Virtual queue for restaurants : how it works and what is the benefit?

Once restaurants have a full house of reservations, a virtual queue can be very useful to both diners waiting to dine as well as your restaurant.

A virtual queue is an automated system to manage and track diners waiting to be seated at your restaurant when they arrive without a reservation. Without a system in place for diners waiting, specifically in busier times like weekend evenings, it can make the waiting process hectic for both diners and restaurants. 

Common ways restaurants can utilize a virtual queue are through sms messages, display systems, qr codes, and many other ways. Every restaurant will have a different method of virtual queue to match their needs, but it remains having some system in place can be a great benefit. 

For restaurants wanting to add a virtual queue to their restaurant management and enjoy all the great benefits, you can utilize tools like TheFork Manager’s queuing list feature. With this digital feature you can add unexpected bookings to a queue so when a table is available , you can easily notify the diner.

The benefits of a Virtual Queue 

Improved time tracking 

The biggest benefit for restaurants is providing a more organized and seamless way to share with diners their expected wait time. Digitizing your queue can improve accuracy of wait times by tracking. Restaurants can also be more precise with how they seat diners waiting by knowing exactly which parties arrived and in which order, while also limiting the time spent trying to manage the waiting list and new arrivals . 

A Better Wait for Diners 

One of the biggest appeals for your diners is they can now spend the time waiting much more freely. When your restaurant has implemented a virtual queue, diners will not only have a clearer vision of their wait time but also a notification or alert of when their table is ready. With this, diners can spend their wait time having a drink, exploring the nearby area, and other things to hold their attention while they wait. 

The virtual queue reduces diner irritation and also eliminates diners missing a table from not being present. Many diners can get discouraged by longer wait times and more specifically when they are required to wait in front of the restaurant for the duration of the time; This is a pain point a virtual queue is made to tackle.

A Chance to Broaden Diner Database 

Another great restaurant benefit of a virtual queue is the opportunity to further build your diner database. When diners enter into a virtual queue restaurants can ask for diner information like name and email address, to later have communication with the diner and begin to build diner loyalty and interest in the diner to return again. This is a great way to expand communications to more diners. 

No matter the type of virtual queue, the digitization of your diner waiting list is a great benefit to any restaurant to smooth management and diner satisfaction.