When students, administrators, and faculty begin nearly any college semester, they encounter a familiar set of problems. Students spend hours on the computer waiting to register for classes; administrators process lines of students looking to have financial aid questions answered; faculty members schedule and manage office hours while trying to develop syllabi and lectures.
No wonder everyone’s stressed out by the end of the first week.
Implementing virtual queuing systems can resolve these issues. Improved overall operational efficiency and invaluable insights translate to a more positive experience for everyone on campus.
Meet Student Expectations
We live in a digitally driven world, and we’ve come to expect the world to be available at our fingertips. College students, especially, have little patience for any process or procedure that isn’t optimized to make the most of their time.
Queuing software is designed with users in mind. With remote check-in, students tell the system what service(s) they need, and they are placed in appropriate virtual queues. They receive real-time updates via SMS messaging or email about their estimated wait time and when they should report to the physical location for service.
This way, students can wait wherever they want—studying, playing video games in their room with friends, or grabbing a bite to eat. They don’t have to plan their day around waiting in a long, physical line.
Improve Operational Efficiency
Managers of campus departments are no different from leaders out in the “real” world; data drives decisions. Virtual queue systems have robust reporting tools with real-time and historical insights that track peak student traffic, which services they need the most and when, and how long it takes employees to complete interactions.
By understanding when student needs are highest, departments can staff more appropriately. A centralized management dashboard can be accessed from any device, giving managers a bird’s-eye view of operations in real time. This way, workers can be moved from one area to another that might need more attention.
At the same time, schools have the opportunity to personalize communications with students according to how individuals interact with the software. Campus news, offers, and promos based on individual interests increase engagement and strengthen the connection students feel with their school.
For faculty, online appointment scheduling goes a long way in helping them assist students and stay more organized. When students reserve time with a professor, the system can require them to answer questions about why they want to meet. This way, educators can prepare before an individual arrives at their office and address their needs in a more thoughtful and intentional manner. And, because appointment scheduling is based on a professor’s class schedule, they don’t have to worry about unexpected drop-ins outside of scheduled office hours that could derail their calendar for the day.
Versatility Is Functionality
Virtual queuing technology should integrate seamlessly into systems and platforms already in use on campus and adapt to the changing needs of a school and its students. Schools shouldn’t have to rip out and replace what already works for them.
Queuing systems shouldn’t require the installation of any software. Instead, users access the system through secure, browser-based access from either their smartphones or interactive kiosks.
Colleges and universities can streamline operations with single sign-on (SSO) capabilities. Schools also have the opportunity to customize apps based on student needs and interests.
Life on college campuses gets hectic for everyone—students, staff, and faculty alike. Virtual queue solutions won’t solve every problem, but they do create better customer experiences for the students who need services or time with their professors as well as faculty and staff.
Jamie Ladd is a Senior Account Executive at Qtrac, where he specializes in building strategic partnerships for Qtrac’s virtual queuing solutions in a variety of industries including retail, higher education, government, and banking. With over 10 years of experience in queuing, Jamie has a strong track record of success in building relationships with clients and helping them deliver a world-class customer experience.