Benefits of online food ordering for restaurants

Restaurant businesses worldwide are adapting to digital transformation and offering people the safest way to order their desired food online without waiting for a waiter to take orders.

That’s also beneficial because the world is going through unprecedented times (COVID-19 pandemic), and maintaining social distancing and contactless services has become a new normal. To make the entire process smooth and hassle-free, the online food ordering systems for restaurants have a crucial role.

So, if you are planning to open restaurant business with the digital advent and don’t know how it helps your business keep thriving, then this article is for you. We will explore the top advantages of the online ordering system for restaurants. But, let’s begin with the basics first.

Online Food Ordering Trends at Glance

Did you know COVID-19 had a catastrophic impact on the restaurant sector, especially small and sit-in restaurants worldwide?

In the first lockdown in 2020, around 24% of small restaurants in the USA shut down dine-in temporarily. This data is from the first lockdown, while the world has witnessed many such shutdowns since the first outbreak. According to Statista, the average annual food away-from-home expenditures of U.S. households were 2,375 U.S. dollars which is a significant drop compared to 2019.

Find more statistics at Statista

Food consumption and dine-in behavior shifted massively due to the COVID-19. In such a catastrophic situation, online food delivery and takeout services turned out to be a saving grace for millions of small restaurants worldwide. Online ordering systems, like Foodiv with QR code based digital Menu & Ordering, received massive attention at the time of adversity. Even if we keep the coronavirus pandemic aside for a moment, the online ordering system has enormous potential for restaurants. And the statistics given below are the testament.

• 90% of consumers search for food delivery and takeout online
• 86% of Millennial are ready to change to mood for a new restaurant after seeing food-related content online
• 60% of people order delivery or takeout at least once a week
• 70% of them prefer to order directly from the restaurants
• During the COVID-19 peak, food delivery services witnessed a 50% increase
• 300% increase in ordering and delivering food since 2014

9 Advantages of online ordering for restaurants Business

As you have gone through the trends and understood how significant an online food ordering system can be for your restaurant business, let us help you understand the advantages of an online ordering system in detail. In the whole paragraphs, you will learn how this SaaS-based ordering system help you make your restaurant business profit.

1. Appealing to Tech-Savvy Generation

Half of the population uses smartphones and 90% search for businesses online. That means having an In-House online ordering system in your restaurants can give them an easy and convenient to order their food from the comfort of their couch. Or, even if they are in restaurants, they can explore the menu, choose their delicious dish, and place it right from the table, without waiting for the waiter to take the order.

2.Makes the Food Ordering Process Easier

Traditionally, placing an order was a tedious task that could be done either by making phone calls or driving to the restaurants for the takeout ( and had to wait until the order got ready). Apart from this, placing orders using phone calls is likely to have mistakes in orders. Switching over online food ordering can not just improve the ordering process and reduce errors in order but also make it easier for customers to explore the menu with vivid photographs and decide what they want on their plate. Indeed, things have dramatically changed over the years —thanks to online ordering platforms.

3.Online Ordering software Generates More Revenue

That’s true. We have given the testament earlier that 90% of customers search businesses online, even ordering food. According to an online report, 70% of customers (who order food online) prefer to order food directly from restaurants thinking that money directly goes to the restaurants, not the third-party vendor app.

With making day-to-day operation easy and efficient, customers get more time to explore the menu and think about add-on deals or offers (if you offer). As a result, guests happily place orders more than the actual requirement, and this entire process results in an exponential increase in revenue.

Tips to Increase Restaurant Sales

4.Real-Time Expense Monitoring

Traditionally, monitoring cash flow in the restaurant was a challenge. With an online food ordering solution, you can track costs incurred in preparing food which you can compare or differentiate from the price you are giving to the customers. For example, if you have 1000 orders in a day, the online ordering software provides you with accurate monetary translation for every order placed through the system.

5.Free Marketing Option

Did you know 86% of Millennials are ready to change the mood for the new restaurant after seeing food-related content online?

With a restaurant online ordering system, you get a solid online presence. And, keeping your business in front of your customers 24/7, you get a cost-effective marketing option with an online food ordering system. You can avoid paying for expensive media advertising and billboards. Customers visiting your restaurants will get to know about the facilities you provide and how they can utilize the deals you offer. Now, when you have a website and social media pages for your restaurants, you can easily reach your target audience. You can work to drive the visitors into actual buyers. There can be various other ways to explore marketing and branding with the online ordering system in place.

Effective Digital marketing strategy for your restaurant

6.Provides Home-Like Feeling to Customers by Taking Hospitality Next Level

On the one hand, the online world lets customers avoid in-person meetings; it gives an immense opportunity for restaurants to connect with users on the other hand. For example, you can give a thank you message to customers with their orders, and it will help not just in branding but also enables customers to promote it with word of mouth. Besides, you can customize the bill, ensuring the brand shines through on all delivery and takeout orders.

7.Makes Order More Accurate

Order accuracy is one of the most important facets when it comes to restaurants. Misunderstandings may occur anywhere, or chances become multi times more in the restaurant. It doesn’t matter; an order is being taken over the phone, computer, or in-person; mistakes may happen, which can lead to wasted food and customer agitation. Because of frustration, the customer may not come twice to the same restaurant.

8.Serve Customers with Personalized Experience

For guests with allergies or dietary restrictions, this is especially important. Many online ordering systems have simple, clear checkboxes to indicate allergies, making it easy for kitchen staff to adjust ingredients based on the guest’s selection.

Not only does this result in a better experience for the customer, but a better operational result for the restaurant.

9.Online In-House Ordering System Comes with Customizable Option

The online ordering system like Foodiv customizable options empowers you to customize the menu and design anytime you want to. With customization, you have control over the brand, and you can create a greater impression over your customers ordering online using your website. Besides, if you are connecting with your technology partner for leveraging your restaurant with ordering system, you may explore tips to choose online ordering systems for your restaurant. This will give you a perfect idea of getting the right system in place.

You can enhance the design and menu by placing photos of the menu instead of just names. This gives your customers clarity about what they order. Besides, you have access to remove and add items from the menu easily. This aids in editing it as per the food items’ availability

How Do Online Ordering Systems Work?

The online ordering system works just like the takeaway. That means the guest, either using your page or inside the restaurant. They can order by choosing the dishes from the menu and making payments online. Here’s how the online ordering system works.

• Guests at their home or in front/inside your restaurant
• Explore the menu from their laptop or mobile phones
• Pick whatever they want to order
• Add delivery/meal instruction, if any
• Make payment using the payment gateway into your system
• And, the order is successfully delivered

Now, they will be notified in case of takeaway when the food is ready. Moreover you may deliver their order to their doorstep.

Must Read in Details: How does Online Food Ordering System Work?

Final Thoughts

We are sure you have understood the top advantages of online food ordering systems and how online ordering systems work. Therefore, if you are planning to integrate the system into your restaurant business, we can help with a robust system with customization and deployment support. Let’s connect.