What is Line Busting? And the Techs You Need to Achieve It

Recent findings from a Waitwhile survey highlight a common dislike among customers: 82% avoid businesses with queues, and more than 68% will bail out of a line before their turn.

On top of that, 44% of respondents say waiting in line significantly reduces their satisfaction with a business.

It's clear – managing queues well is crucial for a top-notch customer experience. That's where 'line busting' comes in.

What is Line Busting?

Line busting is a retail strategy that focuses on making the checkout process quicker for customers. The idea is to use different methods to speed up how people pay, especially in industries where long lines might discourage customers from buying things.

These line busting tricks want to make shopping better and easier for customers. It's not just about customer satisfaction; it can also help stores make more money by preventing people from giving up on their purchases because of long lines.

Line Busting Techniques

Line busting isn't as simple as it sounds. It involves a range of techniques that can be employed on their own or in tandem.

Let's examine some of these powerful line busting methods:

A. Reservation System

One popular line busting technique involves implementing a reservation system in restaurants. This allows customers to pre-book their visit, reducing restaurant wait time.

This doesn't just cut down on wait times; it also allows for improved staff scheduling and resource allocation. Reservation systems extend beyond restaurants, finding application in hotels, healthcare facilities, cinemas, and various other industries.

B. Self-Service Kiosks

Self-service kiosks shine in places with high transaction volumes or busy times. You'll spot them in supermarkets, fast-food joints, and transport hubs like airports, train stations, and bus terminals.

In supermarkets, customers handle the scanning, packing, and payment. At airports, self-service kiosks handle check-in and printing boarding passes.

C. Mobile Ordering and Payment

Mobile ordering and payment use the ease of smartphones and apps for placing orders and paying. This is especially handy for businesses in the food and drink industry.

It cuts labor costs by removing the need for staff to take orders and opens up chances to suggest extra items through mobile platforms.

For instance, Starbucks has a mobile app that lets customers easily check the menu, customize their drinks, place orders, and pay directly from their phones.

This reduces mistakes in orders, lets staff concentrate on preparing them, and allows customers to pick up their orders later.

D. Wait-in-Line App

A wait-in-line app lets customers hop into a virtual queue from a distance, skipping the need to stand in a physical line.

Users just need to download the app, pick the store they want to go to, and get in line while doing other things. The app keeps them posted on how long they might have to wait and gives a heads-up when it's their turn to be served.

E. Mobile POS systems

Unlike traditional POS machines that are fixed to dedicated checkout counters, mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) systems are portable, utilizing tablets or smartphones with payment processing capabilities.

mPOS allows businesses to cater to customers from any spot in a store, simplifying the checkout process. Its popularity in retail, restaurants, trade shows, and other venues is driven by its portability and flexibility.

It improves customer experience, boosts sales, and provides cost-effective solutions for businesses wanting to adjust to changing customer preferences and market trends.

The Benefits of Line Busting

Implementing these line busting techniques might seem like a big task, but the benefits make it all worthwhile. Let's explore the top five advantages:

1. Cut waiting time

Reducing waiting time is crucial – did you know that when wait times go beyond what customers expect, they are 18% less satisfied with the experience?

Long waits can scare off potential customers from even entering your store, let alone making a purchase.

Using line busting techniques strategically can significantly trim waiting times, reducing the risk of lost sales and increasing your business revenue.

2. Upselling opportunities

With less time spent managing queues, staff can interact more with customers and potentially upsell more products or services.

For example, if a customer asks for help finding a specific product, staff can also suggest related items the customer might want to consider.

Serving customers anywhere in the store allows staff to offer personalized recommendations, leading to increased sales and revenue.

3. Boost operational efficiency and staff productivity

Line busting techniques simplify operations and cut operational costs.
By getting rid of traditional checkout lines, you can allocate staff more effectively and use resources more efficiently.

During busy hours, staff can be strategically deployed to where they are most needed, ensuring effective coverage of the entire store.

4. Data Collection Opportunities

Mobile devices used for line busting can also be used for collecting valuable customer data or facilitating sign-ups for loyalty programs.

Businesses can track the success of promotions or discounts by recording how many customers use them during checkout, enabling data-driven decisions for future campaigns.

5. Build customer loyalty

Line busting contributes to a positive customer experience by reducing wait times and showing a commitment to efficiency and convenience. This encourages customers to return to the store in the future.

Best Practices for Effective Line Busting

To make line busting work well for your business, keep these simple tips in mind:

• Choose the Right Technology:

Pick line busting technologies that fit your business and make sense to your customers. Think about scalability, integration, and user-friendliness when choosing devices and systems.

For example, in a busy restaurant, an mPOS system can make taking orders and payments smoother. Make sure you have the basics like a good internet connection, card reader, and an easy app for transactions.

• Train Your Team Well:

If your business is new to line busting tech, train your staff thoroughly. Knowing how to use these tools is crucial. Without proper training, you might end up with longer wait times and lower service quality.

Teach your staff how to use line busting tools like mobile devices and mPOS systems, including how to handle situations when systems are down. This way, they can give great service while using line busting techniques.

• Arrange Your Store Smartly:

Look at your store layout and make changes to fit line busting. Put mPOS stations in busy areas for easy access. Use clear signs and mark waiting zones to guide customers.

This helps keep the flow of customers and staff smooth, cutting down on congestion and boosting efficiency.

Challenges in Managing These Technologies

Jumping into new technologies can be tricky, and there are some common issues you might face:

• Technical problems

Like any tech implementation, line busting can encounter technical problems such as connectivity issues, device malfunctions, or software glitches.

It's a must to have a reliable IT support system in place to quickly address these issues and minimize disruptions to the customer experience.

• Integration challenges

Mixing line busting tech with existing systems, such as keeping track of inventory or managing customer relationships, can be tricky and might cost you.

Picking tech that plays well with others makes the whole integration thing easier.

• Learning curve

Getting the hang of new technologies and processes takes time, both for your staff and customers. Ongoing training and support for your team make sure they feel comfy using line busting tech.

And when your staff is in the know, they can help customers get the hang of line busting too.

Make Line Busting Easy with AirDroid Business

When you're dealing with challenges in getting line busting up and running, as mentioned in the last section, you need the right tools and support. That's where AirDroid Business comes in to help you set up smooth line busting practices.

AirDroid Business has everything you need to overcome challenges and handle line busting technologies like mPOS, kiosks, and mobile devices. It does this through its Mobile Device Management (MDM) features.

Here's how AirDroid Business can help:

📍 Remote access and control

With AirDroid Business, your IT team can easily access and control the devices used for line busting.

This means they can quickly fix issues, keeping downtime to a minimum and ensuring your customers have a smooth experience.

📍 Kiosk Mode

Introducing new line busting tech can be confusing for both employees and customers. AirDroid Business has a solution with its Kiosk Mode.

This feature locks down devices, limiting access to apps, websites, and settings. This makes sure using the device is simple and secure.

📍 Application management

AirDroid Business lets you manage applications effortlessly. You can remotely install, uninstall, and update work-related apps on different devices.

This makes it easy to integrate line busting technologies across all your devices, making sure they're always running the latest software.

Summary

In a nutshell, line busting is changing how things work in places like stores and hospitals. Giving employees smartphones and using tech like mobile cash registers and kiosks cuts down on waiting, makes more money, and makes things run smoother.

Even though there might be some challenges at first, AirDroid Business has got you covered. It has useful features like remote access, kiosk mode, and app management, making it easy to fit into your system.

Ready to take your business to the next level? Give AirDroid Business a try today!