New Trends in Restaurant Delivery Apps — From Bricks to Clicks!
From a physical dimension to online platforms, cooking at home, dining out, and picking up, delivery via restaurant apps: the digital revolution has hit the food market.
In 2020, over 70% of Americans have given in to this innovation, encouraging restaurants and restaurant chains to improve their delivery services. Eventually, restaurants can do one of two things: entrust delivery to third-party platforms or develop branded apps to keep operations in-house. Even with big players like DoorDash or Uber Eats, the latter way is more favorable. Why?
Unlike third-party delivery platforms, branded restaurant delivery apps help to:
- Expose their customers to the brand through the icon that customers see when using their phones.
- Collect customer data like a popular day for ordering or favorite dishes to improve customer experience.
- Run customized promotions to improve business and increase revenue.
- Control and streamline the ordering-processing-delivery action since they handle all operations in-house.
- Get valuable feedback from customers to stay updated on improvements they can make.
Furthermore, by developing their own branded applications, restaurants can escape the charges (from 15% to 30%) that third-party delivery platforms take from each order.
But to withstand the competition of the restaurant delivery apps market and keep up with the ever-changing customer demand, a mobile app should offer more than regular order and payment options. The software needs innovative features. What are they in 2020?
Let’s explore innovations in the restaurant delivery app market in detail.
A Quick Note About Integrations
To make the most of any delivery, or off-premise app, you want to have the smartest setup possible. By “smart,” we mean “fully integrated.” When you’ve got all your restaurant technology integrated, it’s informing one another. From there, you can truly optimize your workflow from the kitchen to the point-of-sale.
Real-Time Delivery Tracking
Poor on-time delivery performance decreases customer satisfaction. Many restaurants have started using real-time order tracking options to streamline the delivery process. With this, restaurants provide updates to their customers regarding their order completion and delivery. This trend leaves a good impression on restaurant customers because it keeps them in the loop.
Technology with GPS delivery tracking and SMS text notification features helps as well. Customers can receive messages like:
- When the courier picks up their order.
- When the courier is two minutes away from their home.
- When the courier is at their door.
Preordering Delivery
Preordering has become another trendy option on a mobile application that helps restaurants stay competitive. Customers are encouraged to preorder food for delivery when they’re at home or work to avoid service delays.
What does the process look like? As customers select the menu’s food items, they also choose the date and time they want to deliver their meals. The restaurant handles the rest.
By addressing the pain points with the wait time, restaurants differentiate themselves from competitors in the market.
Virtual Waiters
Virtual waiters, assistants, or chatbots use AI (artificial intelligence) to help customers place orders for delivery and substitute customer service representatives by addressing most queries when using the app. With access to previous order information, a virtual assistant:
- Advises customers of new menu positions that they may not know about.
- Offers drinks to match the chosen meal.
- Asks for delivery details like address, day, and time.
- Helps customers cancel or reschedule their orders if their priorities chance.
- Promotes deals and offers.
Predictive Search
Why do users choose to use order and restaurant delivery apps instead of ordering in person via phone? It’s because they expect restaurant delivery apps to work faster than placing orders via a call. To ensure that ordering food for delivery takes up a few minutes, restaurant owners choose to build a restaurant app with a predictive search.
This feature allows users to search available menu options by the names of ingredients directly. With a special predictive filter, users navigate through the menu options about their ingredient preferences.
In-App Calls
It can be frustrating for most customers to find restaurant contact information in Google when they need to have their order and delivery queries answered. Restaurant delivery apps solve this problem by offering an in-built click-to-call feature.
Customers with queries concerning the menu and order processing can quickly contact a support manager who’ll keep them updated on their order delivery.
Expanded Payment Methods
Earlier, when ordering food delivery, customers could choose one of two payment options:
- Enter their credit card details when placing the order.
- Pay with cash as the courier arrived.
Now the list of available payment options has expanded. The most progressive among them is cryptocurrency. One US pizza franchise has already offered this payment option to its customers.
Trends in Restaurant Delivery Apps — Summing up
2020 has become the year of innovations. Restaurants that have been proactive and concentrated on restaurant technology experienced a massive jump in growth, won customers, and stayed competitive. No matter which of these restaurant delivery app trends you choose, customers will perceive them as convenient, helpful, and fun. Let innovation be one of your 2021 goals.
Need some tips on the essential apps for restaurant owners? Learn which apps can help you with logistics, staffing, social media, and more in our article below.
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