Why Should You Use An Online Ordering System For Your Food Establishment

60% of US users like to order delivery or takeout at least once a week. 

70% of consumers are of the opinion that given a chance, they would love to directly order from restaurant apps so that their money doesn’t go to third-party apps. 

The online ordering and delivery system doesn’t only allow users to order from the restaurant, but it also comes with a bunch of other features too that streamline the operations of a restaurant and provide users with a great experience. 

With the advent of technology, consumers expect restaurants to have an online ordering system. Restaurants who don’t own an app are missing out on the many prospects to expand their business. To stay ahead in the competition, it’s crucial to provide the ultimate comfort to consumers with technology. When it comes to online ordering, it not only helps with the order placement but also helps to reach the right people at the right time. 

What Statistics Say?

The readiness of the online market derives from online ordering and delivery in the restaurant industry. A study conducted by Pew Research Center pointed that around 43% of American adults are online several times during the day. Consumer behaviors like such influence how the restaurant industry operates.  

What About Third-Party Apps

Third-party apps such as Uber Eats, ChowNow, GrubHub, etc., charge a huge commission from restaurants. With an in-house solution, you can analyze ordering trends and customer preferences in-depth. Also, you can opt for ChowNow business model, and customize your offerings, menu, deals prices, and so on to provide a tailored experience to everyone.

Various Advantages Of Online Ordering And Delivery System  

There’s a reason why clients prefer to order via apps or the internet. On an app, customers are not under pressure to order instantly; therefore, they take their time to go through the app and look for various options.   

Guests nowadays have more time to contemplate a menu for minutes while planning what to order. Since, on an app, customers are in no rush to make a decision, they are more likely to order one more item on the menu.  

Streamlines Operations

The online ordering system makes it easy to place orders as customers don’t have to line up in queues to place an order and wait some more for the order to arrive. Restaurants’ owners create an app or a website or both that allows users to place orders. In addition to that, it makes the day-to-day operations of restaurants more organized. Restaurants can track their daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly sales and revenue. In addition to that, through the software, they can track delivery personnel assigned for a particular order. 

Efficient Customer And Order Management

The complete sales dashboard provides information about active/canceled orders, sales details, bestsellers, etc. It makes the whole process from ordering to delivery transparent for both customers and businesses. The system is equipped with GPS systems that help you capture the entire address and help in faster deliveries. 

Track Expenses In Real-Time

This is the greatest benefit of the online ordering system; it gives accurate information about the cash flow in the restaurant. Restaurants can learn how much cost is incurred during the preparation of an order and at what cost the customer is getting the completed order. Hence it helps track the profitability.  

Direct Home Delivery

Customers crave convenience, and what more can be convenient than placing and receiving orders at home. When you provide convenience to customers, it automatically improves your reputation, which helps to get more business in less time. In addition to that, to build a positive relationship with customers, one can attach; thank you notes with orders, which reflect your gratitude towards them. Small gestures go a long way to remind customers that you value them and your contribution to their business. 

 Accuracy

The common problem restaurants face while accepting orders over the phone or in-person is miscommunication. These mistakes can result in spoiled food and mood of customers, and they might not return to the restaurant. However, when customers order from an online ordering system, they have more control as they are in charge of their activities. Since everything is written down, there are no chances of miscommunication. This is highly beneficial for people who have some dietary restrictions or allergies. 

Free Marketing

When a brand’s online presence is enhanced, it automatically increases the reputation of the brand in the market, which is essential to boost sales. A strong online presence is a great way to avoid expensive media advertising and get more customers. Having your own app or website helps you fetch more customers. Also, this way, you don’t have to spend an exorbitant amount on marketing and promotions, and you can save yourself from the mess of traditional marketing. In addition to that, one can post regularly on social media sites and also list your business on “Google My Business.” This way, the marketing will be hassle-free and without any cost. 

Better Customers Data

Analytics and insights provided by an online ordering system for restaurants are crucial for business. Data like who are your regular customers, what are their preferences, do they know about promotions you are running, etc., can be collected through an online ordering system.   

• Features of an Online Ordering System 
• The Customer App 
• Registration and Profile Creation 

No one likes to spend hours creating a profile. If the process is complicated, customers tend to leave it in between. Hence, the registration process should be simple, hassle-free, and quick.  

Advanced Search

The advanced search filter is a great way for customers to find what they are looking for without wasting any time. Sometimes, users don’t want to go through the whole menu as they are clear about what they wish to buy. In that scenario, an advanced search filter is extremely helpful. 

Add To Cart

The add to cart option allows users to add multiple items in the cart and place an order; they don’t have to place multiple orders for every item; the cart option allows users to put what they want to order in the cart and order in a single go. 

