A second wave has crashed, and still reeling from the effects, we struggle to find normalcy. Perhaps the stability we seek is present in the recent surge of the already popular QR Code Queue system. A contactless and socially distanced solution with dream-worthy potential!
What Are QR Codes?
QR code, or Quick Response code, is a type of matrix barcode that a smartphone can read with swift ease. Via a machine-readable optical label, these give the user information about the object or service – usually redirecting them to a website or application.
Photo credit: Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua
They were invented in 1994 in Japan, for use in the automobile industry where the speed and breadth of information it contained meant it was very quickly adopted and popularized! Today, they are widespread, evolving into household names and simplifying life – especially during the pandemic, as they best complement contactless solutions.
What is a QR Code Queue Management System?
The versatility of QR codes allows them to be integrated at multiple checkpoints in any setting. Some common uses of QR codes include marketing, point of sales service (POS), product labels, loyalty programs, and rewards.
Of these, the most important is incorporating QR codes in the QMS you have chosen for virtual queuing and mobile ticketing. Since QR codes can be generated by the QMS and printed or displayed on screens, customers can enter a line without physically being present at the venue.
QR Codes + Queue Management Solutions = A Match Made in Heaven?
The devil works hard, but Covid-19 seems to be putting him out of business. QR codes could well be the queueing hero you and your business have been looking forward to.
Providing, nay guaranteeing a frictionless, standardized and customizable customer journey, QR codes are universally understood and recognized. The time needed to type out URLs and information into search engines is replaced with a quick response system that eliminates wait times! Your customers are given a socially distanced, contactless and self-service experience, before, during and after they engage with you.
QR codes can be integrated with applications like WhatsApp, ideal because of its global consumer acquaintance, to allow for real-time notifications, information about queue position, estimated waiting time, and for giving feedback and receiving video-calling assistance from relevant staff. Our WhatsApp queueing solution embodies just this!
QR codes can also facilitate virtual and WhatsApp queuing, ticketing and appointment scheduling, as well as allow for the download of informational brochures, Covid-19 safety guidelines, instructional videos and much more!
Expect to see reduced wait times, improved staff allocations and better analysis. Through the frequency of use, number of impressions, and feedback statistics, you can understand the degree of interest in your products, customer preferences and their behaviour and consumption patterns – as seen in this video. With the winter holidays quickly approaching, perhaps you too would like to be battle-ready?
Read our blog post on how to brave and thrive this holiday season!
Benefits of Using a Queue Management System QR Code
1. Customers can opt for contactless check-ins
Queue management systems with QR codes allow customers to make an appointment or reserve their spot. Customers do not have to wait, and it minimizes the need for physical contact. This is particularly useful in hospitals for patients and hotels for guests to enjoy a hassle-free check-in process.
Customers are given a QR code to scan using a phone’s camera or a QR code scanning app. This QR code is often presented via email, text message, mobile application, or a banner outside your facility. Customers are directed to a web page or app after scanning the QR code, where they check in and enter personal information, such as their name, contact information, or reason for their visit. Customers receive a confirmation message upon completion of the check-in procedure.
2. Virtual Mobile Ticketing
Queue management systems can integrate QR codes to provide customers with an online ticketing process. You can provide your customers with a ticket number generated through the QMS on the phone instead of making them wait in lines to reserve a spot. This cost-effective solution saves you from investing in ticketing machines and wasting paper.
3. Customers enjoy faster check-in times
Customers can quickly and easily scan QR codes which reduces wait times and improves the efficiency of the queue management system. On the contrary, physical queueing requires customers to manually fill in personal information on paper or wait in line to communicate that information at the counter.
4. Prevent overcrowding in waiting areas
High-quality and high-contrast QR codes can be scanned from several metres to feet away from where they are placed. Integrating a QR code in your queue management system is a simple way of controlling the number of people you entertain in wait queues. Since QR codes can be linked to QMS and other applications, customers enjoy the benefits of virtual queueing. Customers get to know when it is their turn in line and only line up when it is time.
5. QR codes are error-free and improve accuracy
QR codes eliminate the risk of errors that can occur with manual check-in processes, such as typos or incorrect data entry when filling forms with personal information.
6. A multipurpose solution that can be used in different settings
QR codes are versatile and can be used in various locations, from clinics to retail stores. QR codes are efficient ways to direct your customers towards your company’s landing page, where they can sign up for virtual queuing and be introduced to other CTAs.
7. Cost-effective solution by using staffing resources efficiently
Implementing a QR code in a queue management system is more cost-effective than hiring additional staff to manage queues manually. It also reduces the need for printing physical tickets and other materials, saving money on paper and ink. QR codes are relatively inexpensive to produce and can be easily printed or displayed on digital screens, making them a cost-effective option for businesses of all sizes.
8. Enhanced customer experience
A contactless and streamlined queuing process with QR codes means less customer queuing anxiety. They do not have to worry about arriving hours early at the facility to reserve spots. This, in turn, leads helps to improve the overall customer experience and boosts satisfaction by providing a contactless and streamlined queuing process with your company.
