Benefits of Online Ordering Go Beyond Increased Sales
The last time you ordered takeout, did you use your voice or your fingers?
If you are like most hungry customers, you probably grabbed your iPhone – but instead of dialing in, you placed your order online. Recent surveys show that customers prefer ordering food online over calling into a restaurant, with digital ordering from computers, tablets, and mobile phones now representing 30% of the daily takeaway ordering.
And 74% of millennials favor mobile ordering due to its ease of use and order accuracy -eMarketer
This is because ordering online is convenient – something today’s consumers have come to expect. Think about it, in addition to selecting what you want to eat, online ordering allows you to visually confirm your orders accuracy and pay for the meal without ever speaking to a single person.
Still not convinced? Here are our top 10 reasons why you should “hang up” on phone ordering and roll out an online ordering solution:
1. It’s very convenient
More people than ever order online thanks to the smartphones and tablets.
2. No misunderstandings and no frustrations
Language barriers, bad reception and human error all contribute to incorrect orders and dissatisfied customers. With online ordering, all preferences are entered by the customer, so there is less likelihood for mistakes.
3. Instant Payments
With online ordering, payment is upfront. In fact, it’s paid in advance, when guests give their credit card information and press submit.
4. Orders are bigger #MoreMoney
Research shows that online orders result in more money spent per customer, with 15 to 20% higher check averages than traditional phone orders.
5. Online menus are simpler to manage
It is much easier and considerably cheaper (or even free if you’re using a cloud-based POS) to create and maintain a good looking online menu.
6. Decrease Staff Labor
Taking an order over the phone takes five to eight minutes – in contrast, online orders are received in less than 30 seconds. This means less time waiting on indecisive customers and more time helping guest in your restaurant!
7. Build your marketing database
When new customers order online, their names become part of a database that can then be used to create loyalty programs, distribute offers, or to generate new business.
8. Powerful Analytics
Online ordering systems make it easy to track and analyze sales patterns, as well as to determine how customers are responding to discounts, coupons, and other offers.
9. Orders can be placed 24/7
Give your clients the flexibility to place the orders whenever is convenient for them, even outside your business hours. They will just schedule a preferred pickup or delivery time within your working time.
10. Expand without additional overhead
According to the National Restaurant Association, 3 in 5 U.S. consumers order takeout at least once a week. With online ordering you can take advantage increase your customer base without the cost of adding additional staff or space for dining in-house.
Why wait
With so many benefits and few, if any drawbacks, online ordering merits consideration no matter the size of your restaurant operation. If you are ready to roll out online ordering in your restaurant we recommend a cloud-based restaurant management software like Square or LinkPOS. These fully integrated POS solutions have the potential to support components of your business that would normally be served by four or five apps software’s, including online food ordering.
Want to learn more about which cloud-bases POS solution is right for your business? Reach out to a tablet expert for a free consultation today! (877) 820-8570 or drop us a line, and we can talk more about how POS Tablet can help your business.