Why Your Restaurant Needs a Mobile App

Restaurants have seen operations shift throughout the pandemic, resulting in many adopting technology to smoothen the transition, from presenting QR codes, online ordering sites to mobile apps.

Restaurants have used different methods to provide a contactless ordering experience to combat COVID-19 related regulations. A prime example of delivering a contactless experience is Box’d in Toronto, Canada. A customer can order online or come into the store and scan their QR code to order through their system. They avoid the need for a staff member interacting with every customer and reduce wait times. Provide your customers with a smooth experience to view your menu, place an order, and pick up with ease.

Rather than being a part of third-party food applications, many restaurants have gone to developing their own mobile app. One of our clients, Impact Kitchen, did just that with Givex. We developed a customized mobile app that matched their branding. The seamless application allows the customer to browse the menu, place and pay for their order on their mobile device. Now more than ever, contactless payment is high in demand as customers want to avoid coming into contact with payment interfaces.

In a perfect world, you’d be able to offer a personalized experience to each customer. It’s time to integrate your loyalty program with your mobile app to store data on how you can incentivize repeat business from your customers and provide discounts on items that appeal to them. You can give PUSH notifications directly to the customer’s phone to promote discounts or information on weekly deals.

There are many examples of brands that use their own internal mobile ordering application to connect with their customers. Starbucks is a prime example of a mobile ordering application that allows one to customize their drinks, and pick them up at the set time and collect points. They do a significant job of adding gamification into their operations by using the app users’ location.

Domino’s pizza is another example of a large pizza brand that spoke against the use of the third-party applications. Domino’s CEO, Ritch Allison, rejects the idea that the pizza chain should outsource its delivery. « We’ve got a loyalty program with 20 million-plus active members. So, it’s just not clear to me why I would want to give up our franchisees’ margin or give up the data in our business to some third party who will ultimately use it against us. »To help attract customers to use their app, they reduced pricing on pizzas and provided more discounts if one were to order through the app. Needless to say, it worked and now is generating more than half of their businesses solely from mobile orders.

Mobile apps allow the restaurant operation to have full control over the user experience and interface while also keeping customers on their platform and providing customized promotions that match their needs. Are you thinking of starting your own mobile app? Contact our sales representative or give us a call to learn how you can begin.