Adding Online Ordering to Your Restaurant's Website
The fastest growing segment of the food service industry is in to-go and delivery ordering so setting up your website to accept online ordering makes a lot of sense. With the increase in mobile internet access the potential for increased sales is undeniable.
Remember, convenience is probably the signature mega-trend of this century and the restaurateurs who don't not take the internet serious put themselves in danger of playing catch-up with the more technological savvy restaurants.
These are some advantages of adding an online ordering system to your restaurant:
Remember, convenience is probably the signature mega-trend of this century and the restaurateurs who don't not take the internet serious put themselves in danger of playing catch-up with the more technological savvy restaurants.
These are some advantages of adding an online ordering system to your restaurant:
Online ordering is much more accurate than over the phone ordering. Because the customers enter the orders themselves, they can't blame the restaurant if they make a mistake.
Statistics tell us that people ordering online spend 20% to 30% more than the same people having a meal at your restaurant. Perhaps this is due to the fact that people order when they are hungry and they always overestimate how much the can eat.
Less Work for your Staff. Your employee no longer has to take the order over the phone. They no longer have to fax your menu to the customer. They don't have to explain the menu over the phone. If somebody still calls, they can refer them to your website.
Customer Convenience. Your customers can spend their time looking at your menu items online. Once they make their minds, they only need a few clicks to place an order and go to your restaurant a few minutes later to pick it up.
Great Marketing Tool. With online ordering it is easier to up-sell your dishes and side dishes. With online systems your text and graphics are not limited like printed materials are. It is very easy to add special prices or items that you want to promote.
Create Coupons and Discounts to Promote Items. With most of the online ordering systems, you can create specific coupons and discounts to promote some slow moving dishes or dishes that give you the highest profit margin.
There are many online reservation systems available in the USA and other countries. I will start covering here some that I am familiar with and can recommend.
iMenu360
iMenu 360 is one of the best restaurant online reservation offerings available.
The company was founded by a restaurateur so they really understand the restaurant business.
Once you open an account with iMenu360, you will need to fill an Excel spreadsheet with your restaurant's information and send them a scanned copy of your menu in PDF format. If you want to personalize your restaurant page, you should also send them header and sidebar images that match your restaurant website.
Their prices are very reasonable. They charge an initial $49.99 setup fee (only once) and then $19.99 a month plus 3% of the pre-tax order amount with a cap of $150 a month per location. If you have a restaurant with more than 5 units, then you will pay a maximum amount of just $100 a month per location.
You can also accept orders via FAX (in addition of or instead of) online but you will have to pay an additional $0.25 per order.
One neat feature that they provide is a free printer application that you can install on your (restaurant) computers. To do so, you need just two requirements:
The company was founded by a restaurateur so they really understand the restaurant business.
Once you open an account with iMenu360, you will need to fill an Excel spreadsheet with your restaurant's information and send them a scanned copy of your menu in PDF format. If you want to personalize your restaurant page, you should also send them header and sidebar images that match your restaurant website.
Their prices are very reasonable. They charge an initial $49.99 setup fee (only once) and then $19.99 a month plus 3% of the pre-tax order amount with a cap of $150 a month per location. If you have a restaurant with more than 5 units, then you will pay a maximum amount of just $100 a month per location.
You can also accept orders via FAX (in addition of or instead of) online but you will have to pay an additional $0.25 per order.
One neat feature that they provide is a free printer application that you can install on your (restaurant) computers. To do so, you need just two requirements:
Your restaurant needs to have a windows based computer on site
Your computer has to be connected to the internet
With a printer application, the orders are printed on a regular printer OR a receipt printer connected to that computer.
This printer application is faster, more reliable and FREE!
The folks at iMenu360 gave a 30% discount on the setup fee (that I am passing to you), to any restaurant that signs via this website. If you are interested, please click on this link: i360 signup page.
This printer application is faster, more reliable and FREE!
The folks at iMenu360 gave a 30% discount on the setup fee (that I am passing to you), to any restaurant that signs via this website. If you are interested, please click on this link: i360 signup page.
Delivery.com
Delivery.com provides fast and easy online food ordering from local restaurants and merchants nationwide (US only).
Delivery.com provides you with a fully interactive online menu. Every time an order is placed it is immediately conveyed by fax or online. Once you’ve confirmed receipt of the order, you fulfill it as you would any order phoned in.
For cash orders, you collect payment directly from the customer. For credit card orders, Delivery.com will charge the customer directly and reimburse you by direct deposit twice per month.
For each order, Delivery.com charges 10% of the subtotal, excluding tips & taxes — this includes processing fees for credit card transactions.
Delivery.com also charges a small per order processing fee, depending on your chosen methods of receiving and confirming orders (by phone, fax, or online).There is no processing charge if orders are received and confirmed online (per order commission and credit card fees are still applicable).
As a participating restaurant, Delivery.com will provide you with the ability to:
Delivery.com provides you with a fully interactive online menu. Every time an order is placed it is immediately conveyed by fax or online. Once you’ve confirmed receipt of the order, you fulfill it as you would any order phoned in.
For cash orders, you collect payment directly from the customer. For credit card orders, Delivery.com will charge the customer directly and reimburse you by direct deposit twice per month.
For each order, Delivery.com charges 10% of the subtotal, excluding tips & taxes — this includes processing fees for credit card transactions.
Delivery.com also charges a small per order processing fee, depending on your chosen methods of receiving and confirming orders (by phone, fax, or online).There is no processing charge if orders are received and confirmed online (per order commission and credit card fees are still applicable).
As a participating restaurant, Delivery.com will provide you with the ability to:
Set up and maintain your menu online.
Receive incoming orders (and keep a history of past orders).
Adjust your delivery hours and delivery range to suit your circumstances.
Temporarily close your restaurant in case of emergency (or inclement weather).
View customer ratings and feedback.
Set up and modify specials and promotions.
Upon completion of the necessary registration, you will have the opportunity to set up your own menu and merchant listing. If signing up by way of a Delivery.com representative (via their Partner Program), they can assist you with the entry of your menu — or Delivery.com can do it for a one-time charge. Depending on the size of your inventory, it may take 2-5 days to get a standard merchant live and available for orders on their website.
If you are interested on using Delivery.com to add online delivery to your restaurant and your restaurant is located in the United States of America, please email me at jose@riescoconsulting.com and include the following:
If you are interested on using Delivery.com to add online delivery to your restaurant and your restaurant is located in the United States of America, please email me at jose@riescoconsulting.com and include the following:
Your restaurant name
Your name
Address
Cross Street
Zip Code
Your Restaurant Phone Number
Your Restaurant FAX Number (if you have a FAX)
Wether you accept Take-out or Delivery (or both)
Upon receiving your email, I will send you all the details to setup your account. In the meantime, You can download a two pages flyer explaining more about Delivery.com by clicking this icon:
eHungry.com
Review coming soon...