It’s no doubt that restaurants are being hit hard during the global pandemic. Due to quarantine restrictions, physical distancing and lockdowns, it has forced many places to close their doors, and for some, permanently. This resulted in thousands of people lost their jobs overnight.
When restaurants were eventually allowed to offer dine-in experiences, they had to spend money on plastic dividers and limit their capacity.
But not all restaurants were impacted in the same way. Places that already offered grab-and-go food like pizza shops or coffee houses were able to stay open and even thrive during the pandemic.
In light of all this, the restaurant industry had to adapt and many restaurants began offering online ordering to their customers. This was a big shift for restaurants that had never offered mobile or online orders, let alone delivery. But that’s where the industry of online food ordering apps comes in!
The success of online food ordering companies
The impact of technology on the food and restaurant industry has been instrumental. Delivery apps such as Deliveroo, UberEats, DoorDash, Postmates, and SkipTheDishes were already popular before the COVID-19 pandemic, and now they are invaluable to many restaurants and food-based businesses. While restaurants can supply delivery services, like Dominoes, it’s easier and more economical for businesses to partner with these delivery apps.
They allow people to have food delivered without leaving the comfort of their home, or even interacting with another individual, perfect while amidst a pandemic. People are shifting to e-commerce purchases in all areas, and food is one of them. There is currently a high demand for online ordering and food delivery, and it’s estimated to continue growing exponentially.
It’s estimated that 70% of people look online when planning where to get their next meal, and 86% of that group say they will try a new restaurant if they appreciate their online content. If you’re not online, you will miss out on a huge audience of potential customers.
Growing your social media presence
It’s crucial that restaurants also work on their social media presence during this shift to more online ordering. The majority of customers will check online menus first, then view Instagram posts and read reviews before ordering. This is why an online presence is so important, alongside delicious photos of food. It will help build trust, loyalty, and increase your online sales.
According to the BBC, Google searches for “food delivery” hit a record high in April of 2020 as people were scared to leave their homes. But the real question is, has COVID-19 changed the operations of the restaurant industry forever?
Looking forward - the future of online ordering
Restaurants will have to adapt to online ordering and food delivery if they haven’t already, and this means they will need an online payment processor.
As a restaurant owner, you know that mobile credit card processing can be costly for your business. But it has some added benefits over cash, including:
- Simplifies your accounting
- Reduces the risk of theft
- Helps you keep up with your competition
- Increases your profit as people spend more with cards
- Makes it easier for your wait staff to receive tips
If you are looking for a reliable and low-cost payment processor for your restaurant, then you need Penni Payments. As online ordering in the restaurant industry expands it leaves more room for competition between payment processing companies in Canada. Your priority needs to be what is best for your business and your customers.
Penni Payments can help improve your customer experience by providing a simple and secure payment processing system for your online ordering and food delivery. You can reach out to our team for more information and start saving on transactions fees today!
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