Over the past few years, food delivery services such as Grubhub, DoorDash, and Uber Eats have become some of the most popular ways for customers to order meals from their favorite restaurants. With social distancing in effect, the trend is more widely-used than ever, and can help keep restaurants successful and flourishing even in difficult economic times. Here, we will look at a few reasons why you need an restaurant online ordering system for your business, and the many ways that in which it can save money and welcome more customers than ever.
How Online Ordering Systems Work
Generally speaking, a restaurants online ordering system operates in two distinct ways: allowing a remote customer to view a menu and place their meal order either for pick-up or delivery, and relaying the information to the restaurant so that employees can prepare and package the meal. While nearly all of the most popular online ordering platforms are compatible with their own mobile app, customers had already begun to use the internet to research restaurant recommendations and view an eatery’s menu for many years. As technology has evolved, however, most delivery orders are now made through those websites and apps, which helps to both create a new convenience for the customer and the restaurant, and save on time and money for the business.
Taking time to consider your own website, think about the analytics for how many customers visit to see your menu offerings and hours of operation. Immediately, less phone calls to your business are made, since the needed information has been provided. Take into account that an online ordering system also saves customer data and credit card information for future use and additional convenience (as well as allowing you the opportunity to offer discounts and coupons, or a loyalty program for online visitors) and your bottom line comes out way ahead.
Proven Benefits of Online Ordering
Many restaurants were initially hesitant to integrate an online ordering system into their routine practice, as a small monthly fee is par for the course. However, when the savings are calculated, it is easy to see that the return on the investment is almost immediate. Even during the difficult times of the Covid-19 pandemic, customers who missed their favorite restaurant food took to ordering online where it was applicable, ultimately keeping those businesses thriving while many others were forced to shutter their doors. Mobile orders aren’t just convenient for both the customer and the business, they also allow more time for food preparation, customer service, and frees staff members to assist with needed curbside pickup. In today’s world, even casino chains have begun integrating forms of curbside service into their interior restaurants’ services, allowing casino owners to pay for overhead while travel is still lower in numbers than in past years.
Restaurants that take part in an online order service also benefit from the additional online exposure. Most mobile apps include recommendations for restaurants, making for a new customer base, as well as inclusion on their Facebook page and other social media outlets, which can work in conjunction with your restaurant website. Aside from listing your hours and menu items, many ordering systems also calculate your point of sale statistics, among the beneficial key features, allowing for seamless inventory management as you go along.
The New Normal
Let’s face facts: while many people cherish the experience of sitting in their favorite restaurant, it may be a while before those in-house numbers of an original customer base return to what was once normal. Regular customers are embracing the “new normal,” adapting to a lifestyle that include bringing their favorite restaurant experience into the home. With an online ordering system in place, you’ll never lose out on your most valuable customer relationships. You will still be able to provide your best menu items in real time to your regular customers, as well as new customers, thanks to the additional exposure.
With such conveniences as menu management, insights into the needs of repeat customers, and both a seamless ordering process and low-cost fees for credit card payments, any restaurant’s website and ongoing business can benefit from the integration of online ordering.
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