Top Tips for a Winning Restaurant Online Ordering System
Upgrade your restaurant with an online ordering system! Learn its benefits like increased reach and streamlined workflows, plus actionable tips to optimize menus, automate processes, and enhance customer satisfaction.
21 Sep 2024
Contents
- How Restaurant Online Ordering System Works
- Food Delivery Platform
- Own Branded Website / APP
- Online Payment
- Why Restaurants Should Start Using Online Ordering System
- Why the Sudden Push for an Online Business Model
- Reach More Customers Online
- Run Your Restaurant with Fewer Staff
- Continue Business if You have to Shut Early
- Multiple Revenue Streams
- 10 Tips for Building Successful Restaurant Online Ordering System
- 1. Adjust Menu & Offerings
- 2. Sync Information in All Public Platforms
- 3. Simplify Online Ordering Workflow for Consumers
- 4. Automize Online Ordering Workflow for Kitchen
- 5. Pay Attention to Packages
- 6. Make Clear Pricing
- 7. Use Social Media
- 8. Optimize Call-to-Action (CTA)
- Optimize Your Restaurant Workflow with Eats365 Online Ordering System
How Restaurant Online Ordering System Works?
A restaurant online ordering system enables customers to place orders for pickup or delivery using online platforms. This system connects restaurants to customers in a way that is convenient, fast, and efficient, offering a seamless experience. Here's a quick overview of the core components for a restaurant online ordering system should include:
Food Delivery Platform
Third-party food delivery platforms like UberEats, DoorDash, or Deliveroo serve as intermediaries between restaurants and customers. These platforms allow customers to browse a variety of restaurants, select their meals, and place orders directly. Restaurants can benefit from the massive customer base and exposure these platforms provide, but they often come with service fees.
Own Branded Website / APP
Having your own branded website or mobile app offers complete control over the customer experience. This component lets restaurants showcase their menu, promotions, and branding. Customers can order directly without third-party fees, and features like loyalty programs, push notifications, and tailored marketing enhance customer retention and engagement.
Read more: What is CRM? Why is CRM Important to Restaurant & F&B Businesses? (eats365pos.com)
Online Payment
A crucial part of any online ordering system is the integration of convenient online payment options. From credit cards to mobile payment platforms like Apple Pay or Google Pay, ensuring a smooth and secure transaction process is key to improving the customer experience. This eliminates the hassle of cash payments and makes transactions faster and more reliable.
Why Restaurants Should Start Using Online Ordering System?
Why the Sudden Push for an Online Business Model?
The challenges faced by restaurants, such as COVID-19 restrictions, staff shortages, and shorter operating hours, have accelerated the adoption of online business models. These systems not only tackle these challenges but also create multiple revenue streams, helping restaurants remain competitive.
Reach More Customers Online
By building an online presence, your restaurant can actually reach more customers. Don’t forget, in our digital age, there are actually two marketplaces that customers can interact with your business in.
The first is the physical marketplace, where traditional advertising methods can net you more customers. The second, is online. This is where having a digital storefront and listing on online marketplaces can really have a huge impact in boosting your restaurant’s customer numbers.
Run Your Restaurant with Fewer Staff
How does employing an online food ordering business model let your restaurant run with fewer staff? Well, if you are finding that running your restaurant in its physical location is becoming unsustainable, you can reduce opening hours in your physical restaurant and implement online ordering earlier. With no wait staff required to take care of dine-in customers, you can run your business with fewer staff, while still pumping out a high volume of food for online takeaway and delivery customers.
Continue Business if You have to Shut Early
Just because you have to close your physical store to customers early, doesn’t mean you should stop doing business. While governments may impose strict rules on restaurant operating hours, they do not prohibit business to stop, as long as no customers are dining in. This means that once your dine-in revenue stops, your online revenue can pick up the slack.
Multiple Revenue Streams
Your restaurant can benefit from not one, but two important streams of revenue if you implement an online food ordering business model. Along with dine-in customers, you can also accommodate online customers who place orders for pickup or delivery, thereby increasing the numbers of customers you’d be able to serve if you were solely relying on dine-in orders.
By combining physical and digital business operations, restaurants can attract more customers and generate steady income, regardless of external circumstances.
10 Tips for Building Successful Restaurant Online Ordering System
1. Adjust Menu & Offerings
When your restaurant's transitioning to an online ordering system, it’s essential to optimize your menu for delivery and takeaway. Not all dishes are suitable for travel, so focus on items that maintain quality during transportation.
