People have been ordering takeout since well before the Internet was invented, and even online ordering is nothing new. Pizza Hut began offering this option in 1994. All of that being said, the online restaurant delivery industry has never grown as fast of a rate as it did during the pandemic and now, consumers have come to expect it even of mom-and-pop restaurants.
Some restaurants have opted to use existing food delivery applications, but that’s not the most cost-effective route. Pricing issues can make taking that approach cost-prohibitive, but small business owners still have some options. This article will offer an introduction to how software can help with managing restaurant deliveries independently without relying on food delivery apps.
The Benefits of Restaurant-Specific Delivery Apps
In most industries, doing everything in-house creates unnecessary expenses for small businesses. In the restaurant industry, exactly the opposite holds true. Avoiding major delivery companies and investing in dedicated software to manage restaurant deliveries can help to cut costs by reducing overhead and increase revenue by improving customer loyalty.
While third-party applications are designed to keep customers loyal to the food delivery business, restaurant-specific apps keep customers going back to the same restaurant. Custom apps allow restaurants to offer improved customer experience by leveraging the power of app-specific coupons and discounts.
Creating a dedicated app is also a great way to keep customers in the sales funnel. Once customers download the app, they’ll be in the system and the restaurant will be able to send personalized offers.
Meet Customer Expectations
Providing customers with a positive experience is about more than just making sure the food gets to their doorsteps on time. Customers also expect the online ordering process to be simple and straightforward, and they want to be able to pay for everything online using mobile payments instead of dealing with cash. The right restaurant software will provide customers with the seamless and simple user experience they expect.
Keep Up With the Major Chains
The beginning of this article mentioned the fact that the first restaurant ever to offer online ordering and delivery services was Pizza Hut. It’s not a coincidence that a major chain restaurant was the first to develop and implement this technology successfully. At the time, investing in custom-made software was an expense most local businesses simply couldn’t afford.
In the intervening decades, restaurant delivery software has come a long way not just in terms of functionality but also in affordability. Now, it’s not just major chain restaurants that can invest in restaurant delivery software but also local, independently owned eateries.
Streamline Business Processes
Ordering meal deliveries online isn’t a simple process for customers. It involves finding a restaurant, checking the menu, selecting a meal, paying for the order, and entering an address before the restaurant even gets the order.
On the other end, the person taking information needs to take the information and confirm it with the customer, verify that the address is in the delivery zone, and verify the payment method. Streamlining these processes will make the entire process more user-friendly, especially if the delivery platform can be integrated with other key business software.
Invest in the Future
Online ordering is becoming more commonplace every day. Restaurants that don’t make the changes required to keep up will get left behind, so the cost of purchasing delivery software can be viewed as an investment in the future of the business.