Benefits of in-house online ordering

Undoubtedly, online food ordering and delivery are here to stay. The Covid pandemic has changed consumers’ restaurant habits for what could be a permanent shift. Even after the restrictions of the pandemic waned, restaurants still see a significant demand for take-out, curbside, and delivery orders from their customers. Restaurateurs have had to adapt quickly to keep their revenue streams from drying up.

Restaurants that pivoted quickly to outdoor dining, curbside pick-up, and food delivery were the ones with a better chance of withstanding the pandemic’s fallout. They are also the ones who find themselves in a better position going forward as these habits stick.

Existing well before the pandemic were restaurant delivery services like Grub Hub, UberEats, and DoorDash. These companies have seen profits soar as ordering delivery of food, goods & services became a normal part of living for all age groups during the pandemic.

Unfortunately, these corporate 3^rd party online ordering & delivery services are getting rich while struggling restaurants are forced to give away more and more profits. Fees as high as 30% from some of these popular services force restaurants to increase their prices online to cover the shortfall which in turn puts a bad taste in the mouths of their regular customers.

So, what can restaurant owners do to be sure they are meeting the demands of today’s consumers while also remaining competitive and profitable?

While some larger chains can hire in-house drivers for busy nights, it’s not an option for most. This means their choice is not offering delivery at all or accepting the fact that they will have to adapt to these new fees and find ways to offset them. However, there is one overlooked option for taking some of the online ordering power back.

Restaurants that offer curbside or pickup do not need to pay the high fees being charged by 3^rd parties for simply taking the order and sending it to the restaurant. Instead, restaurants can have their own branded in-house online ordering at a fraction of the price – even if they do not have a modern POS system.

So, what are the benefits of having in-house online ordering?

For the restaurant:

1. Keeping profits away from corporate 3^rd party food delivery services
2. Consistent branding
3. Convenience for customers
4. Ability to advertise specials and offer discounts
5. Collect important customer data
6. Free up time for the staff that would normally be taking the orders over the phone

For the consumer:

1. Convenient
2. Confidence their order was received exactly as they ordered it
3. Ability to earn loyalty discounts or receive special offers from the restaurant
4. No paying higher prices on menu items
5. Receiving their order directly from a restaurant employee instead of a delivery driver with no loyalty to that restaurant
6. Happy they are supporting their local businesses instead of giving their money to a greedy corporation

Although food delivery has become a mainstay, this does not mean that a restaurant’s loyal customers would not skip the delivery for a better price, higher quality, and a more trusted and personal experience.

Affordable In-House Online Ordering Solution

Takeout Button® builds an affordable custom branded online ordering system for local restaurants and businesses that partner with restaurants like Food Delivery Services.

Find out how easy it is to set up your own in-house online food ordering with us! Reach out today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.

View our satisfied clients at eatnowbutton.com.