9. Real-time updates with data
QR codes can be integrated with queue management software to provide real-time data on wait times, customer flow, and other metrics. Customers scan the QR code to find their position in the virtual queue, estimated wait time and any delays. With QR codes, customers will know when it is their turn to be served, minimizing the need for physical waiting in busy places. This has made tracking service times and recording each customer’s projected service time easier for businesses.
How Popular is QR?
And with 90% of the world population gaining access to high speed internet by the end of 2020, perhaps now is the time to adopt the code everyone is raving about.
Who Uses QR?
Purpose
Age Demographic
Industry
Travel and Leisure
Photo credit: mroach, Flickr
78% people said they looked for contactless solutions in travel searches, the most popular being QR codes! They can be used in all facets like booking flights and accommodation, to making payments, signing in, etc. The arts too, as discussed in another blog post, could and have benefitted from the use of these codes to keep patrons safe.
They also serve the leisure sector well, be it in restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs, etc.
Healthcare
These codes can be utilised to store medicine information/labels, brochures and information manuals. They can also help book appointments, manage queues, deliver notifications to waiting customers, gather their feedback and respond swiftly to any queries or complaints.
A Belgian hospital deployed AI with QR code scanning ability to identify the individual, gauge whether staff and patients are wearing masks and determine their temperature
The NHS launched a Covid-19 app that made use of QR codes to track customer journeys.
Banking
QR codes help with pre-stage transactions, booking appointments, reducing wait times and giving feedback – all while staying safe and socially distanced! They allow for direct payment options that are credited faster than other mobile wallet solutions, and with less additional supporting equipment and software.
How To Use Queue Management System QR Code At Your Business?
Choosing an ideal QMS is a challenge for which you must consider certain factors. We have simplified the process for your ease. Let’s follow the steps:
You first need to choose a QMS service provider that fits your real-time updates, notifications, and analytics requirements. It is critical to select a vendor with a centralized managed QMS system, globally known for its scalability. Choose a QMS that can integrate third-party apps to display QR codes and promote virtual mobile ticketing.
Once you have decided on a supplier, you should collaborate closely with them to customize the QMS to your unique needs. This procedure includes tailoring a roadmap of queuing, branding it to your company’s needs, and including the QR code in the design.
QMS is offered on two systems: a cloud-based system requiring little hardware and an on-premise system requiring a more thorough installation. The system generates a unique QR code for each customer or transaction, which the customer can scan to join the queue. Print the codes, or install screens with QR codes and post them in prominent places near the door, service counters, or waiting areas where customers can instantly scan them.
Train your employees on correctly using QR codes within the QMS so they can communicate and encourage consumers on the advantages of virtual queuing with QMS. Use your QMS’s analytics to track line length, wait times, and customer feedback. This data can assist you in optimizing the queue and improving the overall client experience.
Examples of Queue Management System QR Codes in Practice
If you have been wondering what it means for businesses to adopt a QMS with QR codes, the case point from a leading global fashion retailer, Zara, will speak of the system’s success.
The much-awaited opening of stores post-pandemic was met by Zara and its parent company, Inditex, investing in measures to maintain social distancing. The company had to adopt techniques to minimize contact and regulate store occupancy for maximum safety of the staff and the customers.
To solve the significant wait times and complaints in stores, especially during peak hours, Zara partnered with Wavetec to implement the WhatsApp Queuing Solution. The two main features of this include a virtual queuing system and a mobile app. This QR code-integrated QMS offers visitors QR codes to scan, open WhatsApp and chat instantly. Customers will receive a virtual ticket for their choice of service, after which they immediately join a queue to reserve a spot.
Powered by Spectra for alerts and analytics, Wavetec allows WhasApp’s QR code QMS to be integrated with other tools. Following this, the Zara store also installed digital signages and SMS notifications to keep clients updated on expected wait times and any changes to queue status. With this technology, it was able to offer priority waiting queues, entertain multiple customers simultaneuosly, and keep customer satisfaction high.
Case in Point!
Wavetec has successfully deployed, and operated visitor management systems in retail stores like Nike and in public offices like the City Hall in Colmenar. The proof is in the consumer trust and confidence, especially in times when neither is in too high supply.
Does your Processor Support QR Code Scanning?
Up-to-date with your updates? 92% of Apple devices, especially smartphones, are QR-code ready. For phones with an iOS 13 upgrade or higher, the camera app (including the use of the flashlight for better visibility) is equipped to quickly and more accurately read the codes. iPhones running on iOS 11 or lower need a QR code scanner app.
Similarly with Android, any phone with an operating system Android8/Oreo and above does not require a separate app, while those version 7 and below do.
For those wary of updates, unwilling or simply uninterested, here is a list of the top 5 free QR code scanner apps for both iOS and Android:
- Kaspersky’s QR Code Reader and Scanner,
- Neoreader Barcode Scanner,
- Barcode Reader,
- QR Code Reader by Scan,
- QuickMark Barcode Scanner
We’ve Just Made Our Own, Fancy a Try?
Interestingly…
- The more information added to the code, the more complex the strand the larger the physical size
- iPhones are the most popular cellular device to scan them with
- Women scan more codes than men
- Besides China, the US leads the world in its use
