Convenience is key for today’s consumers. In a fast-paced, technology-driven world, consumers are looking for a quick, easy option to satisfy their cravings—all while never having to leave the comfort of home. Food delivery continues to be a popular meal solution for diners—but it’s moving beyond the days of just ordering a pizza. In a recent survey by Acosta and Technomic, 51% of total U.S. diners and 77% of millennial diners reported ordering from restaurants for delivery. If you’re not capitalizing on the delivery trend, you could be missing out. Here are three ways that delivery can boost your restaurant revenue.
1. You Meet the Demand for Convenience
Your customers can order breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between with a few clicks. Sales from foot traffic have flattened, but restaurant delivery sales continue to grow, increasing by 20% over the last five years according to industry research firm NPD group.
Why is this the case? Consumers are seeking goods and services that are easily accessible. Even pizza shops that already offer delivery are expanding delivery zones. For example, Domino’s now delivers to public spaces like parks and beaches, further capitalizing on the demand for convenient food delivery wherever customers are located.
2. You’ll Reach More Customers
Competition in the restaurant industry is constantly on the rise. When competing head to head with similar businesses, the restaurant that offers delivery could be the top dog purely because they are able to serve a broader customer base, including people who don’t have time to eat out at a restaurant — or who simply don’t like to.
One of the primary customer demographics that restaurant delivery appeals to is millennials. It’s worth working to attract business from this generation: There are currently 50 million millennials with a buying power that will reach $3 trillion by the end of the year. Investing in delivery services could just be the trick you need to cash in on millennial spending.
3. Customers Spend More When Ordering Online
If you’re going to offer restaurant delivery, your best bet is online ordering. It streamlines processes for your staff, and it’s easier to persuade customers to order more. Upselling and cross selling can be built into the platform, automatically making suggestions for food pairings, toppings, etc. In addition, with the ability to include attractive photos, descriptions and targeted promotions, the opportunities to entice customers to buy are endless. According to Nation’s Restaurant News, every order made through the mobile app is about $4 more compared to the orders made in a restaurant.
Also, people are willing to pay a higher fee to have their food quicker. Papa John’s has recently rolled out a new feature to cash in on the “need it now” mentality—offering “Papa Priority,” which puts your order at the front of the line for just a few dollars more.
It all comes down to convenience. As a restaurant owner, you want to make it as easy as possible for customers to order time and time again. Small businesses may need some help to get delivery services off the ground, but a software solution that seamlessly integrates with your point of sale system can make it easy. The right software solutions also allows you to access powerful customer data and improve loyalty programs for increased repeat business. Contact your POS solution provider for more information on launching delivery — and a new revenue stream.
