Benefits Of Online Food Delivery Platforms For Restaurateurs

Almost all of us have at least a couple of food delivery apps installed on our smartphones. Easy, convenient, and above all time-saving, food delivery apps have changed the way, Indians dine out. Eating out is no longer restricted to special occasions or the weekends.

Today, huge numbers of Indians of all ages and income levels make use of food delivery apps/online food ordering to enjoy meals from their favorite restaurants right at home.

According to numbers revealed by Statista, the revenue generated via online food delivery services is a whopping $6008 millions in 2018. The growth for 2019 is predicted to touch $7092 million, showing an annual growth rate of 9.9%. Restaurant to consumer deliveries consists of a major chunk of this volume, accounting for $5034.9 million in 2018 alone.

What Do These Figures Mean?

Simply put, there is a huge growing market for home food deliveries among consumers, not just in top metros but also in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

What Does This Mean For Your Restaurant Business?

Having an online presence makes you visible to customers who usually don’t walk in through your doors. It’s like tapping your customers on their shoulders and telling them about your tasty food. With an easy, customer-friendly online food ordering system, you not only increase your sales but also boost your profit margins.

Here are some ways to enhance your online presence.

Creating a website

An eye-catching website is the first thing that is needed to build your brand and attract the customer’s attraction. It should be in an easy-to-navigate format that will have an elegant and glossy look that matches the theme of the business.

The menus can be shared on the website, along with the points that make the restaurant special. The “about” section should provide the necessary information including location, timings and contact. There should also be sections related to online orders, newsletters, reservations, rewards and offers.

Email marketing incentives

You can allow customers to sign-up for your newsletter on the website. This can help you build a database. Those who have already shown interest in your restaurant will be happy to receive special offers or coupon codes through emails. This will provide them with the right incentive for a visit. Special offers and discounts for an initial sign-up can also help in increasing the number of digital followers.

Social media marketing

No business can afford to ignore the important role that social media plays in this age. You can use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to spread the word about your business, promote new food items and also generate positive reviews.

It is necessary to ensure that you use the best quality photos and videos that can act as a visual attraction for the customers. The timing of the posts should also be right and handling various kinds of feedback should be done in courteously and professionally.

Reach out to local gourmets

Reaching out to the local gourmets and food bloggers who like to explore different varieties of food is an effective way to promote your business on the internet. People who love food and review the same attract quite a substantial number of followers, and you can invite them as guests and offer them discounted meals.

In return, they can provide you with an honest review that will help in boosting the online image. This is a great way to use their social media influence to benefit your business.

Develop an online ordering app

Contrary to popular belief, developing an online app is not a highly expensive affair even for new local businesses. Moreover, the overall benefits, in the long run, will outweigh the initial investment as the recent statistics have pointed out that a significant segment of any restaurant’s business comes from online apps.

You can use a variety of delivery services to complement a user-friendly app that will be convenient for your customers.

Update your online presence regularly

Updating the way in which you present yourself on social media to keep things fresh is an important step for any restaurant. You can change your menu at regular intervals, introduce special items, or even bring about a change in the online look by taking the help of a graphic designer.

Other options include engaging customers in various contests and games that will allow them to win special discounts and help you to boost your social media presence.

Few Reasons Why Restaurants Should Embrace Online Food Delivery Platforms

Expand market reach

One of the biggest pros of using online food delivery platforms is an expanded market reach. You can reach out to new customers beyond your usual target base. For instance, let’s say that you are a family-friendly restaurant focusing on seating for kids and other play areas. This means, your restaurant is unlikely to attract diners who prefer a quiet meal.

With online food delivery, you can reach out to all types of customers across demographics. This increases the overall revenues of your restaurant, thereby boosting profits significantly.

Also Read: Struggling With The Mounting Expenses Of Your Hotel? Use Business Loans To Your Rescue

Positive customer interactions

One of the biggest drawbacks of ordering via phone calls is that it’s prone to misunderstandings. Due to the noise either at the restaurant or at the customer’s end, there are plenty of chances for the order to be taken wrong. This causes frustration to the customer.

With online food ordering/delivery, all preferences are specified by the customer directly. Right from choosing the time of delivery to how they like a particular dish, a customer can mention his/her preferences, with no room for misunderstandings.

This provides positive customer interactions, thereby improving the ratings of your restaurant.

Offer location-based deals

This is a relatively new feature offered by a handful of restaurants. By using features like Apple’s iBeacon, you can send notifications to customers who are near your restaurant.

You can offer them special offers, getting them to walk into your restaurant. This is a great way to avoid leftovers at the end of the day, thereby reducing food wastage and cutting down costs.

Also Read: The Explosion Of Food Delivery — And, How It Is Changing Everything About The Restaurant Business

Lower capital costs compared to traditional in-restaurant sales

Let’s say your restaurant seats an average of a hundred customers per meal. If you wish to double this number of walk-in guests, then you need to spend on more floor space, furniture, cutlery, and increase the number of wait-staff – all of which cost a huge penny.

With online food deliveries, you don’t have to spend capital on increasing your restaurant space. Your kitchen can turn out food based on your requirements.

Powerful Analytics at your Fingertips

Online food delivery services do more than just sell your food. It gives you clear insights into your menu. You can quickly identify the most popular dishes on your menu, the not so popular ones, which customers like which dishes, the fast-selling dishes on weekends, etc.

You can use these insights to refine your offerings, providing customers with an enhanced dining experience.

Wrapping Up – Embrace Online Food Delivery Services & Grow Your Profits

As you can see, it’s crucial for restaurants to embrace online food delivery to connect with the digital-savvy customers of today. If working capital is what’s holding you back, you can avail short-term business loans for restaurants from digital lending platforms like Indifi, incorporate the latest technologies and start expanding your market reach.