What Is Destination Dispatch?

Did you know that there is a form of math that focuses exclusively on the study of how people wait in line?

It is called the queueing theory.

Mathematicians and psychologists around the world spend much of their careers researching the phenomenon of waiting in line. One of the most frequently used illustrations to explain their field of analysis is the example of waiting in line for an elevator.

Out of all the possible scenarios that they could use as their prime example — why do they often use elevators?

A likely answer could be the staggering truth that, annually, the combined total time that Americans waste waiting for an elevator is 59 years. It could also simply be that waiting for an elevator is frustrating for tenants and commuters who are eager to reach their destinations.

The idea and invention of destination dispatch has become critical in rectifying this issue.

What is Destination Dispatch?

Imagine for a moment that you are waiting for an elevator. Perhaps you’re running behind and need to get to your morning meeting on the 7th floor. After pushing the button to call the elevator cab, several other passengers get in line behind you — all waiting to get in the same cab.

Once aboard the elevator, one passenger presses the 2nd floor button and another presses the 5th floor. Now you are stuck waiting for your elevator to safely slow to a stop for the others to get out on their floor instead of speedily hurrying to the 7th.

Destination dispatch aids in rendering this problem obsolete.

Through advanced technology, destination dispatching groups passengers together based on the floor they’ve chosen to exit on. This is done by entering in your destination floor before even getting into the cab through a smart kiosk or mobile app.

As a passenger reaches the kiosk touchscreen, they can select the floor where they will exit, and destination dispatch will direct them to the elevator that will provide them with the fastest travel time possible.

There’s an app for that!

Not only is destination dispatch convenient and helpful for grouping parties together — but it can also be a touchless solution.

As science and technology rush to find safe alternatives to our current way of living, mobile apps like AGILE Mobile are at the forefront of reducing the possible transmission of viruses and bacteria.

With AGILE Mobile, you can enter your destination floor via the app on your phone, and the elevator will be ready. The app is unlike the kiosk because it can also be programmed with your schedule.

Remember that morning meeting on the 7th floor you imagined earlier? Well picture this: you’re running late again but not worried because you have the AGILE Mobile app. The app knows your schedule, so when you get to the lobby and open the app — it’s already sent an elevator down for you. Anyone behind you who gets on the same elevator will likely be going to the 7th floor as well, so there’s no need to worry about stopping at other floors.

Destination dispatch seamlessly communicates with elevators to give all passengers the ideal ride experience.

Being able to group passengers according to their destination floor and giving them the fastest option available inevitably results in better traffic flow for a building as well. Less congestion in a lobby or waiting area allows for a more comfortable space and room for social distancing.

With all these benefits, there is a growing interest in seeing the widespread implementation of destination dispatch. While this technology paves the way for the future of the elevator industry, it also brings with it a bright hope that, one day, experts in queueing theory will no longer use elevator wait times as their prime example.

It’s a new year, and it’s time to usher in the era of smarter engineering through destination dispatch.

Click to read more information on TK Elevator touchless technology.