There are many ups and downs in the restaurant industry. Furthermore, you must compete not just with other restaurants, but also with ghost kitchens and food trucks, which are becoming increasingly popular.
Everyone offers online meal ordering options, which is something that all types of eateries have in common. As a result, you'll have to go above and beyond to establish yourself as the go-to restaurant for online meal ordering.
Also, avoid making the following mistakes to stay ahead of the competition.
1. Making Customers Wait
Customers, unlike in typical dining establishments, just have to wait for you to make the food and deliver it to their table. They will, however, have to wait until the food is brought to their home when ordering food online. The time can differ greatly depending on how distant they live.
And arriving late will almost certainly result in a low rating. Furthermore, the buyer is unlikely to order from you again.
The Solution: Think about how long it takes you to get from your restaurant to the customer's address. Add it to the time it takes to prepare their order and give them an estimated delivery time.
2. Non-Responsive Website With Ambiguous Information
Every restaurant that offers online ordering services needs a website. However, simply having a website is insufficient.
Your restaurant's website should be well-designed and optimized, with accurate, up-to-date information. And, because the majority of customers order food online using their phones, you'll need a responsive website that works on all devices to meet their needs.
Furthermore, without a responsive website, customers would have a difficult time finding your business. This is because mobile friendliness is a ranking criterion used by search engines when displaying results.
The Solution: Update your restaurant's information, including offers and promotions, on a regular basis. No one wants to see a deal that hasn't been updated in months (remove promotional messages and banners as soon as the offer ends). Also, make sure you test your website on a variety of devices to ensure a positive user experience.
3. Not Having a Customized App
Many eateries choose not to develop their own app. This could be due to the high price of app development or the fact that they are unsure how it would help them.
In fact, according to a recent Statista survey, 67 percent of US consumers prefer to order food from a restaurant's own mobile app or website.
That's because nothing beats the convenience that a personalized mobile app can provide to clients. Additionally, if they download your mobile app, they will see it every time they unlock their phone, enhancing brand familiarity and reducing the likelihood of them going to your competition.
The Solution: As soon as possible, create a custom Restaurant Delivery App for your establishment. It should be consistent with your website and allow clients to reorder in one or two steps. To boost app use, try implementing a loyalty programme tailored to your app.
4. Ignoring Customer Feedback and Reviews
There's already a lot on your plate, from procuring supplies to managing personnel to ensuring you're making enough sales. Managing consumer comments and reviews only adds to your workload. That is, at least, what many restaurateurs believe.
88 percent of restaurateurs, according to Shout About Us, do not respond to any customer evaluations.
The Solution: Respond to as many favorable and critical evaluations as possible. Thank clients for their feedback and encourage them to shop from you again when responding to favorable evaluations. If you receive unfavorable feedback, be careful to apologize and ensure clients that this will not happen again.
5. Not Focusing On Packaging
One of the most important parts of online meal ordering is packaging. Even a slight oversight or misunderstanding can cause the food to become soggy before it reaches the diner.
Unfortunately, many restaurants prioritize cost-cutting in packaging over assuring food safety while traveling.
The Solution: Invest in high-quality packing materials to ensure that food reaches customers securely. When that happens, they'll be more likely to order from you on a regular basis. If at all possible, use environmentally friendly packing materials to give customers the impression that they are helping the environment.
Source: https://eatanceapp.com/blog/mistakes-that-restaurateurs-with-online-food-ordering-should-avoid/