Restaurant food delivery apps make just as big of a difference for businesses as they do for consumers. The ability to place orders from your favorite restaurant business results in higher order volumes overall. Thanks to these apps, eateries of all styles are able to sustain a lucrative restaurant profit margin. 

Ever since the restaurant industry began its digital transformation, the public grew to love food delivery apps. In fact, it would probably be difficult to find a mobile device without one of these apps. And even if you did, the consumer could be a fan of using an eCommerce site instead. 

Are you an entrepreneur wanting to know which food delivery service is best for restaurant owners? If so, then fantastic--you're about to dive into all the answers to these kinds of questions, as well as outline what consumers might view as the best app for food delivery. Oh, and we'll also talk in pretty extensive detail about the purpose of food delivery software and how it intertwines with its most coveted features. We’re about to cover several areas of discussion that you should be aware of; so, let’s dive right in!

Food Delivery Apps: Every Restaurant’s Best Money-Maker

Once your eatery becomes available on at least one multi restaurant food delivery app, you’ll quickly notice how much cash flow it generates. Roughly 40 percent of a restaurant’s revenue will come from online ordering. When you really stop to think about it, that’s an extremely mind-blowing figure, which can drastically improve the health of a business. 

The surge in profitability stems from the fact that food delivery apps broaden a restaurant’s exposure by a long shot. Location is suddenly not a factor either, as the business will appear when customers scroll through their options. Or, perhaps your brick and mortar store has a low restaurant seating capacity. With food delivery apps, that’s no longer an issue.

The Purpose of Food Delivery Apps

Food delivery apps offer business owners with multiple outlets to capture sales. In doing so, they’re actually just giving their customers the most convenient way to dine--in the comfort of their own space. Food delivery services for restaurants are also a prominent component of the digital age. With the increased use of smartphones and tablets, online ordering apps are the go-to. Just ensure that the ones you're investing in have the right features for your business. But we’ll cover more on that a little later. 

Key Takeaway: In modern society, food delivery apps are one of the most essential tools for allowing a restaurants to thrive. 

Popular Food Delivery Apps

There are a wide selection of food delivery apps for restaurants to partner with. The best food delivery service for both businesses and customers will be those with suitable features.

For instance, if you have a large menu and want to accelerate inventory turnover, it might be worthwhile to use upselling techniques. Or, if you’re up against a lot of local competition, marketing features may be your best friend. The best option, though? Making your restaurant available on multiple food delivery apps.

For restaurants of all sizes, styles, and cuisines, the most popular food delivery apps include:

1. DoorDash
2. Uber Eats
3. Grubhub

Sure, there are other food delivery apps that customers might like to use. However, once you partner with these three, your reach will increase tenfold--at least.

7 Vital Features Across Food Delivery Apps

Delivery service providers make it easy for restaurants to optimize success. Whether you offer expensive or fast food restaurant delivery, a variety of features are vital. Even the cheapest food delivery app needs to comprise a number of key elements. 

So, learn about seven of them below:

1. Easy Menu Browsing 

It’s absolutely essential that the food delivery app(s) you decide to use offers a user-friendly customer experience. If not, you might prompt potential customers to visit another restaurant. On delivery apps, this begins with the menu.

Menu scrolling functionalities should be easy. It's also helpful if there are categories and filters so that scrollers can find exactly what they want. These elements will prompt customers to make purchases quicker, which is what you want.

2. GPS Tracking

Live order monitoring gives customers peace of mind, as they’re able to track the location of their order. Meanwhile, it actually nurtures a less stressful environment back at the restaurant. It’s seriously a game changer for both sides of the coin.

When customers are able to view where on the map their driver is, there’s no need to question its estimated time of arrival. Therefore, restaurants experience fewer inquiries via phone calls. As you can imagine, this is great for understaffed eateries or those experiencing work overload.

3. Multiple Payment Methods

A good selection of payment processing options is essential to host on mobile delivery apps. Since you are dealing with software, all options must comprise digital payments. However, there can still be a variety. 

Credit or debit cards, Apple Pay, and PayPal are a few popular payment options. It’s also just as important to let customers leave a tip on the app. Some customers might not even use a food delivery app if this feature doesn’t exist. Plus, delivery drivers everywhere will thank you!

4. Promotions and Discounts

Occasional promotions and discounts will do wonders for a restaurant’s profits and exposure. With the help of an online ordering platform and delivery apps, restaurant staff can create discounts on the backend. Did you know that these offers can actually be customized based on historical customer data? That's right, you can offer customers discounts based on their preferences.

The ability to customize discounts for select groups of consumers is ideal. For one, not everyone will have access to the same perks. This alone is a way to reward loyalty. Second, depending on what the promotions are, they might pair with messaging that speaks to a specific target audience.

5. Upselling Features 

The implementation of upselling techniques in restaurants can be hard. But when you digitize the ordering process, this task becomes a breeze. Plus, they’re tactics that cannot take place in-house.

When customers sign in to their food delivery app of choice, they can be met with past purchases. Restaurants they have ordered from in the past can also be front and center on the homepage. On the customization pages, the app can suggest other items to add to their cart. Then, the checkout page can display last-minute items as well.

6. Restaurant Loyalty Program Integrations 

Loyalty program integrations prompt repeat business and nurture customer retention. Let’s face it, who doesn’t love receiving free perks from a business? 

When customers sign up on a food delivery app, they can automatically start earning points for future rewards. Then, when they acquire enough points to redeem them, they can do so through the app. It’s easy, efficient, and a foolproof way to prompt more customers to come back.

7. Email and SMS Alerts 

Mobile ordering apps have the capability to send past, current, and future customers texts and emails. Email and text marketing are some of the best restaurant marketing tactics too, as they communicate with the customers directly. This feature is especially valuable for order reminders and promotions. 

The best part about SMS and email marketing is that the business can break up customers into segments. As a result, they can send custom messages based on preferences and past actions. And in any business, the key to success is personalization.

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Delivery Apps 

Once you learn about the power of food delivery apps, you’ll be one step closer to long-term restaurant success. So, we decided to cover some additional information on the basics. In the FAQsection below, you’ll gain extra insight, especially pertaining to specific apps. Read on!

What Are the Most Used Food Delivery Apps?

The most used food delivery apps are DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. All three options offer a wide selection of eateries, as well as features for the business.

Can I Use DoorDash Without the App?

Yes, customers can use DoorDash without the app thanks to the website. The DoorDash website actually looks strikingly similar to the app design and customers are able to sign in to their accounts to place orders. With this in mind, past purchases, addresses, and payment information will be present upon signing in.

How Many Orders Can You Deliver a Day With DoorDash?

DoorDash drivers can deliver an unlimited number of orders each day. This way, there’s no ceiling to how much money they can make.

What Are the Best Food Delivery Apps?

The best food delivery apps that consumers seem to flock to include:

• Uber Eats
• Grubhub
• DoorDash
• Postmates

Which Food Delivery Apps Also Deliver Groceries?

Two popular food delivery apps that also deliver groceries include DoorDash and goPuff. You can also include Instacart on this list if you use it to purchase ready-to-eat meals.

Order On the App!

Are you learning how to increase food delivery sales? Or, are you striving to make your restaurant operations a whole lot simpler? Regardless of what your situation currently looks like, it's always a smart move for businesses to leverage food delivery apps. It’ll absolutely be worth the investment and customers will appreciate the convenience.

However, it can be overwhelming to manage hardware for each provider. That's why Revolution Ordering offers a product that streamlines order tracking and management. To learn more, schedule a demo with an industry expert today!