With the rise of e-commerce and the digital era, it has become essential for restaurants to have an online presence beyond just social media accounts. Customers today expect to be able to browse menus, customize orders, and checkout seamlessly all from their mobile devices or computers.
While in-person dining will always have its place, online ordering provides unparalleled convenience that customers now demand. Those restaurants with a simple yet customized website dedicated to online food ordering will see a definite boost in sales and repeat customers.
In this article, we will explore 12 key reasons why establishing an online ordering system through a customized website is a must-have for any food business that wants to remain competitive in today’s digital marketplace.
Customers Demand Convenience
People leading busy lives appreciate easy, quick access to good food without too many inconveniences. With a few taps on their phone, customers can browse complete menus, add customizations to items, and place fully-formatted orders for pickup or delivery from anywhere at any time.
The pandemic has further accelerated the demand for contactless ordering options. No longer do customers want to wait in long lines or deal with crowded waiting areas just to order a meal. They expect restaurants to meet them where they are online.
A well-designed mobile-friendly online ordering website allows businesses to capture this convenience-driven market. Customers spending more time indoors will turn to online services that save time versus calling orders in or visiting in person.
Increased Sales and Orders
Having a branded online storefront significantly drives more web traffic to your restaurant. When potential customers can easily view full specialized menus and start virtually “window shopping” they are far more likely to purchase something.
Repeat customers also tend to order online more frequently between visits. A streamlined online checkout process with saved payment details removes friction that could deter impulse orders.
According to surveys, customers who start their orders online but end up purchasing in person still spend up to 30% more on average. The optimized experience online encourages larger cart sizes and extra addons once fulfilled.
Food chains like Dominos that pioneered online ordering report it now makes up over 70% of their total orders. The sales lift from a professional digital storefront should not be underestimated. Even fine dining restaurants are experimenting with online menus and takeout amidst the pandemic to boost revenues. Checkout: https://zipprr.com/ubereats-clone/
New Customer Acquisition
While optimizing existing customers’ experiences, an online store also allows accessing new demographics outside your normal footprint. Your website can be found and shared globally through search and social referrals 24/7.
Savvy digital locals as well as tourists planning visits for the future may come across your online shop and save it even if dining in months later. For each potential new customer that discovers the restaurant this way, there is opportunity to make a strong first impression and repeat sale.
Detailed photos, rewards for signing up, and fun behind-the-scenes videos all help tell your brand story and keep newcomers engaged virtually before they become regular on-premise diners. A web presence opens the door to all audiences.
Order Accuracy and Customization
Online ordering reduces the margin for human error by removing telephonic communication. Customers can read detailed descriptions, ingredient lists, nutritional facts before adding items to their carts.
They also get the freedom to choose preferred doneness, customize combos, build their own plates with a pick 3 deal, omit allergens, request extras like specific sauces on the side, and include detailed prep notes. This level of customization was impossible over the phone.
Restaurants can even offer preset family bundles, meal kits or subscription boxes online that customers can reorder with a single click. This level of convenience is sure to increase basket sizes and satisfaction when orders match diners’ precise preferences.
Payment Processing Made Easy
Integrating seamless payment options is crucial to converting online browsers to paying customers with minimal friction. Customers should not have to carry multiple forms of cash or coins, deal with parking to visit a physical ATM, or wait for change during checkout.
Options like credit cards, digital wallets, balance wallets, buy now pay later schemes, and even carrier billing on orders ensure smooth transactions that feel familiar, secure and budget-friendly. Automated payment histories also allow creating subscriptions and loyalty tiers over time.
This reduces safety concerns for both customers and staff when cash no longer needs physical exchange hands. It can help decrease payroll costs versus taking orders over the phone since digital orders are placed anytime without requiring pickup within business hours. Overall checkout is streamlined.
Data Collection and Customer Insights
Beyond simply fulfilling orders, digitizing the purchase process provides an abundance of deeper customer analytics and feedback that can enhance the business over time.
Aggregating order data reveals purchase patterns – what times are busiest, which combos sell best together, usage of customization options etc. Customer reviews, ratings and comments collected securely online grant valuable qualitative insights too into what’s working and what could be improved.
