Advantages of Virtual Queue Systems Encouraging Retailers to Adopt Them in 2021

In the fast-paced world of ecommerce, managing high traffic and preventing website crashes has become a crucial challenge for retailers. One solution that's gaining traction is the use of virtual waiting rooms.

These digital waiting spaces are proving to be an invaluable tool for retailers, particularly those who find themselves successful and at risk of being overwhelmed. By handling high traffic effectively, virtual waiting rooms empower retailers to grow their business faster.

The concept is simple yet ingenious. When a website experiences a surge in visitors, the virtual waiting room steps in as a safety net, preventing downtime and lost orders, which can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

But the benefits of virtual waiting rooms extend beyond just operational efficiency. They engage visitors by providing information about products and services during the wait, cross-selling other products or services, and boosting sales by increasing conversion rates.

A progress bar in a virtual waiting room re-conceptualizes waiting as progress, helping to strengthen the resolve of customers who remain in line. This is due to the sunk cost bias, a psychological phenomenon triggered by the progress bar.

Virtual waiting rooms also help set expectations and allow real-time communication, reducing anxiety among customers. Seeing others in line for a product validates its value to shoppers, encouraging them to wait and buy. This tactic is known as tapping into social proof, making the product more appealing to shoppers.

Academic studies show that a positive waiting experience is driven by how people feel while waiting, not just the length of the wait. By providing a seamless user experience, virtual waiting rooms deliver online fairness, especially during limited-edition product launches.

Some virtual waiting rooms even allow for a smooth ecommerce UX between devices, such as sending email notifications when it's a visitor's turn in line. This ensures that customers are kept informed and engaged, even when they switch devices.

High-end fashion retailer Winkelstraat.nl is one example of a company that saw significant success with a virtual waiting room. During their Black Friday sales, they experienced an enormous increase in conversion rates due to their waiting room.

As we move into 2021, it's likely that virtual waiting rooms will be used more frequently by online retailers. They offer retailers the opportunity to tailor their waiting room to match their brand, voice, and creative, providing a unique and personalised customer experience.

However, there are currently no specific mentions in the search results of online retailers that implemented virtual waiting rooms developed in 2021 or names of several known ones. As the trend continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how more retailers adopt this innovative solution to manage high traffic and grow their businesses.

In conclusion, virtual waiting rooms are proving to be a game-changer for ecommerce retailers, offering a cost-effective way to manage high traffic, engage visitors, and boost sales. By following scientifically-proven principles of queuing user experience, these digital waiting spaces are set to revolutionise the way retailers handle online traffic and customer interactions.