People will always go for what’s easiest. This is not a secret. This is true for almost everything we do, including the movies we watch, the songs we listen to, the games we play, and even the food we eat. It is the main factor behind the popularity of food delivery apps.
Food delivery apps are the main essentials for everyone. With the help of white label food ordering apps, you can get your favorite meal at your doorstep. With the growing demand for food delivery services, businesses want to create their own apps. Food delivery apps can help restaurants automate their business and provide a competitive edge.
According to experts, the online food delivery industry will increase rapidly due to digitization. In 2020, the mobile food delivery business was one of the fastest-growing industries. The revenue of the food delivery industry is expected to show a CAGR of 12.33%, according to Statista.
Uber Eats, Postmates, and Grubhub are examples of the online food delivery business. These apps are the most popular food delivery apps that deliver the food to your doorstep.
Therefore, if you want to make your own food delivery app and compete with these famous apps, you must create one that sets you apart. Following the right steps, you can easily create a food delivery app that satisfies hungry customers and your entrepreneurial appetite for success.
In this blog, you get a step-by-step guide on how to make a food delivery app that makes your online food ordering process easy.
What are Food Delivery Apps?
The food delivery apps help users order their meals from various restaurants and get them to their doorstep. These apps have gained significant popularity due to their convenience and comfort.
The main aim of creating a food delivery app is to:
- Provide a platform that links customers and businesses.
- Allow customers to order food from various restaurants, cafes, and more.
- Help businesses to generate revenue.
- Support customers in placing an order online at a restaurant.
Moreover, food delivery apps have transformed the industry by bringing restaurants to people’s homes. The food delivery apps are used by millions of restaurants worldwide. With food delivery apps, businesses can easily connect with their customers.
How to Create Your Own Food Delivery App?
The food delivery business is an up-and-coming area. However, to create a food delivery app, you should follow the proper steps to help you create a great app.
Below are some steps to help you in this phase, “how to build a food delivery app” that boosts sales and increases revenue.
1. Market Research
Before designing the app, it is important to research and analyze the market. In this step, you have to consider these things:
- Identify the target audience
- Understand the latest market trends
- Look at the competitor’s strengths and weaknesses
- Customer preferences
With the help of these things, you can make an informed decision and create a food ordering app easily. If you don’t have time to do market research, you can consult the professionals to assist you.
2. Determine your USP (Unique Selling Proposition)
Several food delivery apps are available; you need a captivating USP. With a compelling USP, you can set yourself apart from your competitors and use it as the base of your marketing strategy. The USP can be anything like:
- Providing faster delivery
- Offering unique cuisines
- Providing deals and discounts
- Deliver top-notch food from the best restaurants
3. Identify the App Features
You must identify the unique app features that are easy to build and engaging for the users. Choose the features according to your target audience and are unavailable in your competitor app. Here are some key features you should include when you develop a food delivery app.
- Order tracking
- Reviews and ratings
- Payment system integration
- Content updates by restaurants
- Courier manages all their orders
In addition, you can also add these unique features when you make your own delivery app if you have great programming skills.
- Virtual food tasting
- Table reservation
- Multi-language support
- Virtual tour of the restaurant
- Integrated payment splitting
4. Select the Business Model
Defining the business model is necessary when creating a food delivery app like Uber Eats, Grubhub, or Postmates. Choose the business model that best aligns with your requirements. Below are the business model options that you consider for creating a food app.
Delivery Services: Your app and business handle all restaurant-to-customer deliveries. These approaches charge restaurants for platform use and a percentage of orders. This model makes more money by charging a percentage on every order or through delivery fees.
Deliveries Handel by Third-Party: All the deliveries are handled by a third party between the restaurants and customers. You’re running an app as a service, but don’t touch the food. This model also makes more money.
Own Food Delivery App: This model works simply and charges the customers for order delivery. The restaurant has its own food delivery app and handles all the orders internally.
5. Select the Technology Stack
The technology stack you select to develop a food delivery app depends on the functionality of your app. No matter your plan, it only turns fruitful once you use the right technology stack. Defining the technology stack at the beginning stage helps business owners to achieve their objectives.
6. Design and Developing the App
This step requires your time and effort. Better hire a development team or use app development platforms for creating the food delivery app. Below are some stages that help you create your own food delivery app.
