Food delivery is arguably the fastest-growing segment in the UK recently. This is why food business operators are looking for ways to provide their customers with an easy platform to access a food menu. Also well as combine this with great service that enables operators to build long-term relationships with their customers. Because of this, online ordering platforms have taken over the industry, and can offer customers a better ordering freedom and customer experience. And if you’re considering one yourself, it’s a good idea for you to understand of how online Restaurant ordering systems work.
Part of developing this understanding will depend on the data you collect in your current scenario. How do restaurant ordering systems work and how can restaurateurs get started? To make this potential transition as easy as possible, we’ve outlined everything you need to know about how restaurant ordering systems work.
How restaurant ordering system works
In short, an ordering system provides a website or mobile app that allows customers to view a restaurant’s menu and place an order. Here are a few of the steps that take place before an order is placed by a customer:
The user selects the menu
When an user enters the website or app the consumer has the option of browsing the menu. This way, they can decide exactly what to order at their own pace, as well as the quantity according to their specific requirements.
The menu should list prices, description, variant options, and pictures so that your user can make their selections and improve the overall experience for them.
If you have decided to order a certain item, it will be placed in the shopping cart on the platform. There you can continue browsing the menu to select other items to add to your order.
Check out
Once satisfied, the customer can see the list of orders and the total payment amount, including delivery costs and VAT. They will also be asked to provide the information you need to fulfil the order, such as address, payment details, time of order delivery. All payments are then processed quickly and efficiently via the platform.
The restaurant receives the notification
Once a customer has placed their order, the restaurant receives the order. The restaurant then begins its side of the ordering process by making the food or packing the items that goes with the customer’s order.
Some systems allow integration with POS systems, and having the order placed directly in their EPOS gives the restaurant better control over the order. This could save them from having to manually enter items from a separate system into their point of sale and reducing risk.
Also, by adding an efficient kitchen management solution to the EPOS suite, the restaurant can eliminate the need for printers in the kitchen, save paper, and avoid missed orders due to lost tickets. These orders will go stright into the kitchen or warehouse to start the order.
The customer receives the order confirmation
The restaurant sends the confirmation notification and any delivery information to the customer. The fulfilment time depends on the duration of the restaurant and the address of the customer. The customer can also usually access this data on their profile options.
The restaurant begins the ordering process
The restaurant begins with the ordering process, during which the food is prepared according to the customer’s order. You send the request to the supplier to ship the order. The nearby free supplier accepts the restaurant’s request and delivers the customer’s order.
The order process is complete
Once the ordering process is complete, the facility either provides a delivery person with the delivery details of a user and a restaurant, or the consumer picks up the groceries himself.
The customer receives the food
After completing this process, the customer will finally receive the order via their selected method. Some platforms will offer delivery as part of the service, while others will need the business to self fulfil.
The combination of kitchen management systems and driver management solutions guarantees your customers the best food quality and the best possible experience every time, promotes repeat business, and strengthens customer loyalty.
Mobile functionality is more convenient and advantageous for your online ordering system for restaurants. It will also help you team up with various restaurants and keep your catering business growing. This could attract more and more customers because of the choice and user experience offered by these platforms.
Why setting up your online ordering system is beneficial for you
Setting up your online ordering system is beneficial in a lot of ways. So we’ve rounded up some of the considerations of having a delivery system:
More customers
By using a marketing ordering system platform that offers a directory, you may find yourself gaining a lot of new custom through the platform.
You are free to make changes
Once you’ve set up your system, you can always change and update it. But be aware, some systems will not give you full control over how everything looks if it’s a shared platform. They might limit you on how you display your items, how you offer delivery, and how your profile looks and feels.
Commission & cost
Most of these services charge you a percentage for every sale (sometimes 30% for every order) or a subscription cost. You may also have to pay an upfront fee, but most of these are one-time or annual and small in comparison. You have to balance this out with the benifits.
Conclusion
We’ve just gone over how your typical online ordering system works. All in all, if you have a need for such a system it will most likely be beneficial for you.
