How Apps Can Help Local Restaurants Take Orders Online

Running a local restaurant or takeaway involves preparing great food, managing orders, communicating with customers, organising deliveries and processing payments. That’s without mentioning all of the admin and paperwork on the other side, which makes it all possible. As a result, when things get busy, keeping up with all of this can become difficult, particularly for smaller businesses with limited staff.

This is where apps and online tools can make a difference. The right technology can take care of some of the more repetitive tasks, while making it easier for your customers to order food when it suits them.

So, how can apps help local restaurants make ordering simpler?

1. Let customers order when they want

One of the biggest advantages of online ordering is that customers do not have to wait for somebody to answer the phone.

If your restaurant is busy during the evening rush, staff may not have time to take every phone call. Customers might also be trying to order while they are at work, travelling home or sitting on the sofa.

An online ordering system gives customers another option. They can view the menu, choose what they want and place their order from their phone. This can make the ordering process more convenient for customers while reducing the number of calls staff need to deal with.

2. Make menus easier to use

Paper menus can be useful, but an online menu can give customers more information and make it easier to update prices, dishes and availability.

Restaurants can also use online menus to show different options, such as portion sizes, toppings, extras or dietary information. This means customers can make their choices before they reach the checkout.

For local restaurants, this can also save time. If a dish is temporarily unavailable, it can be removed or marked as unavailable online rather than having staff explain this to every customer.

3. Reduce mistakes when taking orders

Taking orders over the phone can sometimes lead to mistakes. A noisy restaurant, a poor phone connection or a customer changing their mind halfway through an order can all make things more difficult.

With online ordering, customers can see their choices before placing the order. They can check quantities, extras and delivery details themselves. This does not remove the need for staff to check orders, but it can make the process clearer and reduce some of the common misunderstandings that happen when orders are taken manually.

4. Make delivery and collection easier to manage

Local restaurants often offer both delivery and collection, but managing the two options can become complicated during busy periods.

An online ordering system can allow customers to choose how they want to receive their food when they place their order. Restaurants can also set their delivery areas and provide estimated preparation or collection times.

For a small business, having these details built into the ordering process can mean less time spent explaining the same information to customers.

5. Keep customers updated

Customers naturally want to know what is happening with their order, particularly when they are waiting for a delivery. Apps can help restaurants send automatic updates when an order has been received, is being prepared or is ready to be collected or delivered. This can improve the customer experience while also reducing the number of people calling the restaurant to ask when their food will arrive.

6. Keep more control over online orders

Third-party food delivery apps can help restaurants reach new customers, but depending on which you use, these can also mean paying fees or commissions on orders.

For some local businesses, taking direct orders through their own online system can be another option. This allows them to build a direct relationship with their customers and have more control over how orders are managed.

Tools such as Whizzly allow restaurants, cafés and takeaways to take food orders online directly through their own online storefront, with options for delivery, collection and dine-in ordering. The platform currently offers 0% commission on food orders.

Making technology work for local restaurants

Technology does not need to replace the personal service that makes a local restaurant special. Instead, it can take care of some of the routine tasks that take up time.

Online ordering, digital menus, automated updates and delivery management can all make it easier for customers to order and easier for staff to manage those orders.

For small restaurants and takeaways, the best tools are often the ones that are simple to use and solve a genuine problem. If an app can save staff time, reduce mistakes and make ordering more convenient for customers, it can become a useful part of running the business.