The Challenge: A Ship Without a Bridge

ParkMobile’s early infrastructure was rooted in on-premises data centers, reliant on a few Windows servers. As the user base surged, it became clear that scaling these systems to accommodate millions of users would be difficult and expensive. Although ParkMobile had begun a partial migration to AWS, most core services remained on-premises, limiting agility and hampering growth.

In an effort to evolve, the team deployed Kubernetes in AWS using Nginx as an ingress controller. While this opened the door to containerization, it also highlighted a key issue: developers needed intuitive tools to integrate seamlessly with the new platform. ‍

“Deploying Kubernetes was like building a powerful ship, but we didn’t have the bridge to onboard passengers,” shares Rafael Ramirez, the Platform Engineering Manager.

Without a user-friendly gateway or developer-focused abstractions, the potential of Kubernetes remained largely untapped.

The Solution: Building the Bridge with Gloo Gateway

To bridge this gap, the Platform Engineering team introduced Gloo Gateway as the unified entry point for API traffic and crafted accessible abstractions—like Helm templates for route tables—so developers could consume Kubernetes without deep orchestration expertise.

“It’s all about simplicity,” says Anthony Mallica, the Platform Engineering Tech Lead. “We didn’t want the developers to have to learn the ins and outs of everything related to Kubernetes.”

The result? A plug-and-play ecosystem that allowed engineering teams to focus on ParkMobile’s core mission: creating seamless parking experiences that free drivers from the stress of circling the block. Rather than wrestling with container configurations, developers are empowered to innovate on features like frictionless payment flows and partner integrations.

Centralizing API management with Gloo also brought significant security and performance gains. The Platform Engineering team can more easily monitor traffic, spot anomalies, and guard against unauthorized access. And with sophisticated traffic routing in place, ParkMobile can handle massive demand spikes—whether that’s a bustling day in downtown Atlanta or a parking crunch before a sold-out concert—ensuring users stay connected at the most critical moments.

Driving Business Value and Team Empowerment

By weaving together Kubernetes and Gloo, ParkMobile’s Platform Engineering team has not only modernized the company’s infrastructure but also championed a developer-centric culture.

Rafael Ramirez explains, “In everything we build, we ask ourselves, ‘Are we doing this the right way—for our users and for our developers.’ It’s all about faster migrations, plus faster and more frequent deployments for our teams.”

‍The end result is a more agile process that translates directly into tangible business outcomes. 

Key outcomes include:

‍‍- Accelerated Time-to-Market: Streamlined workflows let ParkMobile rapidly introduce parking innovations—like event reservations, EV charging station discovery, and real-time permit management.

- Enhanced Developer Productivity: By lowering the cognitive load required to deploy services, teams can focus on high-impact features and creative problem-solving.

- Improved Security Posture: Centralized API management and visibility minimize vulnerabilities while protecting sensitive customer data.

- Scalability & Reliability: Robust orchestration ensures ParkMobile can instantly scale for high-traffic events, maintaining user trust and minimizing downtime.

- User-Centric Innovation: A frictionless experience keeps ParkMobile at the forefront of smart mobility solutions, paving the way for growth across new markets and use cases.

The Result: Beyond Parking, Building the Future of Mobility

Embodying ParkMobile’s culture of empowerment and collaboration, the Platform Engineering team continues to refine the technology backbone that fuels the company’s expanding vision. This goes beyond parking—ParkMobile’s roadmap includes deeper integration with city planners, transit authorities, and private partners to provide holistic mobility solutions.

With the developer-friendly infrastructure now firmly in place, new ideas move swiftly from concept to release. Whether it’s optimizing payments, integrating real-time notifications, or experimenting with new mobility services, the Platform Engineering team ensures that ParkMobile remains at the forefront of smart city innovation.

“We see ourselves not just as keepers of the platform,” says Ramirez, “but as champions for what ParkMobile stands for—simplifying mobility, reducing friction, and designing experiences that delight everyone involved, and doing things right”

The evolution of ParkMobile’s infrastructure—powered by Kubernetes and Gloo Gateway—showcases what happens when teams fully commit to doing cloud right. From simplifying the developer experience to unlocking next-level scalability, ParkMobile’s Platform Engineering team exemplifies the power of a shared vision, the right technology, and a culture that prioritizes innovation, collaboration, and user value.

As ParkMobile continues to redefine mobility for millions, it does so with a platform built to last—and a Platform Engineering team that proves that, when it comes to cloud connectivity, it pays to do it right.

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The testimonial contained here is not an endorsement by ParkMobile, LLC, any affiliate, or partner thereof, nor is it discrimination against similar brands, products or services not mentioned. This testimonial is based only on the personal experience of a satisfied user of the service/product.