What Is Priority Queue Mode?
What Is Priority Queue Mode?
By default, FullSlot notifies everyone on your waitlist at the same time the moment a slot opens. Priority queue mode changes that — it notifies your highest-ranked clients first, waits to see if they claim it, then notifies the next group if the slot is still open.
Broadcast vs. priority queue
Broadcast (default) Every eligible client gets notified at the same moment. It's fair, fast, and fills slots quickly. First to respond wins.
Priority queue FullSlot ranks your waitlist by a priority score — based on factors like how long someone has been waiting, whether they're a VIP, and how recently they were active. The top clients get notified first. If the slot goes unclaimed after the response window, the next group is notified.
How the waves work
When a slot opens and priority queue is enabled:
Wave 1 — The top clients by priority score are notified. They have 60 minutes to claim the slot. This is intentionally long — not everyone checks their phone the moment a text arrives.
Wave 2 — If no one claims it after an hour, the next group is notified. They have 30 minutes.
Wave 3 and beyond — Windows shorten to 15 minutes as urgency increases.
Final broadcast — If all waves pass without a claim, everyone remaining is notified at once as a last resort.
The slot stays open throughout. Each wave is a fresh chance for a new group to claim it.
Exception: If the slot is starting soon (within 90 minutes), all wave windows shrink automatically so there's still time to fill it before the appointment time passes.
When should I use priority queue mode?
Priority queue works best when:
- Your waitlist is large and you want to reward long-waiting or high-value clients before opening to everyone.
- You want VIPs to always get first access to openings without manually notifying them.
- Your appointment slots are in high demand and you'd rather give your best clients a head start than have it be pure first-come, first-served.
Broadcast mode is usually better when:
- Your waitlist is small (under 10 people) and speed matters more than rank.
- You want the slot filled as fast as possible and don't mind it going to whoever responds quickest.
How priority scores are calculated
Each client on your waitlist has a priority score that determines their wave order. The score is based on:
- Wait time — How long they've been on the waitlist. Longer = higher score.
- VIP status — Clients marked as VIP get a significant score boost.
- Existing booking — Clients who already have a future appointment on the same schedule get a bump, since claiming this slot would free their current spot (cascade rebooking).
- Responsiveness — Clients who have claimed or responded to past notifications score higher than those who consistently miss them.
You don't need to manage scores manually. They update automatically as your waitlist activity changes.
How to enable priority queue mode
Go to Settings in your dashboard and find the Notification Strategy section. Select Priority queue — notify in waves and save.
New slots will use the priority queue from that point forward. Existing open slots are not affected.
Can I switch back to broadcast?
Yes — at any time. Go to Settings → Notification Strategy and switch back to Broadcast. There's no data loss; your waitlist and scores are preserved.