Build a Multi Vendor Food Ordering System in 8 Simple Steps

Multi vendor food ordering system is the secret ingredient to stand in the growing food delivery industry. 

According to a DoorDash survey, 70% of customers order food online for delivery or takeout. Having a multi-vendor food ordering system isn’t just an option it’s a necessity. These platforms open new opportunities for higher profits by connecting your business to millions of potential customers.

Whether you’re launching a food delivery app or upgrading an existing one, a feature-rich, scalable system is your gateway to success. 

So, do you want to know what makes these systems so effective? 

Dive into this blog to explore the key features, benefits, and more needed to excel in the growing food delivery market! 

What Is a Multi Vendor Food Ordering System?

A multi vendor food ordering system allows business owners to combine various restaurants on a single platform. 

With multi restaurant online food ordering systems, business owners expand their business and provide wider food options to customers.    

The primary purpose of the food ordering system is to:

• Provide customers with a convenient way to place orders from various restaurants.

• Easily manage operations at an affordable cost.

• Provide customers with a wide range of choices.

• Quickly integrate the multi vendor app into any meal delivery service.

Moreover, the multi restaurant delivery software is built using the latest technologies. Plus, it has all the features every restaurant or food business owner needs to streamline operations.  

Workflow of a Multi Vendor Food Ordering System

Understanding the workflow of the multi vendor food ordering system is necessary before implementing it. 

Here is a step-by-step workflow to guide you through the whole process.

• Customers visit the website or app to order food online. 

• The customer chooses from the several restaurants listed on the portal and browses their menus. The customer also re-orders their favorite meal from their order history. 

• The customer adds items to their cart with just a click. They also apply coupon codes provided by the restaurant.

• After placing the order, the customer made payment using multiple payment methods.

• The customer makes the payment to the admin, and then the admin transfers the amount to the restaurant.   

• After placing the order, the restaurant receives a notification for the order. 

• When the food is prepared, the rider delivers the food to the customer’s given address. 

Multi Vendor Features for Online Restaurant Ordering System  

Numerous features are provided by the multi vendor food ordering system to restaurants, customers, and business owners. 

Let’s explore them in detail.  

Customer Mobile/Web Application

A customer app can offer various features and functionalities to enhance the dining experience. Here are some features and functionalities of customer app.

Features of Customer App

Features	Description
Verification of Phone Number and Email	When new users sign up on the restaurant app, they must provide their phone number and email address. The app generates the random OTP and sends it to the user-given mobile number and email.  When the user enters the OTP, the app compares the OTP with the generated one. If they both match, the user is considered verified.
Authentication	Use Google, Apple, and Facebook for authentication purposes. It can simplify the registration and login process for users. Also, it improves the overall user experience.
Restaurants Show	The restaurants are displayed on the map according to the user’s location. Customers can use GPS to find nearby restaurants.
Reviews and Ratings	This is one of the main features of the best on demand delivery apps. It allows customers to provide ratings and feedback according to their overall experience. With the feedback, future customers can make informed decisions.
Browse Menus	The customers can easily browse menus and check the descriptions, prices, and images.
Restaurant Information	Customers can check the restaurant’s working hours, phone number, and other information.
Schedule Delivery	Customers can schedule their deliveries according to their preferred date and time.
Push Notifications and Emails	Customers can receive real-time updates for their order delivery, deals, and promotions.
Rider Tracking	It allows customers to track the rider’s location and the status of the takeout or delivery orders.
In-app Chat with RiderMulti-Language	This feature lets customers communicate with riders for any queries or issues. The app is available in different languages.
Different Themes	The app has provided the option to change the theme of the app in light or dark mode. Users can adjust it according to their choice.
Online Payments	Customers can pay through various payment methods, including credit/debit card payments and digital wallets.
Order History	Enabling customers to access and view their past orders’ history easily.
Add Favorite Restaurants	Allow customers to add their favorite restaurants. This feature improves user engagement and experience.
Add Special Instructions	Customers can add special instructions or notes for the restaurants.
Delivery Options	Customers can choose between pick-up and delivery at different times.
Vouchers and Tipping Option	Customers get discounts on their orders with vouchers. Plus, they have the tipping option.
Search Restaurants	The customers can search restaurants using a filtering and search option. This feature provides users with a seamless experience.

