The Surge of Online Delivery Apps

These digital platforms have reimagined the way we enjoy takeaway food, offering the ease of perusing menus, placing orders, and tracking deliveries with just a few taps. Giants like Uber Eats, Menulog, and DoorDash have made accessing a variety of cuisines simpler than ever. And with delivery app revenue expected to increase by 22% worldwide in 2024 alone, we might all have to accept that they aren’t going anywhere.

Advantages for Restaurateurs

Navigating the restaurant business is challenging, yet online delivery apps offer several advantages:

• Expanded Reach: Your eatery gains exposure, drawing in new customers.
• Efficient Order Handling: Integrated systems facilitate smoother operations during peak times.
• Valuable Feedback: Customer reviews provide insights for service enhancement.
• Marketing Analytics: Tools and analytics aid in refining your marketing approach.

Maximising Your Delivery App Profile

Here are some actionable tips to structure your delivery app profile effectively:

1. Price Strategy for Free Delivery: Position your main dishes near the threshold for free delivery, typically around $20. This clever pricing encourages customers to add an extra item, such as a high-margin beverage or side, to reach the free delivery mark. These small additions can significantly boost your average order value.
2. Lunchtime Combo Offers: Introduce combo deals during lunch hours to entice higher spending. By bundling items at a set price, you remove the hesitation associated with adding extras to an order. Customers perceive greater value and convenience, making them more likely to indulge in a fuller meal experience.
3. High-Margin Add-Ons: Highlight low-cost, high-margin items like drinks, bread, or chips. These are often overlooked but can be the key to upselling. Ensure they’re prominently displayed on your profile as suggested add-ons to main dishes.
4. Visual Appeal: Invest in high quality photography to showcase your dishes enticingly. A visually appealing menu can be the difference between a customer scrolling past or stopping to order.
5. Menu Clarity: Keep your menu clear and concise. Overwhelming customers with too many options can lead to decision fatigue. Instead, focus on a selection of your best-sellers that are optimized for delivery.
6. Promotions and Deals: Use the app’s promotional features to offer time-limited deals or discounts on certain days or times, which can drive orders during slower periods.
7. Engaging Descriptions: Craft compelling descriptions for each item. Highlighting key ingredients, flavours, and any unique selling points can sway customers to try new dishes or go for those with higher profit margins.
8. Customer Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews. High ratings and good reviews can improve your visibility on the app and make your venue more attractive to potential customers.
9. Personal Touch: Consider including a personalised thank-you message with each order. Small gestures can build customer loyalty and increase the likelihood of repeat orders.
10. Optimisation: Make sure your profile is setup correctly and allows customers to make choices. If you offer soft drink for example, make sure they can choose a flavour. When you don’t optimise your delivery app correctly, you risk incorrect deliveries, complaints and refunds.

Strategies for Thriving Amidst Delivery App Fees

To thrive despite the significant cut taken by delivery apps, consider the following strategies:

• Menu Innovation: Continuously refine your menu to include items that are delivery-friendly and have a high-profit margin.
• Operational Streamlining: Invest in training and technology that enables your team to work efficiently, reducing the need for a large staff.
• Dynamic Pricing: Adjust your prices strategically to cover the costs imposed by delivery apps while still providing value to your customers.
• Marketing: In a saturated market, it pays to keep you front of mind with your followers and potential customers, social media marketing is a way to remind people that you exist for delivery or pickup.

By implementing these tactics, venues can create a more lucrative and engaging presence on delivery apps. It’s about striking a balance between offering value to the customer and ensuring profitability for your business. Remember, every interaction on these platforms is an opportunity to enhance your brand and cultivate a loyal customer base, despite the commission costs.