If you search for a token system for your clinic, you will find two very different products under the same name. One is a token display machine — an LED box on the wall with a keypad or wireless remote at the counter. The other is token software that runs on a smart TV and the phones or computers your staff already use.
Both call the next number. They differ in what you pay upfront, what happens when things change, and what your patients see. Here is a straight comparison.
How a Token Display Machine Works
A typical machine setup has:
- An LED or seven-segment display showing the current number, sometimes with a counter number.
- A keypad or wireless remote at each counter to call next, previous or a specific number.
- Often a built-in chime or recorded voice, and sometimes a thermal printer that issues paper tokens.
It is a closed box: it does one job, it does not need the internet, and it keeps working as long as it has power.
How a TV-Based Token System Works
A software system replaces each piece with something general-purpose:
- Display: any smart TV, or a TV with a streaming stick or browser, opens a display link.
- Calling: staff tap "Next" in an app on a phone, tablet or computer.
- Tokens: customers scan a QR code to get a token on their own phone, or the front desk issues one.
- Tracking: customers see their live position on their phone and can step out.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Token display machine | TV-based token software | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Hardware purchase plus installation | Low if you already own a TV; monthly or yearly subscription |
| Running cost | Repairs, spare remotes, printer paper | Subscription and internet |
| Works without internet | Yes | No — needs internet at counter and display |
| Patient can wait outside | Only if they can hear the call | Yes, with a live tracking link on their phone |
| Voice announcement | Depends on model; often fixed recordings | Spoken calls with token and counter name |
| Multiple services or doctors | Limited by the hardware | Separate queues per service or counter |
| Reports and history | Rarely | Daily token counts, waiting times, counter activity |
| Changes (new counter, new service) | May need the vendor or rewiring | Done from the dashboard |
| If a part breaks | Replace that part | Swap in any TV or phone |
When a Token Machine Is the Better Choice
Be honest about your situation. A hardware machine can be the right call if:
- Your internet is unreliable and a hotspot backup isn't practical.
- You have one counter, one queue, and nothing about it will change.
- You don't want any recurring cost, and you are fine without reports or phone tracking.
When a TV-Based System Is the Better Choice
Software makes more sense if:
- Patients or customers get tired of sitting and would rather wait outside or in their car.
- You run more than one doctor, cabin, service or counter.
- You want to know how long people actually wait and which counter is slow.
- You already own a TV, so the display costs nothing extra.
- You want calls announced in Hindi as well as English.
The Hidden Costs to Ask About
Whichever you pick, ask the seller:
- Installation and wiring — who does it and what does it cost?
- Replacement parts — what does a lost remote or a failed display board cost, and how long does it take to arrive?
- Changes later — what does adding a counter cost next year?
- Paper — if it prints tokens, what does a year of thermal rolls cost?
- For software: what is included in the plan, how many displays and staff logins, and are messaging charges extra?
What InCue Costs
InCue is TV-based software. Plans are ₹499, ₹999 and ₹1,499 + GST a month (Starter, Growth and Pro), with yearly billing giving two months free. Every plan includes unlimited tokens, QR check-in without an app, a live tracking link for customers, and a TV display that announces calls in English and Hindi. WhatsApp alerts are optional at ₹1 per token. The plans differ in how many TV displays and staff logins you get — see pricing for the full list.
Bottom Line
If your queue is simple and your internet is not, a token machine is a reasonable buy. If you want patients to stop crowding the counter, see where their turn is from their phone, and hear calls in their own language — and you already have a TV on the wall — a software system usually does more for less upfront.
See how the TV display works → | Compare plans → | Book a free demo →