VirtualQueues

VirtualQueues, a clever application built to avoid long queues at popular local shops. We ensure business continuity and customers could shop more safely.

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Inspiration

In this COVID-19 context, the pace of lifestyle has been completely reduced due to the forced lockdown. The economic situation of most of the local shops is in danger since customers are focused on getting back home quickly, avoiding multiple shopping sites, and keeping social distances as large as possible. However, food shops and local essential businesses are still opened and try to get rid of this bad situation, already changing their selling methods and adapting within the legal constraints. In addition, as soon as the lockdown measures allow the local shops to get back to normal, they will be looking for innovative solutions to handle the legal constraints and protect themselves and their customers. On that basis, we identified a major problem for business continuity that is to having a high number of people queueing in often small buildings, having close social interactions. When going to local shops, people do not want anymore to get through long queues having close contact with other people.

What it does

A tool for local business owners to ensure social distance within its customer community. Instead of running a queue directly on site, the queue is managed virtually, customers jumping into the queue from wherever they are, and notified of short-term attending.

How we built it

We developed a Mock-up based on our user stories and user journey analysis to support the future product validation learning and technical developments. This is a frame mock up to provide first insights of potential implementation of the defined B2B & B2C user journey.

Challenges we ran into

The main challenge was to develop a complete User Experience to ensure the future adoption of the solution, especially from non-tech users. The solution itself sounds quite straight forward, but many details required a careful thinking to provide an easy and effective solution that would be finally adopted by the local business owners and customer communities.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Starting from scratch, with a brand new team, we reached a quite high level of maturity of both business and technical definition of the solution that would definitely support us in the future technical and commercial developments.

What we learned

We learned that the interaction with other minds in a multidisciplinary team, and exchange with mentors, is essential to get the preparation of such tech solution right on track, avoiding getting to discuss very specific points instead of focusing on the essential part of the solution.

What's next for VirtualQueues

The next steps for VirtualQueues are the followings:

  • Initial customer feedback campaign presenting the new mock up: Team daily shops (X50)
  • Technological development of the solution (First MVP release) for further validation learning
  • Definition of a communication plan (i.e. website, social media) and marketing material preparation
  • Think about mid-term legal and financial constraints
  • Look for funding (incubator, public funding, shareholder funding)
  • New features are coming after the crisis to ensure long-term sustainability.
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