Simplify the menu to highlight your best-selling dishes or create exclusive online combos to attract more customers. Additionally, consider introducing meal kits or family packs to appeal to a wider audience. A well-thought-out menu not only ensures customer satisfaction but also reduces the likelihood of complaints and refunds.
2. Sync Information in All Public Platforms
Consistency is key when managing an online presence. Ensure that your online menu, pricing, opening hours, and contact information are synchronized across all platforms, including your website, Google Business Profile, delivery apps, and social media.
Discrepancies can confuse customers and lead to missed opportunities. Use tools or software that automatically updates and syncs crucial information including menu items and pricing across platforms from your POS or online ordering system to save time and maintain accuracy.
Read more: Cloud Kitchen POS | Integrate All Online Orders | Eats365 (eats365pos.com)
3. Simplify Online Ordering Workflow for Consumers
A smooth and intuitive online ordering process encourages repeat customers for your restaurant.
Minimize the number of steps required to place an order and ensure your ordering system is mobile-friendly. Features like search filters, item customization options, and clear navigation improve user experience. Add an option for guest checkout to reduce friction and include order status updates to keep customers informed. Simplicity and transparency make the ordering process more enjoyable.
4. Automize Online Ordering Workflow for Kitchen
Efficiency in the kitchen is vital when handling online orders. Implement an automated system that syncs orders directly to the kitchen, eliminating manual entry and reducing errors.
Integrate your POS system with the online ordering platform to streamline operations and track order data in real time. Automated workflows ensure that orders are processed quickly, allowing your team to focus on delivering high-quality food and timely service.
Read more: Guide to The Best Kitchen Display System for Your Restaurant (eats365pos.com)
5. Pay Attention to Packages
The packaging you use reflects your brand and plays a major role in customer satisfaction. Invest in sturdy, leak-proof, and eco-friendly packaging that keeps food fresh and presentable. Include branded elements like logos, slogans, or thank-you notes to create a memorable experience. Well-thought-out packaging not only protects your food but also reinforces your brand’s identity and commitment to quality.
6. Make Clear Pricing
Transparent pricing helps avoid confusion and builds trust with your customers. Clearly display all costs, including menu prices, delivery fees, taxes, and any additional charges, during the ordering process. Hidden fees can frustrate customers and lead to cart abandonment. Offering promotions, discounts, or loyalty rewards can further entice customers and provide value while maintaining clarity.
7. Use Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool for promoting your restaurant online ordering system. Share updates, exclusive deals, and customer testimonials to attract more orders.
Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X, or Threads are ideal for showcasing your menu items with high-quality visuals. Engage with your audience through interactive posts, polls, and Q&A sessions to strengthen your relationship with customers and boost your online presence.
8. Optimize Call-to-Action (CTA)
A strong call-to-action encourages customers to take the next step. Use clear, action-oriented phrases like “Order Now,” “Get 10% Off Your First Order,” or “Get Coupons at New Signed In” on your website, social media, and promotional materials.
Ensure your CTAs are prominently displayed and easy to access. A well-placed CTA can significantly increase online orders and drive revenue growth.
Optimize Your Restaurant Workflow with Eats365 Online Ordering System
With Eats365's online ordering solutions, bringing your restaurant online is simple, affordable, and effective for boosting sales. Manage all incoming online orders in real time, fully integrated with other Eats365 POS system and various third-party softwares. The Eats365 online ordering module supports a wide range of payment providers, allowing your customers to use the payment methods most convenient for them.
Eats365 is a highly acclaimed restaurant POS system brand with thousands of satisfied clients worldwide and the leading market share in Hong Kong. Serving restaurant customers in over 27 countries, Eats365 demonstrates its versatility across various restaurant types, making it a trusted solution for businesses ranging from small eateries to large-scale operations.
Designed to meet the needs of all types of restaurants, Eats365’s innovative three-tier ecosystem empowers businesses to grow seamlessly from small-scale operations to multi-location establishments, and even expand internationally. With a robust network of third-party integration partners, Eats365 offers flexible solutions that cater to the unique requirements of restaurants worldwide.
Whether you're running a bubble tea shop in Hong Kong or managing a global restaurant chain overseas, Eats365 provides cutting-edge tools to optimize efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and support sustainable growth.
➤ Want to know more about our service? Consult our F&B expert now!
➤ Explore more about Eats365