Prototyping: Create the user flow logic and the application screens according to your requirements.
UI/UX Design: Design the app interface that is easy to use and incorporates all the functionality.
Development: In this phase, developers assemble everything and build the final product.
Testing: When designing the app is completed, start the testing phase. Check all the app functionality and make sure that it is error-free and works well.
7. Marketing and Launch
After creating a food delivery app, start launching your own delivery app. Invest in your food delivery app marketing plan and upload it on the Apple Store and Google Play Store. Use social media channels and promote your app so people know about your food delivery app. Print flyers and put them in your restaurant. Send emails to your subscribers about the food delivery app. You can put a discount on the first order on the app.
Why Does Your Restaurant Need to Create Your Own Food Delivery App?
The need for food delivery apps is increasing, and a convenient way for restaurants to connect with customers. Entrepreneurs must invest in a food delivery app to survive in the market. Creating your own food ordering app provides several benefits to the food delivery business.
Below are the reasons that show why food businesses should consider creating a food delivery app.
Reduced Operational Costs
The food delivery app is the best solution to streamline your process by cutting operational costs. With food delivery apps, you can avail yourself of some features to help you cut costs.
These apps offer real-time order tracking, multiple payment gateways, automated management for delivery persons, etc. All these functionalities can be performed with a single click, and you don’t need human assistance. It helps you to reduce operational costs and errors.
Cater to a Large Number of Customers
More than 350 million people globally use food delivery apps in 2023, according to Statista. This shows that people find these apps more convenient and are inclined towards this trend. With food delivery apps, businesses can reach and cater to many customers. Smaller or lesser-known eateries can gain visibility and reach a broader audience through these platforms.
Increased Revenue
It is the main reason that restaurants invest in food delivery apps. Creating a food delivery app helps you generate revenue for your business. With these apps, more customers can place orders for takeout and delivery. This can lead to more sales and revenue.
Direct Marketing
With the food delivery apps, you can easily directly communicate with the customers. Send push notifications about deals, discounts, loyalty programs, and promotions to their devices. With this, your customers consider your restaurant when they think about ordering food online.
Customization
You can customize your app according to your requirements. Add the features of your choice, such as order history, order cancellation, and more. This improves the user experience and keeps customers back.
Data Security
All your personal and payment information is safe and secure compared to third-party platforms. Using your food-ordering app, you can implement security measures to protect customer data and secure payment processing.
Key Elements of a Successful Food Delivery App
Before creating the food delivery app, it is crucial to know that it is not just an ordering system. However, it offers various features that make it worth using.
Here are the main elements of a successful food delivery app.
User Registration
Food delivery apps have different types of users, each with a profile. The main users of food delivery apps are:
Customer: The customer will browse food menus and add them to the cart.
Restaurant: The restaurants allow updating menu items, pricing information, and managing orders.
Delivery Driver: If your service employs third-party drivers, you require a distinct driver interface. This lets them take orders and receive pick-up instructions. To deliver products fast, drivers need turn-by-turn GPS directions with map integration.
Admin Panel: The product owners can manage the complete platform using the admin panel.
Digital Menu
With a digital menu, the customers can view all your menu items with high-quality images and descriptions of dishes. You can easily add the prices, dietary information, colors, portion sizes, and more that suit your needs.
Multiple Payment Options
A good food delivery app offers various payment options. Customers can easily pay through credit cards, debit cards, cash on delivery, and digital wallets. When giving more payment options to customers, they use the service more.
Offline Accessibility
Offline accessibility enhances user experience. This feature allows users to access the menus and basic information in areas with a weak or no internet connection. The users can engage more with your app and plan their orders without an internet connection.
If customers can access restaurant information offline, like the phone number, location, and menu, it can reduce customer service workload because consumers can find answers to their questions.
Ratings and Reviews
You can improve customer experience and stand out from nearby restaurants with ratings and reviews. They can also help other customers make an informed decision before ordering.
Search Functionality
The food delivery apps provide a quick way to order food without scanning the entire menu. It is difficult for customers to scroll through hundreds of items and place an order. The best way is to categorize them so the customer can easily order.
