This is the age of digitalization people have no extra time to spend on food. They are not even free to walk just a few steps to grab some food items. This has given rise to various local eateries and reputed restaurants to use some extra resources and go online by partnering with delivery companies like Zomato, Swiggy, etc.
Online food delivery services have become the in-thing in today’s digital world and this prospect has given rise to various start-ups earning people thousands of currency.
This service has proved to be a very valuable tool by the great worldwide web allowing you to access right from your living room to the corporate office.
Even though food delivery systems were present in Ireland during 1922 but during the digital age the first recorded food delivery came with the rise of the internet in 1994. It was Pizzanet.com that launched the first online service and since then there has been no looking back on buying and ordering things in this technological age.
Today countries like India, China, the USA, UK, and Germany are leading in the online retail business with China leading with $13.7 billion income from their online retail market.
What is Online Food Delivery Services
The concept of delivery of food has changed radically with the rise of online food ordering.
Food delivery services have gained huge popularity in the market today. Many entrepreneurs are considering food delivery as an excellent business option owing to its big revenues.
Food delivery refers to a courier service through which an independent company delivers food to its customers. These services allow customers to choose from a large selection of foods and restaurants and order their food using a convenient web page or mobile app.
The menu may include grocery items, drinks, desserts, or anything that you commonly see on a food menu. The person who delivers this uses a vehicle for transportation of the ordered food.
To use a food delivery service the customer will have to place an order through the restaurant’s site or a food delivery company. The payment option to pay online or in-person depends on the foodservice company. In most cases, a delivery fee is charged on top of the customer’s order.
The online delivery service company uses software built on the food delivery PHP script software that will allow adding and functioning of any restaurant website smartly.
This software will allow the creation of a menu, manage categories, orders, pickup and delivery, payment options, and vouchers if any. It allows custom modifications of the food delivery software too.
The Pros and Cons of Online Food Delivery Services
Today’s digital people who are generally tech-savvy play a crucial role for restaurants trying to grab a place on the online delivery market chart. Studies show that nearly 75% prefer to use the online delivery service.
Instead of going to a restaurant, people are just loving it to order online or over their phone and get their favorite food delivered just at their doorstep. On the surface, the idea of online food delivery looks like a win-win situation both for the customer and the restaurant. But this is not the ideal scenario as it looks like and does come with certain flaws.
Pro: Ease of access – There is a big advantage of choosing from a wide variety of restaurants and menus as well. Almost all the food chains offer online delivery with so many options in their menus and you can just make your order by just tapping and selecting from the comfort of your home or office.
Con: Late deliveries – Sometimes when food is ordered online it takes a lot of time for delivery as it depends on the distance from where it is ordered. So, play smart and order from the nearest possible outlet rather than going for some unknown restaurant and then wait for the delivery.
Pro: Exposure – You do not have to spend extra resources on marketing especially if you have just set up your restaurant or you are run a small business. Online food delivery services give great exposure allowing you to be seen by a huge number of potential customers. It allows your business to extend well beyond your immediate neighborhood.
Con: Empty restaurant – Your kitchen may be overwhelmed meeting online orders and may find it difficult to meet the needs of the seated guests. Also, every online order means one customer less dining at the restaurant. You may miss out on that impromptu order of just one more desert or one more drink. Your restaurant may look empty or seem vibe-less for those walking in customers.
Pro: Provide a teaser for new customers – Online ordering makes it easy for customers to discover new places rather than being confined to the restaurants in their neighborhood. The best way to combat the issue of an empty restaurant is by attracting new customers and offering only a good portion of the menu online. Develop a limited menu including meals that are popular in-house and easy to carry. The limited menu will work as a teaser of the full menu and if your customers enjoy it they will visit your restaurant to enjoy the full range.
Con: No control on the quality of delivery – Using a limited menu offers a big disincentive – lack of control over the delivery service. Ensure that you offer for delivery those items that can travel well and still taste great after the ride. Many venues are claiming that poor service during delivery is making an impact on their reputation rather than on the delivery app. In simple words, even the restaurant owners have no control over the delivery service and cannot guarantee the quality, temperature, or kind of the state of the food once it leaves their place.
Pro: Increased business during dull times – Last year food delivery apps contributed to an increase of 2% in restaurant revenue. A lot of these orders came at a time when the restaurants would not be busy thus providing work during their dull times. Weather also plays a villain sometimes for bad business. Potential customers stay indoors to avoid any of these elements of nature thus making restaurants empty. This is where the food delivery services step in by solving these problems as orders flood in from cozy customers who want to stay put inside their homes.
Con: Delivery cost may defeat benefit – The fees associated with the online platforms are a factor for consideration. Restaurants have to pay a percentage for all the orders received online. The food delivery apps demand a commission of up to 40% so using your extra resources will work out more profitable. By using your delivery services you can also save up on the food delivery PHP script software charges required to set up your app or website.
There are numerous advantages and disadvantages of any service that you make use of because good and bad are part and parcel of these services. Consider these before you venture out to order your food through an online food delivery service.
Wrapping up
The food delivery system is here to stay because of the way the world is moving digitally nowadays.
The last year has seen a boost of online orders in the restaurant industry that has opened up a completely new sales channel on the world’s map.
Websites and mobile apps increase the profit of any business and their various functions have only improved the user experience. If you are a restaurant owner and are not offering food online then this is the right time to leap.
About The Author:-
Hermit Chawla is an MD at AIS Technolabs PVT LTD which is a Web design and Development Company, helping global businesses to grow by Web Development Company. I would love to share thoughts on Social Media Marketing Services and Game Design Development etc.
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Hello! My name is Mr. Abbax khan. I am a content writer & full-time professional Web Designer and Developer specially WORDPRESS with vast experience. I started my graduation in 2016 and graduated in 2020. I’m a professional article and blog writer, has written dozens of content on different topics and worked with professionals all over the globe.