Mobile Waitlist Apps Help Businesses Thrive in a New Economy

There is light at the end of the global pandemic now that vaccinations are being rapidly administered worldwide. And this means businesses are chomping at the bit to reopen in a safe and efficient manner. As spring and the ease of COVID-19 restrictions provide a sense of economic rejuvenation, retail shopping and in-person events will be in high demand. Adjusting to a new normal is to be expected, and adaptive technologies that offer innovative appointment, waitlist, and queue management systems are making it safer and easier to do so.

Some challenges businesses and event organizers are facing include: 

• Long wait times creating overcrowded areas
• Customers and local residents complaining about long lines
• Staff feeling overwhelmed with managing the influx of people
• Issues managing the higher demand in a fair and orderly fashion
• Challenges communicating with guests before and during events
• High call volumes about wait times and the customer check-in process 

NextME virtual waitlist app offers customized solutions to help mitigate and manage these challenges. Their schedule, waitlist, and queue management software provides businesses with innovative solutions that either drastically reduce or eliminate physical lines so that customers feel safer on the premises. They also provide the staff with relevant and useful information so they can create a real-time strategy in managing a higher demand. Popfancy, a boutique creamery and catering business that is famous for their “Fan-Cafe” pop-up events, is a prime example of how NextME can help businesses and events thrive.

Pop-Up Event Benefits From Mobile Waitlist App 

Popfancy hosts booths at Houston’s largest city-wide festivals, fundraisers, trade shows, and events. Their “Fan Cafe” pop-up events focus on niche themes, such as gaming and anime. With their offering of all-natural, ice-cold, healthy desserts in a smattering of gourmet flavor combinations, their popularity has been growing exponentially. With explosive popularity growth comes increasing queues and wait times. In fact, Pop Fancy’s last event (before implementing NextME) had lines with wait times of up to 5 hours, which is incredible! To assuage the excessive wait time issue, Popfancy started utilizing stand-by admission software that promotes a virtual line and waiting room. Here’s how it works…

Stand-By Admissions Helps Mitigate 5 Hour Wait Times

NextMe helped Fan Cafe pop-up events implement a Stand-By Admissions process that drastically reduced their lines. This, in turn, boosted customer morale, built brand loyalty, eliminated neighborhood complaints, and maintained overall sales. The Stand-By Admissions process is simple and guarantees entrance via an advance reservations line on the event site, or the ability to join a free “virtual standy-by line” on event day. 

Here’s how it works:  

Step 1: Virtual Line opens at 12 PM on Event Day. Attendees visit their website to book a reservation for 1-10 people, join the standy-by admission waitlist, or follow the link provided in their Instagram stories for the most current updates on walk-ins.

Step 2: Once guests are within the queue, they have the freedom to mingle, converse with friends, or do whatever they please as they monitor their position in line via the VWR (Virtual Waiting Room) on their phones via any web browser. There’s no need to download a separate mobile app for use. 

Step 3: Guests receive a text alert and have 1 hour to check in at that time. 

Please note the check in time can be altered to suit your particular businesses’ needs.

The results of implementing this technology were outstanding:

• 95% positive feedback from the customer base, and 
• Total sales from the event matching their previous event, which had 2x the number of guests!

Popfancy owner, Chris Doan commented, “This was a total 180 from completely chaotic to smooth. Helped us pace everything out perfectly. Very chill compared to the last event. Very user-friendly. Oh, and we definitely kept up with demand.”

How NextMe’s Virtual Waitlist App Can Help Your Business or Event Business

Things have been closed for over a year and people are ready to do just about anything to return to normalcy. Consumers are looking for ways they can re-engage with the businesses they love and trust, whereby businesses are seeking innovative solutions for how to reopen safely and successfully. As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, retail businesses and events are benefiting from the addition or modernization of their outdated waitlist system, and Popfancy is a prime example.

At NextME, we’ve taken our software one step further than reservation platforms. Our virtual waitlist system is a new category of service that helps organizations stay connected to their customers at all times, thus increasing customer retention and overall satisfaction. Beyond helping eliminate long lines that deter and irritate your clientele, you can improve your customers’ experiences by providing important information as it relates to your establishment. It’s a win-win for everyone.

If you’re interested in learning how NextME’s virtual tools can streamline your business operations in a safe and efficient manner, follow this link to contact us. Together we can tackle the challenges associated with reopening your business or event.