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Are you offering online ordering? How to get started

Online ordering is a crucial business channel in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as businesses and customers want to order ahead and pickup.

Image courtesy of iStock

June 22, 2020 by Richard Traylor — Writer, WebstaurantStore

Editor's note: An earlier version of this article ran in Food Truck Operator, a Vending Times sister publication.

With an increasing amount of customers wanting delivery and takeout due to the coronavirus pandemic, online food ordering has become one of the main ways customers place orders. Customers are eating out less due to the COVID-19 restrictions, which means online ordering is a way that your convenience services operation can meet your customers' needs.

Should your operation be accepting online orders from consumers?

Yes, any foodservice operation should, at minimum, have the option to accept customer online orders. The foodservice industry has seen major technological advances in the last 10 years, which makes it easier for convenience services operators to develop their online ordering system and in-house ordering process.

Creating an online ordering platform is a lot easier than you might think. There are multiple ways you can set up an online ordering service. Thanks to food delivery apps and website forms, online ordering has gotten a lot easier.

Offer a form on your website

This is one of the easiest and most common options a foodservice operation can offer on their website for online ordering. When utilizing this platform, it's important to understand how your customers want to navigate your site. It is necessary to differentiate the following for online users in your website navigation:

Create a page that designates your in-house food menu.
Create another page that provides your takeout and delivery menu.
Provide a secure form that allows customers to select what food they want, make special order requests and submit payment information.

The benefits of a food order website include:

Allows you to update your menu in real time. If you run out of something, you can take it off of your delivery and takeout menu and avoid disappointing any customers.
You can inform online users of any important company messages and update business information if you unexpectedly close.
Gives customers the capability to purchase e-gift cards.

Food ordering apps

Made for smartphones, food ordering apps have gained popularity among many foodservice operations to help make any customer's takeout ordering process easier and appease the trend of mobile ordering.

The benefits of food ordering apps include:

Cuts down lines for in-house customers.
Provides shorter wait times for online customers.
Helps staff prioritize food orders.

Third party food ordering apps like Grubhub, Postmates, Uber Eats and DoorDash have made it easier for customers to order food directly from a mobile device. If you are curious about creating a food delivery service, third party food delivery will help you get your toes wet.

The benefits of third party food order are:

Additional delivery revenue.
Third party delivery services provide the delivery drivers, saving you time on training and money on additional resources.
Makes online ordering and delivery a much smoother process.

How to prepare for online and takeout orders

Once you've chosen which online ordering platform you would like to offer to customers, it's time to gather the proper takeout containers, boxes and bags and train employees. Consider following protocol for no contact delivery as you train your staff to fulfill online and takeout orders. Here's a list of some of the things you will want to consider purchasing to fulfill online orders.

Takeout containers.
Single use utensils.
Napkins.
Disposable cups.
Lids.
Coffee sleeves.
Food bags.
Drink holders.

While the nation quarantines to ward off the coronavirus, now is the time to adapt and offer online ordering for your operation. Use this information to evaluate which ordering platform is best for your business and how you can better serve your customers.

For an update on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting convenience services, click here.

Foodservice

About Richard Traylor

Richard Traylor graduated from Temple University in the winter of 2014 with a degree in Strategic Communications. After graduating, he taught English in South Korea for two years, during which he was fortunate enough to travel and see the world. In October 2016, he returned home and started to work in SEO Content at Webstaurant Store. This blog previously ran on Webstaurant Store.

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