9 reasons to implement online orders in your restaurant

Phone orders are a problem, you lose customers when your line is busy, and time for your employees to serve them.

You may think that phone ordering from pizzerias is efficient, forget it, they will disappear over time. In these types of restaurants, online orders have been very successful. Customers take time to think, to remove and add ingredients until they find the combination they want.

In this article we will analyze why you should add an online order to your restaurant, whether you have ordered by phone or not.

To answer your questions about whether or not to implement an online ordering system, I am going to give you nine reasons why you should choose “yes”.

1. The demand for online orders is real and important

The demand for online orders exists, it is real and covers almost the entire catering industry. Offering the online ordering system conveys to your customer base that your restaurant is modern and accessible.

I leave you some statistics that prove it:

1. Since 2014, 30% of total diners aged 18-54 have ordered food on a restaurant website
2. For websites that conduct restaurant reviews, online ordering represents up to 10% of total sales volume
3. The number of online orders grows 300% more than traffic to restaurants
4. According to NPD Group, in a couple of years the number of online orders will be higher than the number of telephone orders

2. Online orders make more money

Offering online orders makes your customers ask for more. Without the pressure to finish the order, customers are more open to exploring the entire menu, and consequently ordering more than they originally thought to order.

On average, online orders are € 4 more than what they order in person or over the phone.

3. You will not sacrifice interaction with your customers

Restaurateurs may believe that online ordering alienates human interaction between their restaurant staff and diners, but that’s a mistake.

Although customers won’t talk to your employees on the phone, they still need to talk to someone when they pick up their food, or when the delivery man delivers it to their homes.

These interactions are less rushed, and without the pressure of completing an order sooner.

Regardless, your staff will remain focused on satisfying the customer by creating delicious food and an efficient virtual guest experience.

4. You create precision in the orders

– Excuse me, what did you say?

– Can you repeat that?

These interjections are very familiar to anyone who orders or receives orders over the phone. Occasionally, misunderstandings occur or an employee takes the wrong order. With online orders you avoid all errors, misunderstandings and confusion.

5. An online ordering system is customizable

With your own online ordering platform, you can make changes instantly and in real time, in design, menu, prices, promotions and offers. You have control over your brand and customers will identify with you because the brand and its visual identity will be present at all times.

6. The income is yours

Unlike third-party online ordering systems, with your own system you will avoid the commissions that they charge for appearing on other websites, either monthly payment or per order.

If you manage the orders on your website, the income is entirely yours and you will not need intermediaries. It is a part of your business that you control like any other.

7. You will not lose competing with other local businesses

Some online sites create price wars between restaurants, and some ask for up to 30% of revenue for a place at the top of search results on that platform.

Alerting customers that you have your own online ordering platform, through social networks, with Google My Business and even in your menu, can encourage them to use your system instead of third-party platforms. You therefore have a great chance of winning this war, even if you think otherwise.

8. Your online ordering system is compatible with a third party

Still, offering online orders from an outside source has clear benefits: In crowded cities and markets, it’s a great way to showcase your business to new customers.

To reduce this expense, offer discount coupons to customers who come from third-party platforms for their next purchase through your website.

Thus, you obtain new customers through third-party means that you then retain so that they use your system.

9. You get valuable information from your customers

If the eight reasons above didn’t convince you, this one should.

In a business, the one who knows the most about their customers has the best chance of success, and online ordering is a great way to get that information.

Unlike online orders through third parties, our own online ordering systems allow you to record customer information and order patterns for each transaction.

You will be able to know who your regular customers are, what is most requested, the average purchase amount, age, name and email of each customer, among other information. This will allow you to personalize the offers, the deal and, above all, you can make better decisions in your business.