Documentation

How to run your queue with QRueue

Everything you need to set up QRueue, run the counter day to day and answer questions from staff and customers. Use the contents to jump to a section.

What QRueue is

QRueue is a take-a-number system without the paper. You put one printed QR code at your counter. Customers scan it with their own phone camera and get a numbered ticket in the browser. You call numbers from a console on your phone or computer, and any screen in your shop shows the number now being served.

Barbers, bakeries, butchers and delis with a walk-in line
Pharmacies, repair shops, government and service desks
Pop-up stalls, events and clinics that need a fair order without a machine

ExampleA bakery prints the QR code and tapes it next to the door. An old tablet behind the counter shows the number. The baker taps Call Next on a phone between orders.

Buying and activating your account

The Single queue licence costs $99 once. There is no subscription. It includes one point of service, unlimited tickets, the live display board and the attendant console. Branding and Multi-counter plans are listed as coming soon and are not available yet.

1Open the Buy page and complete checkout.
2Watch your email for a message titled “Set your QRueue password”. Activation can take up to 15 minutes.
3Open the link and choose a password of at least 8 characters.
4You are taken to the setup steps. Afterwards, log in any time at the Log in page with your purchase email and password.

NoteThe setup link expires after 7 days and can be used once. If it expired, use “Request a new link” and enter your purchase email to get a fresh one.

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First-time setup

After setting your password, QRueue walks you through four short steps. You can come back to them by logging in again until they are finished.

1Name your queue. Customers see this name on their ticket, for example “Counter 1” or your shop name.
2Print your code. The QR code is shown on screen. Print it or save it, then tap “I've printed it”.
3Open display. Open the display link shown on any screen customers can see. The step continues once the display is connected.
4Test it out. Scan the QR code with a phone to take a ticket, then tap Call Next. When a ticket is issued and called, setup finishes and you can open the console.

Printing and placing the QR code

Your QR code never changes. Print it once and leave it up; resets and reopenings do not require a new print.

To print it, take a screenshot or print the page during the “Print your code” step. The code points to your queue page address, which ends in /q/ followed by your queue code.

Place it at eye level near the entrance or where the line starts.
Print it at least the size of a palm so phones can read it from a step away.
Avoid glossy laminate under strong lights; glare stops cameras reading it.
Add a short line such as “Scan to take a number” so first-time customers know what to do.

The customer experience

Customers do not install an app and do not sign up. They open the phone camera, scan the code and the browser opens a page with their number.

The ticket shows their number, the number now serving, how many people are ahead and an approximate wait when there is enough history. It updates live without refreshing.

When they are next in line, the ticket says “Get ready — you're almost up”.
When their number is called, it says “Step up now”. On phones that support it (usually Android), the phone also vibrates.
If their number has already gone by, the ticket says “Your number was called”.

ExampleA customer scans, sees number 14 with “3 people ahead”, and goes for a coffee. When 13 is called, their ticket tells them to get ready.

Using the attendant console

The console shows the number now serving, how many people are waiting, the next number to be issued and whether the queue is open. It refreshes on its own every few seconds.

Call Next: Calls the next number. The display and the customer's ticket update. If nobody is waiting, you will see “No one is waiting in the queue right now.”
Repeat: Calls the current number again, for when a customer did not hear or see it. Available once a number has been called.
Skip: Marks the current customer as a no-show and moves on to the next number.
Close queue: Stops new tickets. Anyone scanning sees a “Queue is closed right now” page, and customers with open tickets see a closed notice. Call Next is disabled while closed.
Open queue: Starts accepting tickets again.
Reset: Starts a new cycle from number 1. Asks for confirmation first.

NoteThe console can be open on more than one device. Agree on who calls next: simultaneous taps can call different numbers before you are ready to serve them.

WarningReset invalidates all current tickets and starts a new sequence. Open ticket pages reload to get a new number. Only reset when the line is empty or after explaining the change to waiting customers.

The display screen

Open your display link on any device with a browser: a TV, monitor, tablet or old phone. It shows the number now serving in large type, the last few numbers served, and notices such as “Queue closed” or an upcoming reset.

