Convenience has always been a major selling point for food businesses. But what has made it especially attractive during the COVID-19 pandemic is a growing demand for restaurant-quality meals delivered to consumers’ doors.
Apps such as DoorDash and GrubHub opened the delivery space for restaurants of all sizes. Now, aggregators and new delivery providers (also known as “New Delivery”) are bringing even more customers into the fold.
Mobile Device Management
As businesses ramp up delivery and pickup service during the COVID-19 pandemic, they need to manage their device fleets efficiently. A reliable MDM solution gives employees an excellent user experience while securing company data and automating device enrolment.
Customers expect restaurants to offer flexible ordering and payment options. This includes allowing them to make orders from a mobile app or by text, as well as paying with any form of digital payment, including Venmo and PayPal.
Managing mobile devices in the workplace can be challenging, especially when a business has multiple operating systems like Windows and Android. Look for an MDM that offers both zero-touch deployment and automatic enrollment to support the diversity of devices in your fleet. And don’t forget about device retirement—it’s equally important that a MDM solution makes it easy for companies to wipe data from devices as they reach end-of-life. Streamline food delivery tech operations with Esper’s turnkey Android and iOS device management solution for kiosks, line busting tablets and more.
24/7 Access
As food delivery services grow, the industry faces new challenges that could affect the quality of service and profitability. Competition is stiff, but a newcomer to the space has an opportunity to stand out with innovative technology that makes food ordering and delivery much easier for consumers.
A food delivery app should enable customers to access important information like restaurant addresses, working hours and menus, and a comprehensive customer service portal for resolving any issues. It is also important for the app to have a feature that allows users to see their delivery courier’s data, such as their name and vehicle, to make sure they can get in touch with them if needed.
Another useful feature is the ability to send push notifications to keep in touch with customers and promote discounts to boost consumer activity. This is a great way for businesses to stay top of mind and connect with consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Real-Time Communication
The on-demand food delivery industry has seen a lot of growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its revenue has reached $302,826 million and continues to grow steadily.
The success of these on-demand food services depends on how well customers, restaurants and couriers are connected. Each customer transaction generates valuable data that companies can use to make improvements.
For example, allowing users to check on the status of their order is crucial to keep them engaged and satisfied. This can be done by integrating a delivery map into the courier side of the app so that the user knows where their food is and what the status of the order is.
In addition, a feature-packed delivery service can help businesses optimize their logistics. For instance, grocery delivery distributors like Instacart and Shipt offer a convenient shopping experience by enabling consumers to browse the aisles without leaving home. This saves consumers time and money while also allowing businesses to serve more customers.
Personalization
Food delivery apps are able to utilize all the information stored in their database to personalize their messaging to consumers. For example, push notifications that display a customer’s name are a way to keep them engaged with the app and brand, as well as show special offers on items they frequently order.
In addition to personalized messaging, food delivery platforms can also offer efficiencies for drivers and customers by “stacking” orders. This allows a single driver to pick up multiple deliveries, which saves time and energy for both the consumer and the delivery service.
This is a common model that online food ordering and delivery services employ. Examples include DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Deliveroo. These companies accept orders, pass them to partner restaurants for preparation and delivery, and then take a cut of the total order value. This is the on-demand economy at work, and it’s changing the way we eat. With the right technology and a customer-centric approach, food businesses can capitalize on this shift in convenience standards.
