As we live in a fast-paced, digitally-driven world, mobile app’s usage has significantly surged. Because these days people prefer to get all things done/delivered swiftly.
People prefer to get things done instantly and efficiently
Mobile apps have helped solve this problem.
With the contribution of advanced technology, now everything can be easily accessed at the fingertips, including food
As a result , our eating habits have changed dramatically over the years.
Now , people prefer getting things delivered at their doorstep. This is one of the main driving forces why online food delivery apps are popular now
Some stats that prove the growing demand for online food delivery services
- 51% of US consumers use delivery services to purchase meals.
- Digital channel sales to reach 30% of total sales for US restaurants by 2025.
- 63% agree that it is super convenient to get delivery than dining.
- The food delivery industry is set to be $200 billion in 2025.
You may think on-demand food delivery is a new trend. Absolutely not! Previously people called restaurants by phone and placed the order, which was later delivered to them.
A report recorded in 2011 states that the number of food orders placed through phone calls amounted to $11 billion in the U.S alone. Isn’t it astounding to know the fact that its demand surged during that time alone?
This food ordering method via phone call got replaced by online ordering in 2015.
At present, especially with the advent of smartphones and advanced digital technology, on-demand food delivery through mobile apps has revolutionized the food delivery industry.
Are you an aspiring entrepreneur looking to compete in the food delivery space with an app? Do you want a clear road map on how to do this , the key factors, business models, and other attributes to consider adding while developing a food delivery app?
Well, you have landed in the right spot.
Without further delay, let’s get into the post.
Why Build a Food Delivery App?
- In 2019, the online food delivery space generated $107.44 billion in revenue.(Source: BusinessResearchCompany.com)
- And is expected to surge to $156.82 billion by 2023, clocking a growth rate of 9.9%
- Also, the platform to the delivery segment has the most substantial part. Its market volume is $53.8 billion in 2019 and is forecasted to surge to 82.2 billion by 2023.
From the above stats and by looking at the market opportunities, it is evident that the on-demand food delivery industry has a never-quenching demand inspiring many entrepreneurs like you to jump into this industry with their own apps.
Developing a food delivery app is not a cup of tea.
Without having a clear plan, you cannot sustain or stand out in the marketplace.
In the next section, we will be explaining things you need to keep in mind while building a food delivery app.
Things to Keep in Mind while Making a Food Delivery App
Understand the Food Industry & the Trends Shaping It
The primary step to developing a food delivery app is to understand and analyze the food industry’s current market trends.
The following are the aspects that need to be analyzed and developed in your app, keeping that in mind.
Find out what successful companies in this space are doing
Like how Domino’s pizza allows their users to order from their active Twitter accounts.
You can include features in your app that let users place their orders using their social media accounts.
Also, you could add chatbots so users can order via messengers. This helps you have more user engagement and enhances your food delivery business.
Making your app compatible with new technology like watches could also give you an advantage
Gather knowledge,Understand market trends, and make a user-friendly food delivery app.
Conduct Market Research
It is essential to have a thorough understanding of the market study prior to developing your food delivery app.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Who are your competitors and what strategy they follow to sustain in the market?
- How to retain customers?
- How to target new customers?
- What new features and services should you incorporate in your food delivery app to gain a competitive edge over your competitors?
- How can your app solve real-world problems that your users would have?
Find answers to these questions.
Now that you clearly understand what the market needs, begin developing your app
Choose a Business Model
The next major step is to find the right/most beneficial business model that helps meet your business goals.
There are several business models.
But These 2 are the most commonly used :
- Order only model
- Order and delivery model
We will explain them both in detail below .
- Order only model
As the name indicates, this food delivery platform only accepts and processes the order.
Meaning they provide no delivery support. Here, only the restaurant handles all the delivery processes.
If you choose to develop your food delivery app with this business model, revenue comes from partnering with restaurants –and taking a fixed commission on every order.
Delivery.com, Just Eat are some examples of apps using this model.
- Order & Delivery model
Here the restaurant prepares the food.
And the food delivery app is responsible only for accepting orders and delivery the food to the specified location
Choose a business model based on your needs and the resources at your disposal.
Incorporate Commonly Used Features
These are some of common features found in clones of popular food delivery apps like Swiggy, Ubereats, Zomato etc
User App panel
- Easy login
- User-friendly interface
- Advanced search
- Live tracking
- Order and cancel food.
- Payment options
- Easily Reorder past orders
- Offers & discounts
- In-app alerts
- Review system
Delivery Agent panel
Ensure your app is easy to use also for the delivery staff as well.
- Easy registration
- Availability toggle
- Receive an order to deliver
- In-app navigation to track the delivery location
- Earning summary
- Multi-delivery management
Restaurant panel
This panel is for the restaurants that wish to be listed on the platform. It should have the following features:
- Easy signup
- Add menu
- Easily add or remove items from the menu.
- Receiving orders
- Accept/Decline orders.
- Delivery management
- Manage payouts
Admin panel
This is where all the tasks are handled and monitored by the owner. It should include the following :
- Delivery management
- Restaurant management
- Multilingual support
- Promotions of discounts & offers
- In-app alerts to all the app users
- Payout management
- Manage all transactions
- Area wise map location
- Statistical reports
- Review management
Make sure your food delivery app includes as many of these basic features as possible.
Keep your App Up-to-date with the Latest Technology
While building your food delivery app, it is imperative to use the right technology to provide seamless food ordering to your users.
Here are technologies commonly used while making a food delivery app.
iPhone/Android: React Native
Frontend: React.js, Redux, Material UI
Backend: Node js, Express js, MongoDB, Sockets io
Server: AWS EC2, S3
API: Twilio for SMS, Google Maps
Hire Expert Developers
You could work with a freelancer or with an agency to develop you app.
Agencies cost more and have app development teams with :
- Android & iOS developers
- Front and backend developers
- Test engineers
- UI designers
- Business analysts
- Project managers
Another option is buying pre-built scripts from an app development agency and customising it to suit your requirements.
In a Nutshell
The food delivery industry motivates many entrepreneurs to enter, but only the fittest survive. So , develop a food delivery app that can withstand amidst the competitors, survive the challenges, and stay ahead in the marketplace.
