Before COVID-19, the demand for online ordering and delivery was already expanding, especially in the restaurant industry. Customers desire convenience in all parts of their life, including their eating habits. The desire for food convenience has skyrocketed in the post-COVID world, because of changing public safety restrictions. Due to this, so many businesses have already started adopting the use of online ordering and food delivery services. Food delivery from restaurants to customers was predicted to expand, and industry research presently predicts a global online food delivery market to be worth more than 154.34 billion U.S. dollars by 2023.

Having a delivery option is a wonderful method to boost your restaurant's income, sales, and profit margins. Online ordering is thriving, and it has fundamentally transformed how traditional restaurants operate today. Restaurants either use third-party food delivery services or create their online ordering system to provide this service to customers.

But using third-party delivery services has its downsides for restaurants due to the hefty commissions that are included in every delivery which could pile up in the long run. Despite all that you still can reduce your cost drastically with a few improvements. Such as introducing a digital menu that can take orders online. 61% believe delivery and takeout options are vital for dining restaurants. Delivery options are especially important for millennials aged (18-34), who indicated overwhelmingly (74%) that they would order delivery if it were available. It was much higher for quick casual eateries, with 8 out of 10 millennials preferring delivery.

What now? You too can see the potential. Why wait for more, this guild will provide you with food delivery tips to streamline your restaurant business.

Food delivery requires the use of staff.

Assume that you prefer to manage deliveries without a delivery service provider, then you'll need to consider the following; when you're handling delivery in-house, you'll need a committed set of employees who can deliver orders to customers, a person to manage and handle orders, communicate with your drivers, and finally kitchen staff perhaps an additional chef to handle the increased order volume.

This is also an ideal opportunity to rehire any employees who were laid off or to increase the hours of existing staff so they may return to full-time status. If employees are learning new jobs or aren't familiar with new cleaning and food safety standards, set aside time for further training. Cross-training is one of the most effective strategies to ensure that your employees can handle a variety of shifts while also feeling like they're progressing.

Choose food Items for your delivery menu

Here are a few options for meals that can be delivered easily: Pizzas, wraps, burgers, and finger foods. etc.

Unfortunately, not all restaurants dine-in menu items are suitable for takeaway and fit in delivery containers. So, you should create a delivery menu based on food items that you believe will travel well to avoid any spillage. (Food items that are prone to melting should be avoided at all costs). Unless you have the right insulated containers to convey, for example ice cream.

Make a menu for delivery using Digital menus

When customers prefer to order meals online and have them delivered over dining in, it's helpful to provide them with alternative means. You can add and remove your dishes on a digital menu. Add your QR code menu to your restaurant's social media and into your website. Your customers can simply scan the QR code using their mobile phone and they will be able to view your menu, place orders, and get them delivered right to their doorstep it' s that easy.

1. Keep it simple with your menu.

Hungry customers will not have the patience to go through a lengthy menu of selections, so make your delivery menu brief and sweet. That means limiting your takeout menu to 15 to 20 of your best-selling, conveniently transportable foods. Once you've decided on your menu, divide it into categories to make it easier to navigate.

2. Make your menu appealing to the eye.

If your customer's only interaction with your restaurant is through your online menu, you'll want to make sure it's a decent reflection of your restaurant. Here are some menu design suggestions to help you improve your delivery menu: It's more than just fonts and colors. So, make this an opportunity to entice your customers

• Visual Cues

If you want to draw attention to your best-selling dishes, use visual clues. When developing a menu, restaurants use visual clues such as incorporating photos, inserting an asterisk, and boxing out the text. However, use caution while employing these techniques. When used repeatedly, they become less effective and more distracting.

• Description strategy

Menu descriptions are crucial for boosting customer experience, evoking emotion, and developing long-term customer connections; they can even prompt a rise in purchasing decisions. Make sure your menu descriptions appeal to your customers' senses and accurately reflect the food's quality. Telling stories should be a part of your menu. Make your menu items have a nostalgic backstory that connects with customers and depicts past occurrences. Menus that give thorough information about their items are the most effective in attracting customers' attention. As a result, make sure your descriptions make your visitors hungry and eager to eat.

Your Menu Will Be Updated in Real-Time

Nothing is more upsetting to a customer than realizing that a food item they really wanted is no longer available. It's possible that you'll lose the entire sale as a result of this. To avoid disappointment, assign a staff member to keep an eye on the online menu and update it in real-time when your supplies change. If you run out of ingredients for a menu item, remove it from the menu right away so people don't order it by mistake.

You can update your online menu much easier in real-time with Applova Free Digital Menu and let your customers always have access to accurate and current information.

Applova digital menu allows you to create, customize and update your digital menu in minutes. Customize your branding to reflect your restaurant's tone and style, swap backgrounds, select color themes, and even upload your own logo.

Applova Free Digital Menu is FREE FOREVER. So, what are you waiting for? Entice your customers with a well-engineered QR Menu to bolster sales turnover, increase customer engagement and go next-level digital!

Let customers browse your digital menu from anywhere, place orders, and pay for their meals inside or outside your restaurant. Set up your online store for a nominal service fee of only 5% per customer order.

Check out a sample menu here and sign up now!