Online food ordering has exploded in popularity over the last few years. Platforms like UberEats, DoorDash and GrubHub make it easier than ever for customers to order takeout and delivery from their favorite local restaurants. This convenience has led to massive growth – online orders now account for over half of all delivery orders!
As great as this is, most restaurants struggle to efficiently manage the influx of orders flooding in across multiple platforms. Taking orders is the easy part. Actually processing, tracking and fulfilling them in a timely manner? Not so much. Missed orders, confused drivers, unhappy customers and lost revenue become huge risks without the right systems in place.
This is where order management software comes in – specialized tools designed exclusively to help restaurants consolidate, organize and streamline online order-taking. Keep reading as we explore how they can drive efficiency as well as deliver a major boost for your sales.
Get Total Visibility and Control Over Every Order
Have you ever noticed huge spikes in online delivery orders during peak times that throw your kitchen into chaos? Or perhaps you spot discrepancies in order histories because you can’t easily combine data across multiple apps? It happens more often than you think.
Order management platforms act as mission control for your online ordering universe. They seamlessly integrate every platform you’re on into a single dashboard. The software captures order details as they’re placed in real-time.
It then organizes them into easy overviews where you can monitor status, make notes, and watch items move from received to out-for-delivery. No more getting blindsided by rush hour demand. Or wasting hours manually compiling data from different accounts to assess your sales performance.
You’ll be able to anticipate trends through historical analytics instead of reacting after the fact. In turn, this allows you to set up workflows optimized for your peak order periods. Things like staff scheduling, inventory planning and menu tweaks happen ahead of the curve rather than in firefighting mode. The platform handles the heavy lifting while you focus on strategy and customer satisfaction.
Supercharge Order Fulfillment & Deliver 5-Star Service
Online delivery brings its fair share of logistical challenges. Order assignments need to be made instantly. Kitchen and delivery teams require coordination to pick up completed orders. Drivers rely on updates to provide accurate ETAs. Customers expect speedy fulfillment and correct orders. When these hand-offs don’t happen smoothly, it turns into a frustrating (and expensive) experience for restaurants.
Order management tools are built to facilitate seamless order fulfillment from end-to-end. The automated workflow ensures order details are routed instantly to the right stations. Kitchen displays prioritize new orders based on prep time and delivery deadlines. Integrations with delivery fleets provide real-time tracking and alerts. Patrons also get text notifications at every step.
By orchestrating the process electronically, restaurant management software allows your staff to deliver WOW-worthy service consistently, even at peak capacity. Customers stay happy with accurate orders delivered on time. Meanwhile, less repeats, delays or mistakes keep food and labor costs in check.
The result? Your brand is able to scale online ordering exponentially while cementing loyalty through 5-star experiences. Positive reviews and word-of-mouth bring in even more digital business as you establish yourself as a dependable delivery experts.
Unlock Actionable Insights to Boost Sales
Here’s an eye-opening fact: Across the restaurant industry, over 30% of online orders end up incomplete or canceled. While some reasons are unavoidable, analysis shows the #1 factor is inaccurate menu data. Details like incorrect pricing, unavailable items or outdated descriptions turn off customers while they’re ordering.
Order management platforms tap into granular order intelligence to help you identify and plug these revenue leaks quickly. Dynamic reports detect which menu items get abandoned most often. Powerful analytics connect customization requests to menu limitations. You’re also able to catch discrepancies with third-party provider data before they impact orders.
More than spotting gaps, the software reveals hidden opportunities to drive profitability. Key features of ordering software like best-selling dishes, peak order times, and customer demographics help refine your offerings. Some platforms even suggest pricing adjustments based on order elasticity. Others can modify menu promotion plans per location.
Essentially, order management software becomes your digital strategist. It monitors customer behavior, preferences and sales data in real-time. In response, you receive playbooks full of proven recommendations to increase order values and clinch more sales profitably.
Adopt Smarter Online Ordering – Conclusion
Online ordering platforms have unlocked huge potential for restaurants to grow revenue beyond in-house patrons. But winning the delivery race requires more than just taking orders digitally. It’s about fulfilling an exceptional customer experience consistently, order after order.
Purpose-built order management solutions empower restaurants to achieve this at scale. By unifying your ordering universes into a centralized smart hub, the tools help optimize everything from order accuracy to delivery efficiency to customer satisfaction. More importantly, data-driven insights continue to reveal new opportunities to boost profitability week after week.
If building a 5-star digital business is a priority for you in today’s hypercompetitive climate, it’s time to assess your ordering process. Identify gaps where automation and intelligence software can drive efficiencies systemwide as well as improve analytics. The initial platform investment often pays for itself within months through higher order volumes, larger tickets and less wasted labor.