Goodbye Lines, Hello Fun!

If you were lucky enough to be at LA Fleet Week recently, you probably noticed something pretty awesome – the lines for those highly sought-after ship tours were… well, they weren't really lines at all! Guru Experience had the privilege of creating a new Virtual Queuing system in partnership with Battleship IOWA and LA Fleet Week, recently making its debut at the huge annual event. 

Remember the days of endless queues, shuffling your feet under the sun, and wondering if you'd ever actually get to see those amazing vessels? They are over! LA Fleet Week is all about celebrating our nation's service members and enjoying a fantastic community event, not spending half your day in a snaking queue.

As the Daily Breeze reported, "Day 1 of LA Fleet Week welcomes hundreds to celebrate the nation's service members," and a big part of that seamless welcome was thanks to this innovative system.

The Problem: Long Lines & Missed Opportunities

• Prior to virtual queues, large events like LA Fleet Week often faced a common challenge: managing huge crowds and long wait times for popular attractions. This not only created frustration for attendees but also meant they spent valuable time waiting in line instead of enjoying other parts of the event – grabbing a bite, exploring exhibits, or soaking in the atmosphere.

The Solution: Guru Experience's Digital Queuing System

• Enter Guru Experience with an easy, user-friendly solution! Our new Virtual Queuing system is designed to eliminate physical lines and give attendees back their time and freedom.

How It Works: A Simple & Seamless Process

So, how did this magic happen at LA Fleet Week? It's surprisingly simple and incredibly efficient:

1. Reserve a Spot Digitally: Instead of joining a physical line, visitors simply reserved their whole party’s spot in the digital queue, often via their smartphones. This could be done through a dedicated event app, a web-based portal, or even at on-site kiosks. For this particular event, geo-fencing ensured visitors were within 4 miles of the event site in order to book a place in the queue. 

2. Receive a Barcode: Once a spot was reserved, the system generated a unique digital barcode for the visitor. This barcode was their "ticket" to their place in the virtual line.

3. Explore Freely! This is where the real fun begins! With their spot secured digitally, attendees were free to roam the entire LA Fleet Week event. They could visit food vendors, check out other displays, relax, or simply enjoy the festive atmosphere without the stress of missing their turn.

4. Assigned Return Time: The system intelligently managed the flow of visitors. Visitors were assigned a return time and could check their screen to monitor how close they were getting. Once their boarding time was ready, they would see the barcode color change to green alerting them that it was time to head back.

5. Scan and Enter: Upon arrival at the designated entry point, visitors simply presented their digital barcode to be scanned by staff. Once scanned, they were welcomed in, ready to enjoy their experience without having waited in a long physical line.

The Impact: A Win-Win for Everyone

This isn't just about convenience; it's about making events more accessible and enjoyable for everyone. At Guru Experience, we understand that the true "experience" at a large-scale event like LA Fleet Week, a special museum exhibition, or free admission days shouldn't be about waiting, but about engaging, learning, and celebrating. Not to mention optimizing operational flow for the event organizers.

If you have a queue in need of an upgrade, let us know! We are happy to chat.