Waitlist management automation

**1. Purpose**

1. Automate waitlist management to reduce manual handling and error in guest queue tracking.

2. Centralize communication and notifications for diners about table status, automating guest updates.

3. Automate add, update, and remove functions for guests on the waitlist.

4. Maintain real-time view of waitlist status across host stands, tablets, and apps, automating data sync.

5. Automatedly trigger personalized messaging and timing predictions for seatings.

6. Automate reporting on waitlist trends, abandonment rates, and service response times.

**2. Trigger Conditions**

1. New guest joins the waitlist via website, phone, in-person, or messaging platform.

2. Table becomes available, automating status change in host platform.

3. Guest cancels or edits their reservation on waitlist.

4. Guest reaches front of queue, automating messaging sequence.

5. Server or host updates party status in POS or CRM.

6. Waitlist exceeds set threshold, automating alert to staff.

**3. Platform Variants and Automatable Functions/APIs**

1. Twilio SMS

• Feature/Setting: Messaging API; configure to automate SMS notifications for waitlist status.
  

2. SendGrid

• Feature/Setting: Transactional Email API; automate send confirmation and reminder emails for queued guests.
  

3. Slack

• Feature/Setting: Incoming Webhooks; automate staff notifications on channel when waitlist is updated.
  

4. Google Sheets

• Feature/Setting: Sheets API; automate guest addition, removal, and update logging.
  

5. Salesforce

• Feature/Setting: CRM API; automate contact creation and waitlist status syncing for guest profiles.
  

6. Zendesk

• Feature/Setting: Support API; automate ticketing for customer support requests from waiting diners.
  

7. HubSpot

• Feature/Setting: Workflows; automate email and contact follow-up for waitlisted guests.
  

8. Zapier

• Feature/Setting: Multi-step Zaps; automate multi-platform coordination for waitlist updates.
  

9. Mailchimp

• Feature/Setting: Email Automation API; automate post-visit feedback and offers to waitlisted guests.
  

10. Pipedrive

• Feature/Setting: Activity API; automate tracking of reservations' activities and follow-up.
  

11. Airtable

• Feature/Setting: Automation Scripts; automate real-time updating and querying of the waitlist database.
  

12. Microsoft Teams

• Feature/Setting: Bots API; automate notifications and briefings to reservations desk staff.
  

13. WhatsApp Business API

• Feature/Setting: Message Automation; automate queue status and table ready notices.
  

14. Stripe

• Feature/Setting: Payment API; automate deposit requests for special waitlist entries.
  

15. Calendly

• Feature/Setting: Scheduling API; automate sync and confirmation for time-based reservations.
  

16. Intercom

• Feature/Setting: Chatbot API; automate interactive waitlist sign-up and customer comms.
  

17. Square

• Feature/Setting: POS API; automate check-in and status update at the point-of-sale.
  

18. Shopify

• Feature/Setting: Shopify Flow; automate event triggers for restaurant ticketing or order-ahead services.
  

19. Google Calendar

• Feature/Setting: Calendar API; automate block and release of tables tied to time slots.
  

20. Facebook Messenger Platform

• Feature/Setting: Messenger API; automate conversational queue management and notifications.
  

21. Freshdesk

• Feature/Setting: Ticket Automations; automate support updates for guest inquiries while in the queue.
  

22. Monday.com

• Feature/Setting: Automations; automate workflow and handover alerts between host and kitchen teams.
  

23. OpenTable

• Feature/Setting: Reservation API; automate sync of digital reservations with physical waitlist.
  

24. Resy

• Feature/Setting: Resy API; automate reservation and table assignment from the waitlist.
  

**4. Benefits**

1. Automates guest experience for faster, consistent waitlist handling.

2. Reduces manual errors, automating information flow.

3. Saves staff time by automating notifications, alerts, and follow-ups.

4. Automates data collection for analytics and improvement.

5. Increases guest satisfaction through automated, timely communication.

6. Facilitates scaling by automating multi-location coordination.

7. Enables automators to rapidly deploy and update workflow as service needs evolve.