Get in line with text messages at Olathe DMV

DMV's always get a bad rap.  I had a great experience at the Olathe DMV today, so thought I should give them some credit.  They use a system that allows you to start getting in line before you're even there by sending them a text message.  It puts you in line and tells you your estimated wait time.  That way you can schedule it to show up right before you're up, so its almost like having an appointment.

I had to go get a license today, so I used the system.  Turns out they didn't even have a wait anyway!  First I got in line and it said I was up in 10 minutes.  I wasn't planning to be there for half an hour or more, so I cancelled that one.  When I was ready to leave, there was only a 1 minute wait!  Another nice feature is if your turn comes up and you're not there, you can still push yourself to the front of the line if you show up anytime in the next 30 minutes.  So that's what I did when I got there, even though the line was only one person long.

The system is developed by QLess.  Here's a text message transcript of my texts this morning.  You start the queueing process by texting them "Olathe DL"

Me: Olathe DL 10:47 AM

+17143331234: Welcome to QLess - KS Drivers License Office! Reply with 1 for Renewals, Replacements, Name & Address Changes, or 2 for Originals Issuance, Upgrades, Transfers 10:47 AM

Me: 2 10:48 AM

+17143331234: Thanks! Your est. wait is now 10 min. We'll let you know when you reach the front. Commands you can send: "S" - Status update, "L" - Leave, "H" - Help10:48 AM

Me: L 10:49 AM

+17143331234: Ok, you have left all lines. See you next time! 10:49 AM

(Later)

Me: Olathe DL 11:10 AM

+17143331234: Welcome to QLess - KS Drivers License Office! Reply with 1 for Renewals, Replacements, Name & Address Changes, or 2 for Originals Issuance, Upgrades, Transfers 11:10 AM

Me: 2 11:10 AM

+17143331234: Thanks! Your est. wait is now 1 min. We'll let you know when you reach the front. Commands you can send: "S" - Status update, "L" - Leave, "H" - Help11:11 AM

+19097445555: Status update: Not ready yet, but your estimated wait is now 1 min. Please head back to the License Office. Need more time? Reply with "M". 11:11 AM

Me: M 11:11 AM

+19097445555: Ok, we pushed your spot all the way to the back of the line to give you as much time as we can. Your estimated wait is now 1 min. 11:12 AM

+19097445555: You have reached the front of the Originals Issuance, Upgrades, Transfers line! Please proceed to Window 6. Thanks! - http://QLess.com 11:14 AM

+19097445555: Sorry, we still haven't heard back from you, so we had to give your spot to someone else. You have 30 min to rejoin the front of the line - reply with "J".11:15 AM

Me: J 11:32 AM

+19097445555: Thanks! Your est. wait is now 1 min. We'll let you know when you reach the front. Commands you can send: "S" - Status update, "L" - Leave, "H" - Help11:33 AM

+19097445555: You have reached the front of the Originals Issuance, Upgrades, Transfers line! Please proceed to Window 2. Thanks! - http://QLess.com 11:33 AM

+19099391234: We hope you enjoyed using our QLess service to avoid standing in line. Please text us back & let us know about your waiting experience! Thanks! http://QLess.com 11:44 AM

Me: It worked great. Thanks! 11:56 AM