In truth, online food ordering has created its value as a separate industry segment in recent years due to the proliferation of website and mobile app development. Plus, it makes life so much easier for busy people, saving them time and changing the way they dine. According to studies, the food delivery segment accounts for almost 40% of the restaurant industry and that seems like a good sign to invest in food ordering apps. If business owners in the restaurant industry want to stay competitive, they obviously have to specialize their services and be different! No doubt now an on-demand food ordering app can be the best weapon for that. This article deliberately articulates the features that should be included in such an app that will help restaurant owners reap maximum benefits.

Customer login or registration

Users need to enter some basic details like name, address, and phone number to create an account on the app from where they can regularly place orders. So, the journey of the food ordering app starts with the login feature for user registration which also helps the owners to collect the customer database. Tracking personal data helps them build a great relationship with customers by providing them with personalized services.

Detailed menu with customization options

The app also needs to put in a long menu card that mentions the type of food, prices, portions, etc. of each item as offered at the restaurant tables. To make it easier to find food, it is advisable to categorize the menu into various types of cuisine and put a search button where customers can type a name and find everything about their favorite dishes. Also, if owners want to make their app better than the rest, they can include a feature to customize orders, meaning customers can ask for some extra ingredients or garnishes on their meal.

Loyalty/referral program

Many restaurants leave out this most important feature of a food ordering app that can help them attract more customers. By putting in place a rewards program that will add points to a customer’s account each time an order is placed, owners can keep customers hooked on their app for all successive orders. Those reward points after a certain period can be redeemed for great deals or free meals. Referral schemes can also become equally beneficial as they encourage existing satisfied users to refer others and earn reward points for each referral, increasing the restaurant’s chances of gaining more customers.

payment flexibilities

Once a customer is convinced by the app to place an order, they look for an easy payment method. A must-have app with a number of options including cash, credit and debit cards are highly desired. Integrating other viable options for payments, such as net banking, mobile wallet like Apple Pay, or Google Wallet, can offer additional benefits by providing greater customer convenience.

restaurant board

Not only customers but also restaurant owners will get the benefits of online ordering from the app. It should be built with a beautiful dashboard through which the owners can manage the food list, orders, and customers well. While they can add, edit or change cuisines, add descriptions or images on the menu, they can also closely track orders until they are delivered through it. Additionally, owners can regularly check their restaurant ratings or reviews and work on improvements if needed.

While many apps with online food delivery are already making money and have built a great reputation in the market, restaurant owners who want to sail the same boats should make on-demand services their priority. These features with a premium focus on convenience and fast delivery speed can help owners realize higher ROI benefits in a very short time.