The Waitlist is where you will spend most of your time in NextMe. From here you can add guests, notify them, update their information and status, view history, filter, search, and much more.
When to use this article
You want to learn how to add a guest to the waitlist
You want to notify a guest that you are ready for them
You need to update a guest's information or status
You want to search, filter, or view historical guests on the waitlist
Adding a guest
Tap the + Add Guest button to open the guest intake form
Fill out the guest's information:
Phone - optional but highly recommended. Guests without a phone number can still be added but must be notified in person. If a guest is a repeat visitor, the form will auto-populate with their previous information
Name - include both a first name and last name or last initial to avoid confusion when multiple guests share the same first name
Queue - select the service the guest is waiting for. See the Queues article for more
Estimated Wait Time - how long you expect the guest to wait. Depending on your settings, NextMe may suggest wait times based on your Wait Time Method, which you can use or ignore
Custom Fields - any additional intake fields your waitlist has configured. See the Custom Fields article for more
Notes - optional internal notes for information not captured elsewhere
Click Create to add the guest to the waitlist
Notifying a guest
When you are ready for a guest, click the Notify button on their waitlist card. This sends them your Ready Message via SMS.
You can notify a guest multiple times - a number next to their Notified status shows how many times they have been notified
Guests can reply "1" to confirm they are returning or "9" to cancel (if reply options are enabled)
If the More Time option is enabled, guests can reply "3" to move themselves back in line
Using the iOS or Android app? Action buttons are not visible by default on mobile. Swipe left on a guest row to reveal the action buttons, including Notify, Service, Cancel, and more. This is a standard mobile design pattern used across the NextMe native apps.
See the Notifications article for full details on customizing your messages and reply options.
Updating a guest
Click on a guest's card to open their detail panel. From here you can:
Edit their name, phone number, queue, wait time, custom fields, or notes
Change their status (Waiting, Notified, In Service, Completed, Cancelled)
Reposition them in line by clicking their position number
Transfer them to a different queue by clicking the queue name on their card
Searching and filtering
Use the search bar at the top of the waitlist to find a guest by name or phone number. Use the filter button (next to search) to filter by guest status or custom field values. Filters can be combined with search to drill down further. Click Reset in the filter dialog to clear all filters.
Viewing history
Toggle the History view to see guests who have already completed service, cancelled, or expired off the waitlist. Historical guests can be restored to the active waitlist using the Restore button.
FAQ
1. Can I add a guest without a phone number?
Yes. Phone number is optional. Guests without a number can still be added to the waitlist but will need to be notified in person rather than by SMS.
2. How do I notify a guest that I am ready for them?
Click the Notify button on their waitlist card. On the iOS or Android app, swipe left on the guest row to reveal the action buttons, then tap Notify. You can notify a guest more than once if needed.
3. Can I edit a guest's information after they have been added?
Yes. Click on the guest's card to open their detail panel and edit any field.
4. How do I move a guest to a different queue?
Click the queue name on the guest's waitlist card and select the new queue from the dropdown.
5. How do I see guests who have already been served?
Toggle the History view at the top of the waitlist to see completed, cancelled, and expired guests.
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