Project Description — QueueLess (SUTD Canteen Pre-Ordering)
Inspiration
At SUTD, lunch time comes with one predictable problem: long queues. During peak times, students often spend 15–20 minutes waiting to order food. This creates unnecessary stress, reduces actual eating time, and sometimes forces students to either skip meals or be late for class. We wanted to solve this everyday campus pain point with a simple, practical system.
What it does
QueueLess is a mobile pre-ordering platform that allows students to: Browse canteen stalls and menus Pre-order meals from anywhere on campus Pay seamlessly Receive an ETA and collect food when it’s ready The goal is simple: reduce queue time and make lunch faster and less stressful.
How we built it
We built QueueLess as a full-stack MVP using: Flutter for the app Firebase as the database and backend infrastructure Firebase allowed us to quickly implement user data storage, order tracking, and real-time updates without needing to manually manage servers.
Challenges we ran into
One of the biggest challenges was deciding how to build the backend. Early on, we debated between using a traditional SQL database or a real-time solution like Firebase. We had to figure out: How to structure the order system efficiently How to store and update live order queues How to connect the frontend smoothly to the backend How to implement the flow end-to-end without breaking the user experience Learning backend architecture while building the product at the same time was one of the hardest parts of the project.
Accomplishments we’re proud of
We’re most proud of successfully creating a working MVP. In a short amount of time, we built: A functional prototype A working order flow from selection to collection A backend-connected system with Firebase storage Most importantly, we turned a real campus issue into a real product prototype.
What we learned
This project taught us a lot about real-world software development, including: How to build a complete app from scratch Frontend development and UI design in Flutter Backend development and database structure How to connect systems reliably across the stack How product decisions (like database choice) affect implementation It was a strong introduction to both technical skills and practical product thinking.
What’s next for the team
QueueLess is only the beginning. Next, we want to: Improve the UI and ordering experience Add better menu management tools for merchants Improve the ETA system and make it more accurate Expand features like notifications and live stall status Potentially pilot the system with actual stalls at SUTD We’re excited to keep developing QueueLess into a more complete product that could genuinely improve campus life.
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