Many restaurants offer delivery services to customers living within a certain radius of their restaurant, but this service usually depends upon customers phoning and placing an order with the restaurant.
A new concept that has become very popular is to order food and drink online. Several companies, especially those in the larger centres, are offering customers this service. Should you be considering this ground breaking service?
Although this is a new concept for South Africa, it is very popular overseas, especially in the USA. In 2007, one American food chain, Papa John’s International, earned $400 million from this service and reported an annual growth of 50 percent. In South Africa, it has been possible to purchase food and groceries online from several retailers, but ordering restaurant food online is relatively new phenomenom.
Related: How to Drive Traffic to Your Restaurant Website That Gets Customers Though the Door
The concept of internet shopping is well established in South Africa, and many customers find it more convenient than visiting physical stores. For starters, it’s much faster, and secondly, it’s easier to browse online catalogues from the comfort of your own home.
Is there any reason why your customers won’t feel the same about ordering their dinner online?
Related: Is Your Restaurant Website Mobile Friendly?
The first adopters of successful new concepts are the ones who reap the greatest financial benefit. Entry into this innovative concept of online ordering of food and drink is facilitated by several service providers who provide the basic infrastructure. In this way, your additional outlay to set up an online food ordering service is not excessive.
This is a great opportunity to grow your business while limiting the risk; the possibilities as demonstrated by overseas experiences are enormous.
Do you allow online ordering in your restaurant? What has been your experience? Leave a comment below.
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