Frederick Jace
As consumer demand for delivery booms, expanding your restaurant’s reach beyond the dining room may offer new revenue streams. But before hastily jumping on the delivery train, carefully evaluating operational logistics, partnerships, costs and marketing helps set your restaurant up for success.
Many restaurants that want to be able to offer delivery often underestimate hidden expenses that erode profits if not managed diligently. Avoid common pitfalls with insight into critical decisions like choosing technology platforms, menu adjustments for transport, and delivery radius limitations. Analyze your customer base’s appetite for delivery, what percentage already requests takeout and typical order sizes. Crunch numbers realistically on labor, packaging, and marketing, too, before moving forward.
Follow this comprehensive guide covering key considerations before committing to offsite delivery. We’ll explore assessing true customer demand, comparing third-party apps versus building internal delivery staffing. You’ll learn best practices on durability packaging, confirming dishes travel well, and defining reasonable radius boundaries, too. With eyes wide open addressing these factors upfront, you can expand revenue streams, not operational headaches, by offering customers delicious meals delivered conveniently right to their doors!
Evaluate Delivery NeedsFirst, assess if your customer base would truly utilize and value a delivery option. Research neighborhood demographics and direct customer feedback on the appeal. Factor what percentage of current takeout orders get requested for delivery already despite not yet offering it. Estimating solid demand helps justify ramping up.
Compare Platform Partners
Research third-party delivery service partnerships that integrate ordering onto their apps while providing drivers. Scrutinize commission rates and Terms of Service carefully across platforms like UberEats, DoorDash, and GrubHub. Consider reputation and market share in your region too. Choose partners aligning with your business model and margins.
Or Assemble Internal Delivery
Alternatively, you can build out an in-house delivery program. But this requires covering significant upfront costs of hiring drivers, purchasing branded cars or bikes, and taking on additional liability and operational risks internally versus using an existing third-party service. Confirm you have the staffing capacity and financial means first.
Fine-Tune Packaging
Evaluate to-go packaging durability and insulation factors to prevent leaks and maintain food temperatures during transit. Sturdy sealed containers with air-tight lids lock in heat while preventing spills. Invest in quality bags that stand upright and provide insulation as well.
Confirm Food Travels Well
Some dishes simply survive transport better than others. Identify menu items that hold up well for 30+ minutes in boxes and bags versus finicky foods that wilt or get soggy. Consider modifying recipes of popular dishes to improve delivery resilience with less delicate components or different sauces.
Calculate Delivery Radius
When determining your delivery zone, analyze how far drivers can reasonably travel while maintaining food quality. Travel times exceeding 30 minutes often compromise texture and heat retention. Set geographic cut-offs by mapping average drive times in traffic from your location, then clearly communicate the radius to customers.
Promote New Offering
Once established, market delivery services are provided through website updates, social media campaigns, in-store signage, and local ads. Share ordering instructions and radius maps widely. Consider introductory discounts to hook new delivery devotees right away. Stay attentive to ordering trends and fine-tune approaches for smooth operations.
Adding delivery need not be daunting with the right preparations for success! Follow these tips before making the leap to contactless orders. Soon you’ll reach hungry new customers craving your cuisine right at their doorsteps.
