Separate lines per visit
Drop-off, pick-up, advice and services such as vaccinations each get their own queue, so a quick pick-up never waits behind a long consultation.
Healthcare · Pharmacies
Pharmacy queue management without the crowd at the counter
Separate lines for prescription drop-off, pick-up and advice, a screen that shows who is next, and an SMS when the prescription is ready. For community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies and chains.
- Drop-off, pick-up, advice
- SMS when ready
- From $50 / month
What it does
One counter, three very different visits
Someone dropping off a prescription, someone collecting one and someone who needs advice should not stand in the same line. A pharmacy queue system gives each visit its own place in line and tells people when it is their turn.
Ready? We’ll text you
Customers leave a mobile number at drop-off and get an SMS when the prescription is ready, so they can shop or sit instead of hovering at the counter.
Check-in in seconds
A QR code at the entrance or a tablet kiosk; staff can also add customers at the counter.
Calm, clear screen
Any TV or monitor with a web browser shows the number being called and the counter to go to.
Discreet calling
Call by ticket number instead of name, so nobody in the shop learns who is collecting what.
Plan the rush
See waiting and service times by hour and by visit type, and staff the counter for the real peaks.
How a visit flows
From the door to the counter, without the crowd
1
Choose the visit
The customer scans the QR code or taps the kiosk: drop-off, pick-up, advice or a service.
2
Get a number
A ticket on the phone or on paper, with the place in line and an estimated wait.
3
Wait anywhere
Browse the shop or step out; an SMS arrives when it is their turn or the order is ready.
4
Called to the counter
Staff click “call next” and the screen shows the number and the counter.
5
See the day
Waiting and service times per visit type feed the daily and weekly reports.
Setting it up
What a pharmacy actually needs
No hardware project: most pharmacies start with a screen and a printed QR code.
Typical setup
- Three or four services: prescription drop-off, prescription pick-up, advice, and services such as vaccinations or blood-pressure checks.
- A screen near the counter showing the number being called.
- A QR code at the entrance and, if you like, a tablet as a kiosk for customers without a smartphone.
- A consultation room as its own “counter”, so private conversations are called like any other visit.
Good habits
- Ask before you text: offer the SMS at drop-off and let the customer choose.
- Keep it short: a first name and a mobile number are enough for the queue; prescription details stay in your pharmacy software.
- Call numbers, not names, at the counter and on the screen.
| For a pharmacy | Starter · $50/month | Enterprise · $100/month |
|---|---|---|
| Locations | 1 | Up to 5 |
| Counters / collection points | 3 | Unlimited |
| Team members | 5 | 50 |
| QR & mobile check-in, kiosk | ✓ | ✓ |
| Waiting-room display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Appointment booking | — | ✓ |
| SMS when it is their turn | — | ✓ |
| Analytics | Basic | Advanced |
Plans as listed on the Qwaiton pricing page. Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial, no credit card.
Keep reading
Related pages
Hospital & healthcare queues
Patient flow across registration, lab, radiology and pharmacy.
Healthcare →Laboratory queues
Sample collection with priority rules and a results counter.
Laboratories →Clinic queue system
Walk-ins and appointments in one list for small clinics.
Clinics →Virtual queuing
Let customers wait anywhere and come back on time.
Virtual queue →Token display system
What to show on the screen and which screen to use.
Token display →What it costs
Pricing models, hardware and three worked examples.
Cost guide →
FAQ
Pharmacy queues, answered
What is a pharmacy queue management system?
Software that gives every customer a place in line for the right service (drop-off, pick-up, advice), shows who is being called on a screen, and can send an SMS when it is their turn or their prescription is ready.
Can customers wait outside the pharmacy?
Yes. With the Enterprise plan customers get an SMS when it is their turn, so they can shop nearby or wait in the car.
Does it work for a single small pharmacy?
Yes. The Starter plan ($50 per month) covers one location with up to 3 counters; Enterprise ($100 per month) adds SMS, appointments and up to 5 locations.
Can we call customers without saying their name?
Yes. Ticket numbers are shown on the screen and called at the counter, so nobody learns who is collecting which prescription.
Do we need special hardware?
No. The display runs in a web browser on any TV or monitor, and a printed QR code or a tablet handles check-in. A ticket printer is optional.
A calmer counter
starting this week.
Try Qwaiton free for 14 days: set up drop-off, pick-up and advice, put the display on a screen and call your first customer today.
14-day free trial · No credit card · From $50 / month