It’s no secret that we’re known for our queuing in Great Britain; it’s something we’re proud of. We’ve turned waiting into an art form over the centuries, but that could be about to change with the advent of new tech innovations.

A series of well-known brands have teamed with developers to create apps which seek to help us break our queuing habits – by removing the need to queue altogether. If that idea brings a sense of relief to your day, you’ll be glad to know that more than a few of these queue-killing apps are available already.

1. Table Service at Wetherspoon’s

Let’s be honest: nobody likes queuing at the bar, no matter what’s waiting for you once you get to the front. This rings especially true for anyone who’s ever gone into a Wetherspoon’s for a bite to eat when the football’s on, or anyone who doesn’t want to miss out on socialising with friends to spend an hour huddled with strangers. Wetherspoon’s identified this customer dilemma and saw an opportunity for tech to bridge the gap. The free Order & Pay app lets customers browse through the menu and make an order directly to the table, with payment taken by card for a simple and easy transaction. The service is being rolled out regionally, with all branches in line to accommodate the app by the end of March.

2. Skip the Queue with Starbucks

For many of us, getting our morning caffeine fix on the way to the office is an absolute must. Unfortunately, that can often be hindered by scores of commuters with the same idea. Starbucks identified how this could be discouraging customers from ordering coffee from them over less-busy competitors, and set out to fix the problem. The result is the queue-jumping, pre-ordering Starbucks app. What’s more, Starbucks created a series of fun, breezy video tutorials on YouTube to help customers to use the app, linking up offline efforts with their savvy social media strategy.

3. Amazon Does Away with Cashiers

The tech and retail worlds were abuzz with news of Amazon’s new offline offering during the tail end of 2016. Doing away with the idea of queues, as well as cashiers and barcodes, Amazon’s new grocery shop is a testament to our relationship with the smartphone. A customer simply scans their smartphone upon entry, linking a credit card with their account to ensure all purchases are paid for, and starts browsing. But instead of having a helpful assistant scan their items through – or even having to do it themselves at self-service – customers can simply leave. The purchases (which are detected using a network of CCTV) are then automatically charged to the individual’s account.

4. Hassle-Free Train Travel

Admittedly, our train network isn’t quite up to par with our European neighbours, but it’s hard not to acknowledge the steps train companies have taken to save on environmental waste. Tackling the issue of discarded tickets and the waste of paper that creates, notable ticket firm The Trainline has introduced an updated app offering mobile tickets, alongside regular train schedules. These digital passes are valid for train checks and allow access through gates using the phone’s NCF contactless technology and QR codes. What’s more, Trainline CEO Clare Gilmartin’s fascination with the app’s service comes from understanding that 80% of ticket sales still take place at rail stations, leading to lengthy queues for the morning commute and fines for anyone unable to buy a ticket before travelling.

5. ASOS Brings Fashion to Your Pocket

Over the last few years, ASOS has seen its sales climb considerably and is planning a large scale expansion thanks to a loyal customer base, hungry for fashion straight to their door. By offering affordable garments from a number of well-known high street brands – such as TopShop and River Island –  ASOS has been able to take the hassle out of queuing for fashion bargains. That’s especially true with their updated mobile app, which takes simple payments and is available across all devices – including the Apple Watch. The results have spoken for themselves, with ASOS’ mobile app winning the title of UK’s Best eCommerce App, while many of their competitors revealed they simply don’t invest in app development.

More than ever we’re turning to technology to streamline and make our modern day lifestyles more efficient. These apps prove that great innovations can take occur if companies are prepared to listen to their customers’ pain points and tackle them in forward-thinking ways.

Interested in embracing a bespoke solution to create reliable scalability, pronounced growth, and streamlined processes across your organisation? Talk to us to find out how Kaleida can help build a tailored solution to fit your business’ needs and long-term goals.