Online Waitlist
QR check-in and live queue status — guests don't wait at the door
A QR sign at the door lets guests join the queue in seconds. Their phone shows the current number and how many groups are ahead, and a push notification fires when their turn is near. No LINE friend-adding, no app download — waiting guests can go for a walk, and your doorway stays clear.
How the Waitlist Works
From check-in to seating, guests do it themselves
Scan to join
Guests scan the QR sign, enter party size and phone number, and get a queue number instantly — no staff, no plastic number tags.
Track on the phone
The waitlist page shows the current number being seated and how many groups are ahead, live. Guests can wander nearby instead of crowding the door.
Automatic heads-up
When only a few groups remain, the system sends a browser push notification to come back — no friend-adding, no app install.
Check in and sit down
Staff tap once on the tablet to seat the group. At the table, guests scan to order — waitlist flows straight into ordering.
Self-service check-in, no doorman needed
Paper lists need someone minding the clipboard; plastic number tags walk away. QR check-in hands the whole process to guests: scan, fill in, done — under 30 seconds, with no dedicated greeter at peak.
For guests without a phone, staff can add them from the tablet — both paths join the same queue with the same fair ordering.
Notifications without friend-adding
Most online waitlists make guests add an official account before they can get called — many give up right there. OrderEase uses native browser push: authorize once, get notified when your turn is near.
No forced relationship, no extra data collected — friendly to one-time walk-ins, and it works for foreign visitors with a multilingual interface.
Missed-turn rules that prevent arguments
Missed turns are the number-one source of queue disputes. The system marks no-shows automatically and supports a configurable grace rule — for example, priority re-entry within the next three groups.
Every group's join, call and check-in times are recorded, so who-came-first is never a memory contest between staff and guests.
Seating flows straight into ordering
A waitlist is only half the job — the point is moving waiting guests smoothly into dining. Once seated, guests scan the table QR and order directly; there is no second queue at the counter.
Restaurants with long waits can even let guests browse the menu while queueing — seated means ordered, and tables turn faster.
Three Ways to Run a Waitlist
Paper list vs ticket machine vs online waitlist
There are three ways to manage the queue: paper is cheap but eats staff time; ticket machines cost tens of thousands up front and guests still hover nearby; an online waitlist moves check-in, status and notifications onto the guest's phone with zero hardware.
| Aspect | Paper list | Ticket machine | Online waitlist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup cost | Near zero, but staffed | Hardware from tens of thousands | Zero hardware, built into the system |
| Guest experience | Wait at the door for a shout | Watch a screen nearby | Track on the phone, walk away freely |
| Missed turns | Staff memory, disputes | Take a new ticket | Auto-marked, rule-based re-entry, logged |
| Call notification | Shouting names | On-site screen + chime | Phone push, no friend-adding |
| Into ordering | None | None | Scan at the table and order |
The online waitlist is built into OrderEase plans — no ticket-machine hardware, no add-on module fee. See plans and pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
What if a guest has no phone or can't operate it?
Staff can add them from the tablet. Both staff-added and scanned check-ins join the same queue in the same order — nobody is excluded.
Can anyone cut the line?
No. All check-ins are queued strictly by time, and every group's join and call times are recorded — the order is transparent.
How are missed turns handled?
No-shows are marked automatically, and you set the grace rule (e.g., priority re-entry within the next three groups). The rule lives in the system, not in an argument.
Do guests need LINE or an app?
Neither. Joining, tracking and notifications all happen in the browser. The call notification uses browser push — nothing to install, nobody to friend.