What this Year Holds for Online Food Ordering Apps? The Latest Trends to Consider
Feeling hungry? Tap your smartphone and voila! You will have your food on your doorstep. The development of online restaurant apps has escalated the convenience of online food ordering by leaps and bounds, resulting in massive popularity and retention.
The trending popularity of online food ordering apps
Traditionally, you use to contact the restaurant via a phone call and get your food delivered at your doorstep. With the rise in technology, there has been a massive adoption of online food ordering apps and websites. This modern method not only enhances the ease of ordering, but it is also very transparent. It allows consumers to compare menu, give their feedback, and choose from the wide range of dishes available from the vendors. The best thing is-online food ordering system curbs any chances of missed orders because of busy phone lines or lack of resources to monitor the phone.
The latest mobile food apps are designed with top grade user interface giving the customers a hassle-free convenience. Customers pin point their delivery location, pay for online food in a secure manner within a few clicks.
Reports have suggested that the global online on-demand food delivery market will grow 32% by 2021. Here are a few trends of this year that restaurant owners should look out for:
Customization of the options
While focusing on the branding needs of the businesses, more food delivery apps are now offering customization features. The customizable layout for every food business is desirable amidst massive competition working well for promotion.
Real-time menu updation
As soon as there is a change in the menu at the point of sale, the same can automatically reflected on the restaurant online menu. This amplifies the ordering process while minimizing the chances of goof-ups. This also helps in saving the time if the staff. This feature is beneficial, wherein more than one person from the staff is handling the order.
Ordering with glances
There has been another technological development that has eased the food ordering process-the subconscious menu. This menu has been equipped with an eye-tracking system. After the system calibrates the unique eye movements of the user, the built-in software determine which option the customer has glanced for the longest time. The system is smart enough to chalk out the list of all things and waits for the customer’s approval. Glancing at the restart button begins the process all over again.
The upsurge of push notifications
The online mobile app comes ingrained with an option of push notifications as it enhances the engagement of the customers for the food business. Push notifications keep the customer updated regarding the latest deals, offers, promotions, and discounts. As an effective marketing tool, these notifications keep the customers informed regarding the latest dishes, combos, etc.
POS integration feature in the app
In the quest to streamline the food ordering process and solve the customer issues regarding goof-ups, POS integration has become a trend in the app. With the help of this integration, all orders get pushed to the POS station of the selected vendor. Once the order is received, the restaurant can accept or reject it. This omits the chances of mixing up the orders that are not received.
Big Data
Data analytics gives the option of real-time information regarding traffic, temperature, and more. Estimation of accurate delivery time is possible with big data. It helps a business understand its customers better by providing the analysis like the impact of temperature on food, market trends, or stock consumption. This helps in formulating the best practices to enhance the customer service etc. Food delivery apps use data from various channels to evaluate customer sentiments.
One of the examples of any food ordering app that realized the importance of Big Data is Swiggy. The company has committed the $80 million raised in a Series E funding round to build the capabilities in engineering, automation, data science, machine learning and also personalization. This company hopes to make a right prediction of demand, prioritize customer’s preferences in a better manner, improve the delivery efficiencies while configuring suitable geographical locations to expand the centers with the help of analytics.
Food delivery app are expected to surprise in the upcoming years with more unique features. If you are in the food business, you will not just observe the leader but become innovative as well.
For more info, visit: www.restroapp.com