Get up and running with NextMe. This guide walks you through the core workflow — adding guests, managing the waitlist, notifying guests when you're ready for them, and reviewing your analytics.
NextMe is web-based and designed for collaboration. Multiple team members can access the same account remotely or on-site, syncing in real time across desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile (iOS and Android).
When to use this article
You are new to NextMe and getting started for the first time
You are training a new team member on the core workflow
You need a quick refresher on how NextMe works
Getting Started
Navigate to https://web.nextmeapp.com/waitlist and log in. If your team does not have a login yet, speak with a manager to get one created under Team Settings.
If your business has not created an account yet, click Sign Up on the login page to get started.
1. Add a Guest
Click the green + (plus) icon to open the Add Guest panel.
Phone number
Click the Phone field and enter your guest's mobile number. Recognized numbers auto-populate so you can identify repeat guests and pre-fill their information from their last visit. Repeat guests are indicated with a small checkmark next to their name on the waitlist.
Tip: Phone number is optional. If a guest prefers not to leave one, you can still add them by name — they will wait traditionally until called.
Queue
Click the Queue dropdown to assign the guest to the appropriate queue. Learn more about Queue Settings.
Estimated Wait Time
Click the Estimated Wait Time dropdown to set guest expectations. Learn more about Smart Wait Times.
Custom Fields
If your business collects additional guest information, fill in any Custom Fields that appear in the form.
Create
Click Create to add the guest to the waitlist. They will automatically receive an SMS confirmation with a link to their Virtual Waiting Room where they can track their place in line.
Note: If guests are using a QR code to Self Check-in, they add themselves — you can skip the steps above.
2. Confirmation
Your guest will automatically receive an SMS Notification confirming they've been added, with a link to track their estimated wait time and place in line via your Virtual Waiting Room.
3. Virtual Waiting Room
The Virtual Waiting Room is a mobile engagement page your guests see while they wait. Whether it's a menu, real-time promos, or required forms — guests stay engaged while tracking their place in line, increasing retention by upwards of 35%.
Learn more about how to set up your Virtual Waiting Room.
4. Manage the Waitlist
Back on the waitlist, you can see each guest's time added (or "Joined" if they checked in via Self Check-in), their queue assignment and position in line, and their actual wait time vs. quoted wait time (turns red if actual exceeds quoted).
Transfer a guest to a different queue: Click the queue name directly on the guest card — a dropdown appears so you can reassign them without opening the edit panel.
Reposition a guest: Click a guest's position number to manually change their place in line. Useful for VIP prioritization or triage.
Using the iOS or Android app? Swipe left on a guest card to reveal action buttons (Notify, Service, Cancel) instead of tapping icons.
5. Notify a Guest
When you are ready for a guest, click the Notify icon on their card.
Then click Notify to send the SMS.
When the guest replies:
"1" — status changes to Returning, confirming they are on their way back
"9" — status changes to Cancelled
"3" (if enabled) — guest is pushed back a set number of positions and returns to Waiting status
Tip: Click the refresh icon to manually update guest statuses in real time — useful if your connection is slower than usual. The number to the right of Notified shows how many times that guest has been notified.
Note: Reply options 1 and 9 are enabled by default. Reply 3 (Request More Time) is optional and off by default — configure all reply options in Notification Settings.
6. Service or Cancel a Guest
Click the blue check icon when the guest returns and you are ready to serve them.
Click Service — the guest moves off the main waitlist into History.
Click the red X icon to cancel and remove the guest from the waitlist.
Tip: If your business has multiple locations, confirm you have the correct location selected from the dropdown before adding or managing guests.
7. History
Click the clock icon in the left sidebar to open the History page, where you can see guests who have been serviced or cleared. By default, guests auto-clear after 1 day unless your business has configured a different Expiration Threshold.
From the History page, click the blue check icon to complete a guest's servicing period in the system — this lets your business track how long it took to fully service each guest. Click the History icon again to return to the main waitlist.
Tip: Accidentally cancelled or serviced a guest? Click the Restore icon from the History page to return them to the active waitlist.
8. Bookings
A Booking is a guest scheduled in advance. Bookings are added by the business only — NextMe does not currently provide guests a page to self-service their own booking.
Click the green + icon to open the Add Guest panel.
Toggle on Booking, then fill in the guest's details plus the Booking Date and Booking Time fields.
Click Create. Bookings appear alongside walk-ins on your waitlist so you can manage both in one view. Learn more about Bookings.
9. Analytics
Click the Analytics icon in the left sidebar to access your dashboard.
Use the date filters at the top to scope your view: Today, Last 7 days, Last 14 days, Month to Date, or a custom range. Your dashboard metrics update in real time when you reload the page.
At the bottom of the Analytics page, export reports in CSV or Excel format. The Guest Report includes First Name, Last Name, Last Location, Last Queue, and Guest ID columns. Learn more about Analytics.
Troubleshooting
App running slowly or showing errors?
Check that your internet connection is strong — run a speed test at Speedtest.net if unsure
If your mobile carrier signal is stronger than your Wi-Fi, try switching to it
If the issue persists, screenshot any errors and email support@nextmeapp.com
Common Search Phrases
"How do I use NextMe?"
"How do I add a guest to the waitlist?"
"How do I notify a guest that we're ready for them?"
"Can you walk me through how NextMe works?"
"How do I train my staff on NextMe?"
"What is the basic workflow in NextMe?"
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Still Need Help?
If this article didn't solve your issue, click the chat icon to speak with our support team or email support@nextmeapp.com.