Motorists will soon be unable to pay for their parking using cash in a number of car parks across the north-east.
Last year, the Press and Journal revealed Aberdeen City Council agreed to phase out 175 of its on-street pay and display machines meaning motorists would have to pay using their mobile phone.
The authority said at the time the move would save money in the long-run, but opponents claimed it would cause problems for people who did not own a smart phone.
Now the council has advertised for a firm to install the new cashless network.
Meanwhile, the successful company will also be contracted to carry out the service for Aberdeenshire Council.
The authority is looking at replacing machines at 26 off-street car parks across the region, including Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Stonehaven, and Inverurie.
Inverurie councillor Bryan Stuart said it is important the authority get “the balance right” between modernising and providing a service that suits everyone.
He said: “When you approach new technology it’s always going to help some folk but be not so helpful for others.
“We’re doing everything we can to improve the experience of people visiting our town centres but you don’t want to put of others – you need to get the balance right.”
A spokesman for the authority said: “Aberdeenshire Council does not currently have a cashless parking system in place although did run a trial in Stonehaven in the latter half of 2011.
“The city are looking to re-tender for their system, and as we are also looking to put something in place, it makes sense for both local authorities to seek to procure this jointly.”
The city council could not be reached for comment.