Restaurant App

The restaurant app provides several key components and features to make the dining experience for the customers amazing. 

Here is a list of features that a restaurant app includes.

Features of Restaurant App

Features	Description
Login	The restaurant owner can log in and monitor their restaurant operations in one place.
Push Notifications	The restaurants get alerts and notifications on order status and incoming orders.
Time Limiter	The restaurants have a time limiter to accept orders and set time options for meal preparation.
Print Invoice	From the app, the restaurants can print invoices.
Check Delivered Order History	With this feature, restaurants view their order delivery history.
Change Restaurant Status	The restaurant can change its status online and offline.
Order Details	From the app, restaurant owners can check the order details and customer information.
Order Updates	The restaurants receive real-time updates on order delivery, order received, and more.

Rider App

The rider app is designed for delivery drivers to pick up and deliver orders. With the help of the rider delivery app, the riders can easily manage their delivery tasks. 

Below are the rider app’s main features in the multi vendor food ordering system.   

Features of Rider App

Features	Description
Push Notifications	The rider receives the notifications for the new order.
Map	With the help of the map feature, the riders can easily get directions to the deliverer’s address.
Chat	In-app chat feature allows riders to communicate with customers easily.
Order History:	The rider can check their order history, such as which orders have been delivered and which are pending.
Online Delivery Fees	With this feature, riders can instantly withdraw money from their wallet. Also, they check the wallet history.
Change the Status	The riders can change their status online/offline.

Admin

The admin dashboard is the central point that allows you to manage different tasks. The main features of the admin dashboard of multi restaurant delivery software are: 

Features of Admin Dashboard

Features	Description
Manage restaurants	From the admin dashboard, the admin manages restaurant operations such as managing timings, menus, adding discounts, and more.
Manage riders	With a multi vendor food ordering system, the admin defines, assigns, and creates zones for riders.
Manage payments	This feature allows the admin manage payments through different channels.
Send Notifications	The admin may automatically notify consumers, restaurant vendors, and food delivery partners about order placement, payments, etc., via an effective online food ordering system for restaurants.
Tipping management	The tipping management is available on the admin dashboard.

Benefits of Multi Vendor Food Ordering System

A multi restaurant ordering system benefits restaurants and customers. Investing in the multi vendor food delivery app gives you more profits and revenue. 

Some of the benefits of the multi vendor are listed below.

Cost-Effective Solution

It is one of the main reasons to opt for the multi restaurant online ordering system. They are budget-friendly, and you can easily customize them according to your needs. 

Community and Support

The multi vendor food ordering system providers offer support. It is invaluable when you face any issues or need assistance implementing the multi restaurant online ordering system. 

Quick Launch

Launching your food ordering platform from scratch takes time and effort. However, using the multi vendor food ordering and delivery platform, restaurants can easily launch their business in no time with a minimal setup.    

Expand Reach

The multi vendor food ordering and management system opens new markets for restaurants. With this, restaurants can reach more customers who prefer ordering food online from their homes.   

Easy Payment Methods

Online food ordering apps provide multiple payment methods, which include credit/debit cards, digital wallets, cash on delivery, etc. Plus, all transactions made on the online restaurant ordering system are safe and secure. 

Diverse Menu Options

Customers can explore various menu options from multiple restaurants on a single platform. It allows customers to explore cuisines, read reviews, check prices, and more without switching to multiple food ordering platforms.   

How to Build a Multi Vendor Food Ordering System? 

Below are some steps to help you build a multi vendor food ordering system. 

1. Define Requirements

The first step in creating a multi-vendor food ordering system is to thoroughly define the requirements. Conducting interviews to gather information from potential users, vendors, and delivery personnel. Understanding their needs and expectations is important. 

Based on this feedback, you should compile a feature list that includes essential functionalities such as user registration, vendor management, menu management, order tracking, payment processing, and review systems. This groundwork will guide the entire development process.

2. Choose a Tech Stack

Selecting the right technology stack is vital for the success of your system. The tech stack will depend on your system requirements. 

