments, and ANPR camera positioning improvements. All notification logs and ANPR reads are preserved for dispute resolution and continuous improvement.

Yes! Each event is isolated in the system, so the same exhibitors can attend multiple events with independent configurations. For recurring events (monthly trade shows, annual conferences), simply create a new event and re-register exhibitors. You can adjust vehicle limits, setup windows, and notification preferences for each occurrence based on lessons learned. Historical data from previous events helps optimize configurations for future iterations.

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