Since the onset of the pandemic, the use of restaurant delivery services has grown dramatically. While many people opted to have food delivered in the past, the shutdowns and limited capacities at restaurants during the pandemic altered how people dine. Those trends are probably here to stay.
Fast Service Requires Appropriate Software
Restaurant owners adapting to the changing demands of consumers are exploring new, more sophisticated delivery systems to keep their customers happy. They’re looking at the features of their delivery software to see where improvements are possible. But do they have a solid grasp of the features that are absolute must-haves? Here are a few elements that delivery management software should include.
A Quality, Easy-to-Use Dashboard
Owners want to track the progress of an order as it moves through their system. The software dashboard must provide a way to see the status of an order, review the status of individual drivers, and manage communications with those drivers. Overly complicated systems create frustration when everyone is busy, so the interface must be intuitive and easy to use.
Routing Assistance
Every restaurant owner wants to improve the overall efficiency of their business. One way to accomplish that is to plan deliveries so drivers aren’t wasting time, and assignments are not overlapping. Routing assistance allows owners to dispatch drivers more efficiently, which means customer orders arrive faster and their food is still hot.
Automated Dispatch Options
Speed and efficiency are crucial when you’re trying to attract and retain more customers. Automated dispatching ensures the right drivers are assigned deliveries for specific areas. This is related to routing assistance but takes things further to make sure deliveries are on time. For example, travel times are calculated to ensure no customer’s order is delayed to driver errors or no driver being available to make a delivery. Customers need to know when their order will arrive, and automated dispatching makes establishing delivery timetables easier.
Delivery Fee Options
One issue plaguing restaurant owners is delivery fees. A one-size-fits-all delivery fee is simpler to administer, but it isn’t fair to the drivers or customers who live closer to the restaurant. Delivery management software that includes customizable fee options ensures customers are charged fairly for delivery services regardless of the location.
The Software Must be Affordable
All business owners need to control their expenses, which is undoubtedly true for restaurant owners. That means the software solutions they purchase must fit their budget. However, industry experts caution restaurant owners to evaluate the features provided by different products to ensure they’re purchasing a product that delivers what they need. An inexpensive software package may appear attractive, but if the platform doesn’t meet the business’s needs, money is wasted.
Look for delivery management software that provides all the features needed today but can also take on tomorrow’s challenges. The restaurant industry is evolving rapidly, and additional features may be required to meet consumer demands in the future. Take the time to ask about a specific platform’s ability to change as marketing conditions evolve.
Match the Software to Your Customer’s Needs
Unhappy customers won’t order again in the future. Before purchasing software, take the time to get to know your customers and understand their needs. Customizable delivery management software allows users to modify the program when their customers’ needs change, so ask plenty of questions when purchasing software to ensure it includes the features needed to keep customers coming back and ordering more meals.
