The World of Food Went Digital... How Can Restaurants Benefit from Online Ordering Systems in 2025?
The food sector has seen a lot of changes in the past two years ↗️ ↙️. Perhaps the most significant is the digital transformation of restaurants. Restaurant owners are really leveraging this trend that's sweeping the industry in new and exciting ways.
After "Corona" (COVID-19), customers started leaning more towards online ordering as a way to connect with their favorite restaurants.
In this article, we’ll talk about how restaurants can use online ordering systems to boost their sales and build a stronger digital presence – and reach a whole new audience at the same time. 👇
How Can Restaurants Use Online Ordering Systems for Customers?
Check out these eye-opening stats:
From 2019 to 2022, the percentage of people ordering food through mobile apps jumped by 36%, from 36.4 million users to 49.5 million users.
61% of customers say that restaurant delivery apps are easier to use and are their preferred way to order.
As a result of this, you’re seeing countless customers turning to online ordering systems like "GrubHub," "DoorDash," and "Uber Eats" for their peace of mind. And with customers becoming more aware of how easy online ordering is, you can expect this trend to keep growing.
Restaurants have two options when it comes to delivery platforms. The first is to partner with an existing delivery service like the ones we mentioned above.
The pros of such a partnership include less work for you and easy access to new customers. The cons, though, include high fees (activation, transaction fees, and commissions), and the fact that you have little control over the customer experience.
And this brings us to the second option: keeping delivery in-house. Self-delivery is an excellent way to build stronger relationships with your customers and avoid high fees, but it does require more organization, effort, and work from your side.
How Can Restaurants Use Online Ordering Systems for Themselves?
We all know online ordering systems like "UberEats," but the systems that exist for the restaurant-to-supplier relationship are less known among restaurant owners.
Before we dive into the details of how to use an online ordering system, let's summarize the benefits of having one in the first place:
Managing your orders from suppliers online saves you a lot of time that you can use to serve your customers better.
You can order and communicate with all your suppliers in one central place. You won't have to deal with constant back-and-forth anymore.
It cuts down the number of errors that come with manual processes (unclear handwriting, lost papers in piles of invoices, etc.).
Orders are much more flexible to modify online, which makes adding/removing products and setting special instructions super easy.
When you add an online ordering system, you'll have more time to invest in developing your employees' skills, interacting with customer feedback, and generally improving your restaurant's overall experience.
It's no secret that the restaurant sector is becoming more and more digital every day. It's essential for all current and aspiring restaurant owners to keep up with this major transformation by focusing part of their efforts on their digital presence.
A great way to do this is by implementing online ordering systems for themselves and their customers.
