What is an Exception queue?
An exception queue is a list of cases an automated process could not finish by itself, held for a person to review, fix or decide, with the reason and evidence attached.
In more detail
No automation handles every case. The exception queue is where the leftovers go, and its design decides whether people trust the system. A good queue shows why the item stopped (price variance over tolerance, missing PO), what the system already found, and a short set of one-click outcomes. It routes to the right person by type or amount, has an owner and an age limit, and feeds the exception rate and the common reasons back to the builders. A shrinking exception rate means the rules are improving. A queue that only grows means people will start working around the system.
Example
An AP flow stops a $14,200 invoice because it exceeds the PO by 6 percent. The item lands with the buyer, showing both documents, the difference by line and buttons to accept, request a credit or reject.