The #1 Way to Grow Restaurant Sales – On-Demand Delivery

If you are restaurant owner and are running your business on a traditional method stil ths blog is for you. If you have adopted the technology in terms of on-demand delivery platform but unable to meet the evolving demands of your customer and market, this blog is for you. On-deman delivery software is opening up a new revenue stream. And it is considered as a a game changer for your restaurant. 

As consumer demand for speed and convenience grows, delivery apps are becoming essential for reaching customers and driving profits. Keep reading this blog to explore the No. 1 way to grow sales for your restaurant. Joining forces with a delivery partner may be one of the smartest moves your restaurant can make today. Let’s dive in deep now. 

The Ris On-Demand Delivery 

The on-demand delivery market has absolutely exploded over the last few years. Platforms like Grubhub, DoorDash, and Uber Eats have changed the game for restaurants across the country. U.S. restaurant delivery revenue has increased from just $200 billion in 2013 to over $350 billion today. That’s insane growth!

It’s clear that consumers want their favorite meals delivered to their doorstep with just a few taps on their smartphones. The pandemic accelerated adoption of food delivery apps even further. Even as dine-in restrictions ease, customers are sticking with the convenience of delivery.

The bottom line is that on-demand delivery is becoming a must-have for restaurants rather than a nice-to-have. Establishments that don’t offer delivery risk losing customers to competitors that do.

Benefits for Restaurants 

Restaurant ordering & delivery software benefits are simple – more sales! 

Even if your restaurant has robust dine-in traffic, adding delivery means you can serve customers well beyond just those who come through your doors. Delivery revenue provides a valuable boost to your top line.

Let’s say your average customer spends $25 per meal in your restaurant. By leveraging delivery apps, you can essentially clone your best customers by having their meals delivered!

Instead of being limited by the number of tables you have, you can fulfill orders nonstop. More orders equals more revenue. It’s a volume game that delivery helps you win.

Maximize Your Reach in the Neighborhood

On-demand delivery allows your restaurant to break out of its four walls.

Local customers who live or work within a few miles of your location become potential diners even if they’ve never stepped foot inside your establishment. Apps like DoorDash let customers search and discover restaurants in their area.

Your delicious food is now accessible to new customers who want to sample your menu from the comfort of home or the office. Delivery makes any customer just a few clicks away.

Expanding your reach in this way helps drive brand awareness. Even if someone doesn’t order delivery right away, they now know your restaurant exists for future cravings or dine-in visits.

Analytics Provide Customer Insights

Delivery apps provide a treasure trove of data based on orders, popularity of dishes, order timing patterns, and more.

You can see which menu items perform best when delivered, or need tweaked for transit. Knowing peak delivery order times allows you to schedule staff and prep ingredients accordingly.

Customer information and feedback gives you insights into demographics beyond just your in-store diners. You can tailor promotions or menu additions based on what your delivery customers want.

The analytics deliveries provide are extremely valuable for understanding customer behavior and demand. Traditional dine-in restaurants are flying blind without this data.

Choose Delivery Partners Strategically

When it comes to on-demand delivery, you have options for partners. Larger platforms like DoorDash or UberEats have the biggest reach. However, smaller local services may offer better customer service or commission rates.

Think about your restaurant’s physical location – is it in a busy metro with lots of demand for quick delivery? Or a small town where reach isn’t as important? This can dictate which delivery partners make sense.

Also consider your restaurant category or niche. A pizza or burger joint likely aligns well with the big national platforms. But a higher end steakhouse may benefit from a more specialized white-glove delivery service.

The delivery partner landscape will continue to evolve. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different services to see what works best for your business.

Optimize Your Menu for Delivery

While your dine-in menu may be dialed in, delivery requires some different considerations. Certain dishes may not travel well, while others might benefit from tweaks in packaging or presentation.

For example, a salad with delicate ingredients might not hold up during a bumpy delivery ride. Perhaps a heartier grain bowl travels better. Items like fries or pasta dishes may need starch barriers so they don’t get soggy.

Think about how your food quality and presentation will be impacted after 20+ minutes in transit. Test your menu items after simulated delivery trips. Then make adjustments to ensure food still looks great when the customer opens the package.

Promote Delivery Specials on Social Media

Let your regular customers know that you now offer delivery! Promote the fact that favorites from your menu can now be enjoyed without leaving home.

Social media is the perfect channel for getting the word out about your new delivery offerings. Run special delivery promotions like free dessert with $25+ orders.

Post mouthwatering food photos of your best-selling dishes. Use engaging captions that grab attention like “Now enjoying our famous BBQ ribs is just a few taps away!”

Delivery is a new reason for existing customers to get excited about your brand. Promote it heavily across all your digital presences. Add banners or popups to your website as well.

Analyze Metrics to Refine Operations

As you scale delivery, be sure to analyze key performance metrics. This allows you to identify issues and constantly optimize the customer experience.

Track delivery times to ensure food is arriving hot and fresh. Monitor order accuracy – are the right items in each order? Watch for customer feedback on quality or damaged packaging.

Dive into the data to see if you need more delivery drivers during peak times to shorten wait times. Look at your top dishes to prioritize ingredients and prep schedules accordingly.

Continuously refining based on real delivery data is crucial. This allows you to scale volume without compromising quality or service.

Deliver Five-Star Experiences

Customer satisfaction is still critical, even for delivery orders. A few best practices will help you nail the experience:

• Confirm accurate wait times so customers aren’t left waiting longer than expected.
• Personally check packaged dishes to ensure no items are missing or incorrect.
• Include extra utensils or condiments that may be needed.
• Follow up with customers to address any issues promptly.
• Collect contact info like email addresses for future promotional offers.

With attention to detail, your delivery service will build a fantastic reputation. This generates repeat business and loyal customers.

Conclusion

On-demand delivery has become a massive industry seemingly overnight. For restaurants, it’s both an opportunity and a necessity.

Partnering with a delivery app can significantly boost your revenues by tapping into new customer bases. But you need to execute thoughtfully, not just slap your menu online and hope for the best.

Optimizing your menu offerings, promotions, and operational workflow is critical to ensure a stellar customer experience. The restaurants that embrace delivery strategically will win in the long run.

Restaurant ordering & delivery solutions provide the instant gratification that today’s consumers crave. Satisfying this demand is the #1 way to grow your restaurant’s sales in 2023 and beyond. Time to start delivering!