Schedule Delivery

The great thing about the online ordering systems is that they allow users to schedule delivery. For instance, a person who is in the office can place an order of his favorite meal and schedule it to deliver when he reaches home so that he can enjoy hot food.  

Multiple Payment Modes

Multiple payment modes are crucial for an online ordering system: debit cards, credit card, e-wallets, etc. Also, the online ordering system should be safe and secure. 

Contact Information Of The Delivery Personnel 

Customers should be provided with the contact information of the delivery personnel so that they can reach out to him.  

Real-Time Tracking

The real-time tracking feature helps customers to track their orders in real-time. Waiting is frustrating for everyone, but the process can be made less frustrating when customers know where the order is and how many minutes it will reach them. 

Order History

Through the order history feature, customers can have a look at their previous orders and can reorder from there only. 

Push Notifications

Push notifications are a great way for businesses to remind customers to shop from them, offer discounts and coupons. 

Ratings And Reviews

Ratings and reviews feature to allow customers to rate food and the whole experience on the app. It’s an easy way for customers to showcase their experience- both good and bad with the business for others to see. 

Features Of The Admin App

The admin app is the soul of the online ordering system. Let’s find out what features the admin app provides: 

Registration And Profile Management

The registration process is no different from the customer app. Ensure to keep it simple and quick. 

Assigning Orders

With the assigning orders feature, the restaurant can assign orders to delivery personnel. It results in quick delivery and avoids any misunderstanding. 

Intuitive Dashboard

The dashboard allows restaurants to quickly glance through the important information. It is one of the most important features and helps restaurants to streamline operations. Restaurants can get to know about the crucial information by looking at the dashboard of the admin app. One can get to know about the total number of orders placed, revenue generated, bestselling products, etc. 

Managing Orders And Content Shown To Users 

Content is the key; the right content helps customers to relate with you. Restaurant owners can manage how they present themselves to the world, menu, working hours, etc.  

Payment Settings

The admin can add additional payment methods to the online ordering system. When a new payment system gets famous with people, it makes sense to have it in the online ordering system. 

Manage Menu

The admin should be able to update, edit, and manage the menu. Some restaurants change their menu as per season; therefore, it becomes a necessity to have a “manage menu” feature in your ordering system. 

Delivery Personnel App

The delivery personnel app ensures that the delivery personnel get the order-related information on time to avoid unnecessary delays. Let’s see some of the important features of a delivery personnel app: 

Profile Registration

This process is the same as the above two apps (customer app and the admin app). The delivery personnel is required to create their profiles to receive orders. 

Accept/Reject Requests

The delivery personnel can accept or reject requests for the delivery based on his availability. This way, the delivery personnel are in-charge of their work. 

GPS And Navigation

When accurate location information is available, it becomes easy to reach the destination on time. The in-built GPS is a great way for drivers to reach their destination without any problem. 

Status Update

The status update feature allows the delivery personnel to mark their order as in transit, completed, or pending. When the customer is waiting for the order, he can check the order-related information and status is shown; this way, customers don’t have to call or email anyone; they can check the status in real-time. It is the duty of the delivery personnel to provide order updates, and the customer gets a push notification each time the delivery personnel change the order status. 

Payments And Wallet

The delivery personnel gets paid for the orders they deliver. With the payments and wallet feature, the delivery personnel and receive and manage payments from the app and the restaurant. They can check how much money they have generated so far.  

Delivery History

The delivery personnel can check his delivery history to get to know how many orders he has delivered in a particular month or year and how much money he has made. It helps in having transparency in the whole process.  

All these features of an online ordering system make it imperative to use in the food business. The purpose of the online ordering system is to streamline business operations, provide convenience to users, offer utmost transparency, engage more customers, and increase the revenue of the business. Food joints that are not yet online are missing out on the many benefits provided by the online ordering system. It is the best way to market your business for free and build a positive reputation. 

Final Words 

An online ordering system goes a long way in making your eatery successful. In times when there is cutthroat competition and businesses are always looking for innovative solutions to engage more customers, an online ordering system can be of great help in this regard. The stats shared in this blog indicate that having an online ordering system is indeed useful for businesses. In addition to that, to build an online ordering system, it’s best to consult a software development company that has extensive experience in building the system so that you get the best for your business. Apart from that, there are ready-to-use solutions available that make it possible for you to instantly bring your business online, and you can customize them according to your unique business needs.

Author Bio

Jeevanjot firmly believes in the power of putting together words and the impact it creates on a reader’s mind. She loves writing about technology and trends that shape the industry. In her free time, you will find her admiring nature and its creator.