Why Touchless, Digital Ordering Is Inevitable For Restaurant Businesses
Online food ordering is growing 300% quicker than the dine-in rush and has become a help for many restaurants. With the demand for takeout being at an all-time high, restaurants went to third-party order services to connect with new local consumers searching for food. But, these can cost your restaurant a considerable amount.
These ordering platforms charge different expenses to your customers and also have high commission rates (typically 10–15% of the order total). To prevent this, you need an online ordering system that allows your guests to order directly from your restaurant.
Why is it important to have an online food ordering system in restaurants? Not only would it be saving you genuine cash, but as per Hospitality Technology, 70% of consumers likewise prefer to order directly from a restaurant.
Here are a couple of fundamental reasons why a restaurant needs an in-house online food ordering system.
Enhances the Customer Experience
From finding your restaurant online to checkout to in-store or curbside pickup, all need to be simple, convenient, and easy to use. With an in-house online food ordering system, you can make menu changes and track inventory in real-time, so guests never order unavailable items and your menus are always updated.
Drives More Revenue
The main advantage of an online food ordering system is the increase in revenue. Research says restaurants that offer online ordering get 32% more orders than those that only accept orders placed over the phone or in-store. Not only that, but ticket sizes on online orders are likewise normally 30% higher.
Captures Valuable Customer Data
In-house online food ordering systems capture client’s information for your Customer Relationship Management system. This information can be utilized to target marketing campaigns and loyalty programs. Use it to attract new clients online, hold your hard-earned ones, and drive repeat purchases.
Having customer data is crucial to fitting your customers’ preferences and improving their experience. Data from order patterns permits you to make customized recommendations for upselling and a custom ordering experience.
Consumers Expect It
With the increase in off-premises dining, it has become clear that consumers incline toward restaurants that offer helpful ordering choices. Online food ordering used to be a pleasant to-have tool, but now it’s a need. A report says that 70% of consumers expect that a restaurant’s website should offer online ordering.
Ordering must be easy to navigate on your website. Research has discovered that consumers will avoid order if the menu is difficult to navigate, particularly on mobile. Ensure your website is properly made and updated regularly.
Some of the consumers’ most wanted features post-COVID are contactless delivery with expanded curbside pickup and online ordering.
Increases Order Accuracy
A benefit to online food ordering is that consumers control the entire ordering process. They can include any modifications or allergies they have in writing on the online order, so the kitchen knows right away.
If you only accept call-in orders, expect to get numerous callbacks to make changes to current orders. That all adds to additional time for front-of-house and back-of-house staff.
With an in-house online ordering system, orders are directly integrated, increasing your order accuracy and ensuring that customers get the specific food they want.
Optimizes Time & Labor
With an online food ordering system, your staff gets their time back and can invest more time on the floor pleasing clients.
Online food ordering that incorporates directly into your Point of sale can assist with limiting phone orders and permit you to maintain your business with less staff, saving you money on labor costs. Orders spring up on your Point of sale, and any member can fire it directly to the kitchen. There’s no time spent re-entering orders or having to describe the menu over the phone.
Boosts Online Presence
Another advantage of online food ordering is that it immediately grows your restaurant’s online presence.
When you have your online food ordering link, there are many places where you can add it to increment online sales:
- Upfront or top of your site
- Order feature in Google My Business profile listing
- Order food button on Facebook
- Link in bio on Instagram and Twitter
- Restaurant information on review sites
This makes ordering more convenient for your visitors, permitting them to get to your website or direct ordering link from multiple places online.
Make an online ordering system that has a simple one-screen checkout mode and accessible editing features. Having your own system allows you to create a personalized platform with your logo and photos of your dishes to reinforce your brand.
Adding high-quality photos to your online page has been proven to boost your sales by approximately 30%. Get a system that can scale with you and won’t hold you back.