Understanding these trends allows restaurants to tailor their marketing, update seasonal specialty menus, address operational issues, engage loyal customers with targeted communications, and meet demand more effectively by knowing exact order volumes in advance instead of guesswork.
A website makes customer profiling anonymous yet possible, whereas telephone-only outlets have very little data on repeat customers and their habits. These intangible insights strengthen long-term brand building for any operation serious about growth.
Manages Inventory and Prep More Effectively
Online order visibility lets restaurants schedule staff, meal assembly and deliveries with greater accuracy based on predicted volumes rather than uncertainty.
Digitizing the pre-order process provides a glance into anticipated daily and weekly demand patterns. This ensures proper inventory levels are stocked in freezers and pantries versus overstretching budgets on excess food. It also prevents disappointed customers if stock runs out with no wait times on popular items.
Kitchen teams can begin prepping common combos in bulk, marinating proteins overnight for grilling, portioning dough balls well in advance based on daily breadstick orders seen. Digital ordering also flags if customers request customizations that require extra lead time to source ingredients or finish.
Overall this streamlines operations, removes inefficiencies, and combats food wastage compared to reacting to fluctuating walk-in traffic. It guarantees orders are completed and dispatched on schedule with full items in carts fully fulfilled.
Promotions and Rewards
Customized websites allow flexibly rolling out marketing campaigns to drive sales growth. Timely announcements about new seasonal flavors, weekly specials, holiday combos encourage excitement and revisits.
Implementing a basic online loyalty program has proven very effective in many industries. Even simple rewards like earning a free dessert after 5 orders, or a higher birthday discount can form strong habits of repeat purchases. Anniversary gifts, special unlockable perks keep high-value customers feeling appreciated all year round.
Promotional codes shared via social media taps into communities for referrals. Contests, limited time deals fuel spontaneity which transactions over the phone lack. Long-term subscription plans like family meal bundles keep home deliveries affordable and predictable for busy households. Digital storefronts multiply branding opportunities that boost customer lifetime value.
Professional Online Presence
A slick, carefully designed website is often customers’ first exposure to your brand and sets the initial tone. Beyond food photos and menus, it conveys credibility, personality and values important to you. Visual storytelling engages emotional connection which leads to advocacy over time.
Distinct branding across site, packaging and marketing ensures seamless recognition. Consistent messaging, clear calls-to-action optimize converting site visits into sales orders or enquiries. Descriptive content educates new diners on the restaurant’s vision and quality standards to build trustworthiness from the start.
Additionally, an ADA compliant mobile-friendly interface accommodates all types of users and builds inclusion. Responsive design makes the shopping experience frictionless regardless of device used. Professional presentation boosts your status versus competitors and reflects innovation which millennials respond highly to. This aids positive perception and bonding critical for return customers.
Budget and DIY Friendly
While some bespoke development may involve significant investments, most restaurants can easily establish an online presence that serves basic ordering needs without breaking budgets.
Popular website builders like WordPress, Wix and Shopify cater to all business sizes with their business plans, free basic templates and extensive customization options. Easy drag-and-drop interfaces require zero coding skills yet create fully-functional storefronts.
Affordable monthly or yearly subscriptions include key features like integrated online payments, customer profiles, inventory management, and delivery/pickup module presets right out of the box. Advanced features can always be added incrementally based on growth.
Best of all, once the initial setup is complete, very minimal IT expertise is needed on an ongoing maintenance or support. User-friendly admin interfaces allow non-tech staff to update catalogs, promotions, photos and settings themselves too. Over time costs barely exceed pocket change compared to investing in traditional marketing or delivery logistics alone.
Low barriers to entry ensure restaurants of any size can tap into the power of online sales with minimal capital expenditure upfront versus not addressing the digital commerce space at all.
Conclusion
In today’s digital-first world, customers expect their dining experiences to seamlessly integrate both online and offline touchpoints. Those restaurants who have yet to establish an online ordering system through a customized website will find themselves rapidly losing ground.
Convenience, customization, safety and revenue growth can all be achieved by embracing modern commerce solutions. A strong digital footprint is now the baseline necessity for any foodservice business hoping to survive and thrive and remain competitive. The advantages of online ordering far outweigh any costs or efforts required to set up an engaging online storefront.