Food delivery has continued to trend upward since the pandemic. According to recent research, the average person spent more than $400 per month on overall delivery just last year. And 42% of that amount was on restaurant delivery alone.
With this kind of rapid growth, optimization should follow! Read on to see what's new in the world of delivery and how you can most efficiently master this sector of the industry.
Door-Steppin’
As far as groceries go, consumers prefer to get them at the curb. But their dinner? Doorstep, please! Consider saving the extra labor cost and logistics that come with configuring pickup at your restaurant and opt for an external partner that can expand service.
One Source Solution Partners have unique ways of helping you compete more efficiently and reduce costs. Uber Eats, for example, has detailed data analytics — critical in tailoring the ordering experience. By analyzing order histories and feedback, Uber Eats can offer automatic personalized recommendations and even predict heightened demand based on past data. And by enhancing the individual experience while helping businesses with efficiency, both parties win!
SWIPEBY is another great option but goes even further with AI-powered virtual "teams" that can tackle business development, marketing, and operations automation all in one. You'll save time and cut costs with a platform that not only manages deliveries, but also handles reviews, upselling, customized marketing emails, social media posts, and even phone calls, freeing up your staff to focus on perfecting why everyone’s here in the first place — your delicious food!
Talk-nology
Implementing an online ordering system that’s easy to use is essential, of course. Add buttons not only to your website, but also at the top of your Google business profile and social media pages, to make ordering as easy as possible with one click. What was once just a perk, food order tracking has now become an expectation. Consider including GPS tracking of the delivery in real time, so patrons know exactly when their meal will arrive. This level of visibility and transparency has become key in building trust between consumers and delivery.
Another place technology has been streamlining delivery and BOH operations is in the kitchen. Kitchen Display Screens have added a level of non-verbal communication that makes prep more efficient and clear (and a little less noisy to boot!). As each order is completed, the expeditor can tap a button on the screen and the guest is notified via text that their order is complete.
Packaging Prowess
Many consumers are ready for sustainable, biodegradable, safe delivery options to become the norm. With brands like First Mark®, you can set the new standard for to-go packaging. First Mark® cups and containers are biodegradable and safely transport cold or hot beverages, soups, and sauces. Newly available heavyweight cutlery can stand up to any meal and can come wrapped or unwrapped. And CPLA meal kits include a napkin, salt and pepper, and are also compostable!
Lastly, let’s talk First Mark bowls, square plates, and trays — they’re the industry's only insulating rigid plastic made with NO chemical agents for expansion. That means guests can reheat their food right in the container. The containers themselves also use 30% less plastic than standard and are cut-resistant. Make your mark with delivery!