Sound: browsers block audio until someone touches the page. Tap the screen once when you see “Tap to enable sound” to turn on the chime. Use the Sound On / Sound Off button to mute it, or dismiss the prompt if you do not want sound.
Staying awake: on browsers that support it, the display asks the device to keep the screen on. Also set the device's own sleep timer to never, especially on older devices.
Connection: if the internet drops, the display shows “Offline” and reconnects on its own when the connection or device comes back.

NoteUse full screen mode in the browser and keep the device on its charger.

Reset policies and timezone

In Settings you choose how the number sequence returns to 1. The default is Manual only, with timezone UTC.

Manual only: The sequence resets only when you tap Reset.
Every N hours: Resets automatically on a repeating timer, from 1 to 72 hours (8 is suggested).
Daily at a fixed time: Resets once a day at a 24-hour time you choose (09:00 is suggested).

Set the timezone using an IANA timezone name such as Europe/Madrid or America/New_York so daily resets happen at your local time. Save changes when done.

Customers see a notice about 5 minutes before an automatic reset.

WarningAn automatic reset never happens while customers are still waiting or being called. It is held until the queue is empty, and the console shows “Automatic reset is waiting for the queue to empty.” You can still reset manually at any time.

Tickets, expiry and return visits

The phone remembers its ticket with a single cookie for that queue only, so customers who close the browser or lock their phone can scan again and see the same number.

Scanning again while waiting returns the same ticket, not a new one.
After a ticket was served or skipped, the next scan gives a fresh number.
A ticket is treated as abandoned once the queue has moved more than 20 numbers past it, or 12 hours after it was issued. The next scan then gives a new number.
After a reset, open tickets belong to the old cycle; the page reloads and returning customers get a number in the new sequence.
The ticket cookie expires after 7 days or when the queue resets, whichever comes first.

Your name and branding

Your queue name, chosen during setup, appears on the customer ticket and the display. Custom logos, colours and promo content on the ticket page are part of the Branding plan, which is not available yet.

Try the live demo

The homepage has a working demo of all three screens: customer ticket, shop display and console. Scan or click the QR code to take a demo number, then tap Call Next to watch the other screens update. Demo tickets are temporary and the demo queue is shared with other visitors.

Languages

The website, console and settings are available in English and Spanish. Change language with the language selector at the top or bottom of public pages, or at the bottom of Settings. Customer ticket and display pages follow the language of the device browser.

Troubleshooting

The QR code will not scan: Print it larger, remove glare, and make sure the whole code is visible with a white border around it.
Customers see “Queue is closed right now”: The queue is closed. Tap Open queue in the console.
Call Next is greyed out: The queue is closed, a request is in progress, or your licence was refunded.
“Too many tickets from this connection”: Many tickets were requested very quickly from one network. Wait a few seconds and scan again.
The display shows Offline: Check the device's internet connection. It reconnects automatically.
No chime on the display: Tap the screen once to enable sound and check the device volume and Sound On button.
The automatic reset did not happen: It is held while people are waiting. Serve or skip the remaining customers, or reset manually.
I cannot log in: Check you are using your purchase email. If you never set a password, request a new setup link.

Frequently asked questions

Do customers need an app or an account?: No. A phone camera and a browser are enough.
What if a customer has no phone?: Arrange assisted service at the counter. One browser keeps one active ticket for a queue, so repeatedly scanning on a shared shop device does not create separate tickets for several waiting customers. Do not mix a separate paper sequence with QRueue numbers.
Is there a monthly fee?: No. The Single queue licence is $99 once.
Can I run several counters?: One licence covers one point of service. Multi-counter is planned but not available yet.
Can I get a refund?: Yes, in full within 30 calendar days of purchase. Email support. After a refund, the account and queue page are deactivated immediately and data is deleted 90 days after the refund date.
What happens if I lose the printed QR code?: Print it again; the code never changes.

Privacy

Customers are not asked for a name, email or phone number. The only thing stored on their phone is a strictly necessary ticket cookie for that queue. QRueue does not use tracking cookies. Account holders can ask to access, export or delete their data by emailing support. See the Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy for full details.

Getting help

Email support@qrueue.com with your purchase email and a short description of the problem. Screenshots of the console or display help us answer faster.

Still have a question?

Email support@qrueue.com for help with your queue.