You Don’t Know Your Customers if Your Restaurant is on an Order Platform
Since the pandemic, we have entered a new age of convenience where online food ordering platforms have become an integral part of the restaurant industry. These platforms offer customers the ease of ordering food from their homes or offices while providing restaurants with access to a vast customer base.
However, they have also created a digital disconnect between restaurants and their customers, changing the way we eat. In the past, restaurant owners knew their customers by name and were able to connect with them directly, maintaining a sense of community. It’s time to find new ways to bridge this gap and bring back that personal touch to the dining experience.
The Loss of Personal Connection
One major downside of online food ordering platforms is the lack of personal connection between restaurants and their customers. When customers use third-party apps like Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and JustEats, they mainly interact with the app’s interface rather than the restaurant itself. As a result, restaurants miss out on chances to form relationships with their customers, understand their preferences, and offer personalised service.
Data Limitations
Online food ordering platforms collect data on customer orders, but this data is often limited and not available to restaurants. While restaurants can see what items customers have ordered and how frequently they have ordered, they do not have access to deeper insights into customer preferences, motivations, or demographics. This lack of data can make it difficult for restaurants to tailor their menus and marketing efforts to their customers’ needs.
The Need for Direct Engagement
To truly understand their customers and build lasting relationships, restaurants need to go beyond online food ordering platforms. They need to find ways to engage with customers directly, whether through social media, email marketing, or in-person interactions. This could involve offering loyalty programs, hosting special events, or simply encouraging customers to leave feedback on their dining experience.
Many online platforms withhold valuable customer data from restaurants in order to maintain control and generate revenue through in-platform marketing. For instance, why can’t you send promotions to your most loyal customers? Or provide chat support to a customer who had a negative experience at your restaurant? Do you even know why a customer continues to choose your restaurant, or why they stopped ordering from you?
By prioritising direct engagement with your customers, restaurants can gain valuable insights into their preferences, build brand loyalty, and ultimately provide a more satisfying dining experience. While online food ordering platforms are a valuable tool, they should allow restaurants interact with their customers.
With BimpeAI, you are able to manage interactions with your customers and build a solid relationship with them because you know them by name and you have their information right on your dashboard.
BimpeAI helps restaurants collect and manage orders directly from their social channels. We help restaurant owners reduce the cost of customer acquisitions and cut platform fees by selling directly to their customers while still having access to their customer information. Bimpe AI makes it easy to connect with existing order platforms as well.