The table below shows which technologies are used to create the multi vendor food ordering system.

Application program interface (API) server	Web Dashboard	Mobile App	Restaurant App	Rider App	Customer Web App
NodeJS	React	React Native	React Native	React Native	React
MongoDB	GraphQL	Expo	Expo	Expo	Material UI
ExpressJS	Bootstrap	GraphQL	GraphQL	GraphQL	GraphQL
Stripe	Firebase	Sentry	Sentry	Sentry	Sentry
PayPal		Amplitude			Amplitude
Nodemailer					Firebase
Firebase
Express GraphQL
Mongoose

3. System Design

Once the requirements and tech stack are final, the next phase is system design. This involves creating a scalable architecture to manage the various components of the system efficiently. 

Wireframes should be developed to visualize the user interfaces for customers, vendors, and administrators. 

4. Start Development

With the design in place, the development phase can begin. Start with frontend development to build the user interface, allowing customers to browse menus, place orders, and process payments seamlessly. Simultaneously, create a vendor dashboard where food vendors can manage their menus, track orders, and update their profiles. 

An admin panel should also be developed for system administrators to monitor user activity and manage vendors effectively. Throughout this process, implementing RESTful APIs is essential for smooth communication between the frontend and backend systems.

5. Testing

Testing is a crucial step to ensure that the system functions as intended. In this phase, focus on verifying the functionality of individual components. Make sure that different parts of the system work together. 

In addition, gather feedback and identify any issues or areas for improvement before the official launch.

6. Marketing and Launch

Launching the platform requires a strong marketing strategy to attract both vendors and customers. Use various channels such as social media, online advertisements, and strategic partnerships to reach your target audience. 

7. Maintenance and Updates

Post-launch, the focus shifts to maintenance and updates. Regularly update the system to enhance security, fix bugs, and introduce new features based on user feedback. Monitoring system performance is essential to identify areas that may require optimization, ensuring a smooth user experience and operational efficiency.

8. Scale

As your user base grows, it’s important to plan for scalability. This may involve optimizing your architecture to handle increased traffic and data. Consider implementing load balancers and scalable cloud solutions to ensure that the system can accommodate a growing number of users and vendors without compromising performance.

Cost of Multi Vendor Food Delivery App

The cost of multi vendor food delivery app depends on these factors, which include:

• Platform
• Timeline
• Number of features
• UI/UX design
• Maintenance and support

Check the below table and understand the roughly estimated cost of building the food ordering and delivery platform.  

Cost Component	Estimated Cost (USD)
Market Research	$2,000 – $5,000
UI/UX Design	$5,000 – $15,000
Frontend Development	$10,000 – $25,000
Backend Development	$15,000 – $30,000
Vendor Management System	$5,000 – $10,000
Payment Gateway Integration	$2,000 – $5,000
Geolocation Services	$3,000 – $7,000
Admin Panel Development	$5,000 – $10,000
Testing and Quality Assurance	$5,000 – $10,000
Launch and Marketing	$5,000 – $20,000
Maintenance and Updates	$2,000 – $5,000/year
Total Estimated Cost: $54,000 – $137,000

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which is the best food delivery partner?

Below is the list of the best food delivery partners.

• UberEats
• DoorDash
• Caviar
• Grubhub

2. What is the fastest food delivery app?

Grubhub, UberEats, Foodpanda, and DoorDash are considered the fastest food delivery apps. These apps are well-known for their timely deliveries and provide various food options.

3. Is multi vendor marketplace profitable?

Yes, a multi-vendor marketplace can be profitable by generating revenue through commissions, subscription fees, and advertising. 

4. How much does it cost to build a multi-vendor marketplace?

The cost to build a multi-vendor marketplace can range from $10,000 to over $100,000, depending on factors like platform choice, design complexity, features, and development resources. Custom solutions generally cost more than using pre-built platforms.

5. What software can I use to manage orders for food delivery?

Below is a list of softwares you can use to manage orders for food delivery without hassle. 

• OpenTable 
• Square Online 
• Cake POS
• Grubhub 
• Toast 

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