Whether you own a home-style family diner or an upscale city restaurant, starting in-house delivery can help you attract new diners. In the world of convenience, customers are accustomed to buying products or services quickly, from the comfort of their own homes. A restaurant food delivery service allows more people to taste your cuisine.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, restaurants were required to pivot to a food delivery business model. Many have kept their food delivery services to increase marketing reach, customer experience and profitability. It can be a smart strategy to scale your restaurant business whilst retaining control of your full dining experience.
Setting up the infrastructure for restaurant in-house delivery services requires investment and planning. Any changes to your business structure should be mapped out in your business plan, regardless of how established your restaurant is.
Create a winning restaurant business plan for your online food delivery service:
Determining the expenses goes beyond simply considering the fees associated with delivery drivers. There are substantial startup costs and ongoing overheads to take into consideration:
Once there is a clear financial investment projection, it will help an informed decision on delivery fees. Decide on your self-delivery coverage and plan the most efficient routes for your drivers to ensure it is cost-effective.
Your final decision will vary depending on whether you want to change a fixed price flat fee or charge per-mile delivery so you can extend your reach. Ensure all of your delivery fees match the competitor's average, and cover your expenses for the delivery driver and petrol.
The primary advantage of an in-house delivery service is the absolute control it grants over your operations and the customer experience. A technology platform allows you to personalise the delivery process for your brand and customers, rather than reconciling with a third-party app with many other restaurants.
It would be beneficial to choose an online ordering system that automatically feeds into your restaurant technology such as table management, POS system and inventory. Consolidating your
operations into a seamless system will streamline your processes, and communication between departments and reduce the resources needed on staff.
ResDiary reservation software allows you to integrate an online ordering widget that can be controlled from one platform. Make real-time changes, personalise your customer experience and take payments from one centralised program.
Additionally, Operating your own online ordering system can prove to be more financially advantageous over the long run. As you are not subject to paying commissions to third-party delivery platforms, 100% of the profits are for you.
A vehicle fleet is a pivotal decision in bringing your delivery service in-house. A well-maintained fleet can reduce operational costs, and enhance delivery speed and overall customer satisfaction. Considerations should include:
With any investment, it is crucial to weigh the initial capital, ongoing maintenance, insurance and expenses against your profitability. Successful restaurants will adapt their fleet size to meet customer demand and ensure a balance in ongoing costs.
Your complete restaurant menu may not be suitable for food delivery, or you may want to explore the idea of offering a more concise takeaway menu. For instance, a 7 course digestation menu may not be suitable for home delivery and could impact the overall experience a customer has with your cuisine. Choosing one of these courses to be a main menu choice, for home delivery, could allow you to perfect one dish and entice them to dine with you for the full 7 courses. It is advantageous to consult with your chefs to create a delicious menu that will retain its presentation and flavour integrity when delivered.
It may also be essential to impose a minimum order value to ensure delivery orders are worth the costs and effort involved. Using an online system like ResDiary allows you to continually monitor your effective processes and make immediate changes to your menu and terms.
The packaging for food delivery is essential for a restaurant's success. Containers will need to travel well and retain the heat and presentation of your dishes. It is worth investing in quality stock to ensure customer satisfaction. Key considerations include:
When relying on third-party delivery services, you become tied to the terms, values, and standards of another company. In contrast, by managing your own delivery drivers, you have the freedom to select your delivery drivers and guarantee that their service aligns with your exceptional in-house customer experience.
Your interview questions and training should cover route knowledge, speed and customer service expectations.
In today's competitive dining landscape, it is necessary to stand out in the crowd. A shift to bringing the delivery service in-house unlocks numerous advantages for a restaurant to enhance their experience.
From the moment a customer looks at your menu to accepting their food from the delivery driver; you will have complete control over the dining experience and the impression they will have of your business. This level of control is not possible with a third-party delivery service as you are reliant on their app, service wait times and customer service levels.
Your delivery drivers are solely concentrated on your venue and service. As soon as your food is ready, it can be delivered directly to the customer. In contrast, a third-party delivery service may include wait times for a driver to pick up your food and multiple orders going at once, resulting in a long wait time and potentially cold orders.
The fees and commissions involved in third-party delivery companies can take away from a restaurant's profits. Some are forced to increase their prices to the customer and risk them looking for a cheaper alternative. With in-house delivery, a restaurant can remain affordable and retain 100% of its profits.
Delivery management software is controlled by the restaurant and allows full control over changes to the menu, prices, availability and terms.
Third-party delivery companies may have a fine print term that allows them to retain your customer data. By investing in in-house delivery management software, you own your customer data, can use it for marketing purposes and analyse your trends.
Third-party services are branded with their logo and website and market to your customers on every delivery. With in-house delivery, a restaurant can take control of its own branding and increase awareness with every delivery route.
Having complete control over your in-house delivery offering also comes with the responsibility for marketing. The benefit of this is that you can include it within your restaurant marketing efforts for a full holistic brand approach. Our key strategies to a winning marketing strategy to start a food delivery service include:
Embracing the advantages of in-house delivery is a strategic move for restaurants seeking greater control, potential increased profitability and enhanced customer gratification. By managing the entire process from online menu to delivery, restaurants can ensure high standards and brand values are upheld.
ResDiary's robust reservation and delivery management software can elevate a restaurant's in-house delivery venture. The platform empowers restaurants to take control of their brand experience by seamlessly integrating with restaurant websites and streamlining processes between departments. Bringing your delivery service in-house with ResDiary's food delivery platform is a recipe for success.