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5 Awesome Tips on How to Improve a Delivery Service at Your Res

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    Considering the changes in the restaurant industry, it is important to note that catering would not have been able to maintain its presence on the market without connecting third-party aggregators like a distribution channel. One of the most obvious and strong distribution channels are delivery services. This year the availability of delivery services has become a condition of survival for most restaurants.

    According to researchers, over 23% of consumers will continue to order food from restaurants after the pandemic, and the majority of respondents confirmed that they agree to pay shipping fees. About 75% of survey participants expect the food to be delivered within 30 minutes. And only 20% say a 45-minute wait is acceptable. This 15-minute difference puts at risk your reputation and decreases the income of your restaurant.

    The paradox is that restaurants and delivery aggregators depend on each other, but the latter need to improve their work to preserve the reputation of the first ones. When the delivery process appears to have some problems, the restaurant suffers most. This can lead to negative reviews and lost clients. 

    In this regard, the creation of your own delivery in the restaurant is the next step to reduce risks for your business and increase guest loyalty. And here's what you need to do for this.

    1. Connect an online restaurant

    You should start by setting up an online restaurant. Today this can be done in several ways. It is possible to hire a UX/UI designer and create a convenient user experience on the site. You can work out the interface using different web designers’ resources and ready-made showcases. 

    The difference is that the designer will be able to make a unique webpage, while the online storefronts are boilerplate but simple and quick to use. If you have the ability and money, it is worth investing in design and user experience to increase customers’ loyalty.

    If you decide to use an online showcase for your webpage, you need to use your imagination and creativity to the maximum. 

    A web page is a place where the customer’s experience with your restaurant begins. For this reason, you make it as comfortable and pleasant as the atmosphere in a physical restaurant.

    2. Set up control over accounting system

    To receive orders, it is important to integrate your website with the restaurant's accounting system. This can help you keep tracking cash flow and taxes. You should talk to your IT provider and find out how their system can be integrated with your online restaurant. They often have partners offering such services.

    3. Connect CRM

    With the growing power of personal data and analytics, the establishment of a digital platform can generate smart up-sales at the time of purchase. When a restaurant understands the guests, their consumer needs, and behavior patterns, it allows deeper integration into their lives. This is the beginning of a reliable relationship between the client and the restaurant.

    For further communications with your guests and the formation of personalized offers, it is important to set up the work of CRM. You need to couple CRM with the choice of an online showcase and the capabilities of a management accounting system.

    4. What to do with the menu?

    You need to review your menu and leave the most popular dishes that are suitable for delivery and takeaway. This can help reduce the strain on staff and your budget. Often food delivery is ordered for the whole family or a big company of friends. For this reason, you can offer your guests a set of dishes for a company of 2-4 or 6 people.

    Add specific products and gastronomic delights to the menu. Those ordering food delivery as a business lunch often have a desire to add fruit or some delicacy to the order. Customers are unlikely to go to the store just for the sake of pineapple, but it makes sense to add them to your menu as a pleasant bonus to increase loyalty.

    5. Last Mile

    It is important to keep track of dishes and the temperature of the food when it reaches your customers. The “last mile” experience is fundamentally important. When you are trying to establish the work of your own delivery, improve the user experience. You need to make it similar to what clients experience being physically in your restaurant.

    Think over the packaging, communication, and appearance of the courier according to your brand. By adding a free bonus to your order you can significantly increase the customers’ loyalty. Include delivery time in your restaurant performance analysis and continually optimize the process step by step.