Sven Zijlstra, Project Manager
Meet Sven Zijlstra, Project Manager at WPS Parking Solutions. As the key link between sales, execution, and the customer, Sven ensures that parking solutions are delivered efficiently and effectively. In this interview, he shares insights about his role, what drives him, and his vision for the future of parking.
What is your role within our company and what exactly does your role entail?
S: I am a project manager and the head of the projects department at WPS. My role is to deliver parking solutions as agreed with the customer, working alongside our team of technicians, engineers, the work planner, the paver, and the architectural draftsman. I act as the link between our sales department, execution team, and the customer.
What do you like most about your role?
S: What I enjoy most is the variety in my work. I am truly at the center of everything, constantly communicating with different departments within WPS, as well as subcontractors and customers. I see it as my responsibility to gather information and ensure the process runs as efficiently as possible.
I also love building long-term relationships with customers. We develop new projects, renovate existing parking systems, and expand them. Seeing that customers appreciate what you do and knowing they can rely on you is very rewarding.
What do you think are the most important qualities for someone in your position?
S: In my role, it’s crucial to be decisive and to follow through on what you say. I like seeing tangible results at the end of the day. For the projects department, it’s all about efficiency and speed—delivering projects as quickly and with as much quality as possible. That requires focus, a results-oriented mindset, and an approach where we’re always moving forward.
If you could switch jobs with a colleague for a day, who would you choose and why?
S: I’d like to be an account manager for a day—but definitely no longer than that! Just to experience firsthand whether it’s really as challenging as they say to pitch a project properly. That’s why I nominated Jasper—we work together a lot.
What’s your biggest parking blunder? Have you ever made a hilarious parking mistake?
S: Honestly, I don’t have any funny parking fails. In all my years at WPS—since 2007—I can’t think of any.
Well, once I lost a trailer because I hadn’t connected it properly. But that happened on our own premises, so it wasn’t too dramatic. And recently, I dropped a payment terminal, but that doesn’t really count as a parking blunder either. So, sorry—it’s a bit boring!
If you were a car, what kind of car would you be and why?
S: Tough question, but I think I’d be a big, loud car. People often say I have a strong presence and make a lot of noise. In the movie Cars, I’d definitely be Mater!
What could people wake you up for in the middle of the night—besides a parking issue?
S: DIY projects, without a doubt! I built my own house and get a lot of satisfaction from creating things. Whether it’s big or small projects, you could wake me up for it anytime. In the end, it’s all about the final result—making something with your own hands. That’s what I love most.
Is that also what gives you the most energy at work?
S: Absolutely. It’s incredibly energizing to create something that wasn’t there before and to truly help a customer with it. At WPS Parking Solutions, we deliver parking solutions that align as closely as possible with customer needs. 100% perfection may not always be achievable, but we get as close as we can. Seeing that final result—that’s the best part of my job.
How would your colleagues describe you in three words?
S: Loud, energetic, and reliable. I think that sums it up. Reliable, because I always make sure things get done, no matter what. There’s always a plan B, and in the end, we make it work.
What are your professional ambitions?
S: I’ve never had a strong ambition to climb the corporate ladder. I’m very happy in my current role. I like staying close to the technical side of things, and for me, this feels like the best fit.
I have no desire to be in a director’s position, like my manager, because that’s just not who I am. My ambition lies in refining and further developing the role I have now—making it my own and continuously improving. That’s what gives me satisfaction.
What do you think the future of parking looks like?
S: The future of parking will rely more and more on software, but I don’t believe hardware will disappear completely. There will always be a need for barriers and other physical devices, especially for secured parking areas like business premises. However, I do expect a reduction in hardware, such as fewer barriers.
What will certainly change is the level of automation. Less staff will be needed for physical tasks, and there will be a greater demand for people who can work with increasingly complex software and system integrations.
In the long run, parking problems will likely increase due to growing traffic and limited parking spaces. That’s why I see a bright future for WPS, with more automation and software solutions that allow us to operate efficiently with fewer personnel.
What parking issue would you like to solve?
S: I’d like to see curbs in parking garages and along streets replaced with sloped edges. This would prevent rim damage, which I see happening in garages all the time. There are plenty of more user-friendly alternatives that don’t take up extra space but make parking much easier.
What’s the most memorable parking experience you’ve had—either as a driver or professionally?
S: My most memorable parking experience happened at a hospital in Breda. We were working there when a woman was parking her car. Instead of hitting the brakes, she accidentally pressed the gas pedal and drove straight over the grass and into a pond. The car literally floated with her still inside.
Luckily, we were able to help just in time. We used a ratchet strap to pull the car to the edge, and she climbed out using a small ladder. She only got wet feet, but her car was pretty badly damaged. That’s one experience I’ll never forget.
Do you have any advice for customers to get the most out of our products and services?
S: My advice to customers would be: be aware of your parking challenges and who actually uses your system. Many customers don’t fully understand how their parking system is being used.
It’s important to think ahead about how you want to use a parking system. The better your insights upfront, the better we can configure the system to fit your needs. The hardest part is often asking the right questions, but it’s essential for a successful implementation. As parking professionals, we can truly help when we fully understand what the customer needs.
Who would you like to nominate next for ‘Meet Our Parking Experts’?
S: I already passed the baton to Jasper because our collaboration has become much more intensive over the past year. We work on many projects together, and Jasper landed the biggest project, Leisurelands, which I’m now involved in. It seemed fitting to nominate him, especially since we’re working closely on that project.