For restaurants, the categories include:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Salads
- Starters
- Pizza
Order Tracking
Order tracking helps restaurants manage orders online through the app or website. Users can also easily monitor the progress of their orders. Also, the app provides the live location of the delivery driver and the estimated delivery time.
Coupon Codes
Food delivery services, like any business, thrive on customer loyalty. Coupon codes are the best way to attract and retain customers. The restaurants generate coupon codes and provide them to customers as an incentive. The coupon codes help customers get discounts and save money on their next orders.
Push Notifications
Push notifications can help customers know about upcoming deals and promotions. With this feature, the restaurants can include these types of messages, such as:
- Are you craving pizza?
- Are you looking for a new restaurant in your area?
- Get FREE delivery!
- Buy one donut and get one free.
- Get 50% off on your next order.
All these notifications would motivate users to open the food delivery app. Plus, these notifications can remind customers when a driver has arrived with their order.
A great example of push notifications is you can send promotions around lunchtime when customers in their home or office want to order something.
How Much Does It Cost to Make a Food Delivery App?
Providing the exact cost of the food delivery app without specific project details is challenging. The cost of developing the food delivery app depends on various factors, such as:
- App features and complexity
- App design
- Technology
- Maintenance and updates
- Number of platforms
- Third-party integrations and more
However, the app’s development cost could range between $30,000 to $50,000. The apps with more complex features can cost over $100,000.
Challenges Faced When Create Your Own Food Ordering App
Here are some challenges that food delivery businesses may face.
Unstable Pricing Model
Several new players are joining the food delivery industry. Therefore, it is difficult for businesses to determine the right pricing strategy. The startups prefer to work with low margins and grab the user’s attention. They use different pricing models to stay competitive.
To solve this problem by thoroughly analyzing the pricing policy of the established businesses. Determine the latest food delivery trends in the food industry and customers’ price sensitivity. With this, you can develop a good pricing strategy.
Partner with the Right Experts
Partnering with the right food delivery experts requires a lot of effort. However, partnering with established ones will help you establish a brand image. There are many food outlets, so filtering the best can be challenging.
To simplify this challenge, working with an onboarding expert is best. They provide support to the restaurants that make the process easy.
Identify the Suitable Strategy
Finding new users can be challenging if you have full-fledged food delivery software. You need to use the most suitable marketing platforms. Fast-changing customer preferences might make marketing strategy creation difficult.
The best way is to create an advertising plan and list all your marketing strategies. Plus, it is good to communicate with food bloggers to build a strong online presence and improve brand visibility.
Maintain Timely Deliveries
Businesses may need help to deliver orders on schedule, especially at peak hours or in busy areas. Companies may optimize delivery routes, use real-time traffic data, or work with third-party logistics providers to overcome this.
Businesses may reduce delays, boost customer happiness, and stay competitive by optimizing delivery procedures. Technology like route planning software and tracking systems can improve visibility and help them anticipate delivery bottlenecks.
Unpredictable Food Quality
Many restaurants struggle to maintain food quality and freshness throughout delivery. Road bumps, motions, and vibrations stress food during transport. All of this can reduce food freshness.
Entrepreneurs should evaluate restaurant partners’ packaging and safety policies before adding them to their food delivery platform. To maintain freshness, restaurants should utilize high-quality packaging like insulated food bags.
Build a Stable Customer Base
In the eCommerce age, food delivery systems are growing. So, clients are overloaded by choices. Engaging new users and keeping them on your platform takes time and effort. A restaurant or delivery business with greater rates, incentives, and advantages gets the most customers. However, consumer engagement and retention are not guaranteed.
Running a referral program and offering new clients discounts and incentives is the best solution to this problem. You can also design a smart app with an easy-to-use UI. Food tracking, enhanced search, gamification, etc., can improve user experience and retention.
FAQs
- How do I create an app for my food business?
Below are some steps to help you build your own food delivery app for your food business.
- Research
- Choose the business model
- Select the key features
- Start working on the design of the app
- Start development
- Testing
- Why are food apps so popular?
The food apps are popular because they are a convenient way for customers to place orders anywhere and anytime from several restaurants.
- How to build an app like Uber Eats?
Building an app like UberEats is relatively easy if you know its business model, key features, and functionalities. To create the app, you must conduct research and have strong programming skills.
