385.6 million British pounds, that’s the revenue of Just Eat, a food delivery and restaurant ordering app in the UK. A single platform that managed to cover a great percentage of the revenue of the online ordering and food delivery sector in the UK. Imagine if you’re able to share the same numbers for your restaurant?
Launching an app for your restaurant’s online ordering services creates different types of opportunities for your business. It positions you in a win-win situation where you can reap the positive impacts of what you sow as a restaurant owner. But it is not a walk-in-the-park type of journey, you have to ensure that the services you’ll provide speaks directly to a wide range of customer base and your target audience as well.
Provided that you already started the process of creating an app for your restaurant, you must have a sit-down discussion with your tech provider or app developer on what are the features that you want your app to have. You have to keep in mind that working on your features is one of the crucial parts of creating your app as it plays a vital role in customer experience.
This article aims to provide you the essential and most functional features an app for restaurant ordering should have. While every restaurant business has a different set of demands and concerns, these are the basic features that every modern diner seeks for.
10 Essential Features Of An App For Restaurant Ordering
Customizable Interface
Mobile apps should be accessible and user-friendly. Aside from those factors, it is best to keep your app customizable on your end. This is for you to create updates on your app easier and on time. You should be capable of customizing your app’s interface according to your concept and selected theme.
This is useful especially if you’re going to adopt a “seasonal marketing campaign” or if you’re going to use current events on your promotions. You can easily adjust the design and interface of your app according to your liking, and of course, according to the preference of your users.
Easy Registration and Profile Creation
This is the first transaction of your customers to your app. A simple registration process leaves a positive impression on your customers. Simple and easy registration and profile creation is the best way to keep your customers engaged. There’s already too much complication in the world, and modern diners crave simple and convenient processes.
You may ask your developer to integrate different types of the registration process such as registration via email and phone number. To close the deal, make it also possible for your customers to register by connecting their social media profiles on your app.
Interactive E-Menu
Create a better user experience by providing an interactive and updated online menu on your app. Your customers should be able to search for food without any other difficulties. It is best to create a menu where they can easily click their selected food items and they can leave special notes and reminders about their specific order.
Providing filters and categories on your menu feature is ideal to create a better customer experience as it allows them to find the exact dish they want quickly. Talk to your app developer if you can also integrate a “favorite” feature to make it easier for your customers for their next order using your app.
Introducing a QR-code menu will also be beneficial for both your management and customers.
Online Services
Food delivery and online reservation are the top online services that modern diners check for a restaurant or food app. Offering food delivery as part of your online services creates numerous right sets of circumstances for your business as customers will be inclined to use your app.
Another beneficial online service is an online reservation which allows your customers to reserve a table or place an advance order for pick-up or takeaway. Delight your customers by offering a high-quality online reservation feature where they can select a table according to its location and size, and update the reservation details.
Updating the reservation should be available on both ends, the admin and customers, as there might be changes for the waiting time, at the same time, for the number of reservations as well. Keep your features flexible enough to meet most of the customers’ demands as possible.
Flexible Payment Process
Your app should be capable of processing multiple types of payment options. It should be secured and safe from fraud and cyber-attacks. Make sure that your customers can complete the whole transaction in your app through your in-app payment process.
If you can, introducing a split-bill payment is also a great way to attract customers. This way, your staff don’t have to calculate manually if a group of customers requested a separate check. IT is a handy feature that allows you to streamline your entire operational process.
Order Tracking
Customers love it when you make them feel that they are in control of something. They know what authority they bring into your business, and they want to keep a hold of it. To maintain this authority, providing real-time order tracking is the best way do it.
This is also good for your end as you can also monitor and track the status of your delivery. While not everything is under your control in your food delivery sector, you can create an illusion to your customers by having the ability to answer every concern they have about their delivery. And this is only possible if you’re updated on your end as well.
In-App Chat Service
Customers crave connection as much as they crave convenience. Address these two cravings by providing an in-app chat service on your online food app. You should place the best staff on to answer concerns because while chatbots may have their advantages, customers dislike interacting with robots. After all, hospitality is still the center of your restaurant operations.
Customer Loyalty Programs
There’s nothing that can attract more users by offering them something of value in return. Be it a point system or reward system, customer loyalty programs serve as the magnet that keeps users interested in your brand.
Encourage them to sign-up for your loyalty programs by presenting them with exclusive deals and special discounts.
Push Notifications
One of the most effective and efficient types of digital marketing, push notification is a marketing tool that allows you to send updates, notifications, promos, and the latest special offers directly to your customers’ mobile devices. It boosts brand awareness and customer engagement, but it is still important to give your customers liberty on how they want to be notified.
Before using the details that you’ve captured, your customers should be provided options where they can decide on how they want their details to be utilized.
Feedback and Review Tab
Customers will always be the main focus of your restaurant. You’re working on your operations, management, and food items to ensure that every customer will have the best experience with your restaurant. And one of the best ways to win their interest and trust is by allowing them to express their opinion and suggestions. They want to be heard.
But don’t be too absorbed with the idea of just letting your customers write online feedback and reviews about your restaurant. As the restaurant owner, you should monitor these reviews to be able to respond to them timely. Ensure that you will be responding respectfully without being too political and emotional.