Online food delivery is booming. In fact, it’s one of the fastest-growing segments of the restaurant industry, and it’s a critical component of the on-demand economy. It’s also a major source of revenue for a number of third-party apps such as DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats.
Consumers want convenience in all aspects of their lives — including food — and online food delivery offers that level of ease and speed of service that has become the norm. Restaurants can choose to partner with these third-party apps, or they can enter the delivery market themselves by launching their own online ordering channels. But entering the delivery game isn’t without its challenges, especially during the pandemic.
The food-delivery business is incredibly competitive. Rival platforms battle for customers, restaurants, and drivers in each individual market. As a result, local market share tends to be dominated by just one or two players. In the United States, for example, DoorDash and Grubhub dominate large urban markets.
These food-delivery apps offer a wide selection of culinary options and deliver your meal directly to consumers’ homes. The choice and convenience they provide has made them a hit with all types of diners, not just millennials and the on-demand generation. Parents who can’t leave their kids alone at home, for example, find that online food delivery allows them to feed the whole family without having to turn on the oven.
For the restaurants themselves, online food delivery offers a way to increase their customer base and revenues. Customers can use the food-delivery apps to order a full-fledged meal or just grab some snacks and beverages. In addition, the app’s ability to display a restaurant’s menu, pricing, and food photos makes it easy for customers to make a decision.
If your business hasn’t invested in an online food-ordering system, now is the time to do so. A well-designed online ordering platform can streamline the entire process, minimizing human errors and reducing the amount of time it takes for orders to reach your kitchen. It can also help you cut out the commissions and fees that you might pay to third-party food delivery apps or payment companies.
The COVID-19 pandemic has given online food delivery a huge boost, but it’s likely that many consumers will continue to appreciate the minimal contact and convenience that these services offer even after the virus is gone. Sending a delicious meal to friends or family who might be too sick to make the trip to your restaurant is an excellent way to show them you’re thinking of them and to let them know you care. online food delivery