7 Best Restaurant Online Ordering Systems to Choose From

The recent years have witnessed a remarkable surge in online ordering and delivery, a trend that comes as no surprise to the restaurant industry. 

  

In 2019, a staggering 1.17 billion people globally engaged with food ordering and delivery services. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 further escalated this trend, with the number of global users experiencing a 30% surge to nearly 1.5 billion. Industry experts project that by 2024, the count of global food delivery service users will reach an impressive 2 billion. 

  

Restaurants are astutely capitalizing on the widespread popularity of online ordering and delivery services. 

  

Online Ordering Systems for Restaurants 

  

An array of online ordering systems are available on the market, and selecting the most suitable one hinges on individual restaurant needs and preferences. 

  

The ideal online ordering system should be user-friendly for both guests and staff, cost-effective, and tailored to the restaurant industry, offering essential features for business owners. 

  

Key components that a proficient online ordering software should encompass include robust marketing capabilities, a user-friendly loyalty program, a customizable drag-and-drop website builder, a branded mobile app for swift ordering, report generation tools, and seamless integration with POS systems. 

  

The Significance of Online Ordering Systems for Restaurants 

  

Online ordering systems bring forth a plethora of advantages for restaurants: 

  

Reduced Third-Party Delivery Commissions: Independent online ordering platforms significantly diminish the impact of third-party commissions that can consume up to 30% of each sale. 

  

Simplified Online Order Management: Streamlined acceptance and swift processing of incoming online orders expedite restaurant operations. 

  

Ownership of Customer Data: Centralized customer information facilitates effective marketing campaigns, tracking purchase history, and cultivating loyalty. 

  

Website and Online Presence: Advanced online ordering systems often include website builders, empowering restaurants to create branded websites and bolster their online visibility. 

  

Enhanced Customer Loyalty: Online ordering systems contribute to prolonged customer loyalty. 

  

Real-Time Reporting: The capability to generate real-time reports aids in monitoring business performance. 

  

Key Considerations for Online Ordering Systems 

  

Three methods exist for establishing an online ordering system: 

  

POS Integration: Some restaurant POS systems offer integrated online ordering, facilitating order processing and seamless communication with the kitchen and front-of-house staff. E-commerce integrations, like Shopify, can assist in creating ordering pages. 

  

Third-Party Ordering Apps: Certain POS systems may not feature native online ordering software, but can sync with third-party apps for an additional fee. Examples include Upserve, Toast, and Square for Restaurants. 

  

Marketplace Delivery Apps: Apps like UberEats and DoorDash are exclusive to the restaurant industry and offer streamlined setup. However, they often charge substantial fees, ranging from 10% to 30% per sale. 

  

Factors to consider while deciding on the best option include costs, visibility, ease of use, compatibility, consumer loyalty, and customer experience. 

  

Investing in an online ordering system might seem like an expenditure, yet it can yield sustained revenue. Projections indicate that if online ordering is embraced, restaurant delivery sales could grow by over 20% annually, reaching $365 billion globally by 2030. 

  

<H2> 7 Options for Restaurant Online Ordering Systems  

In the realm of restaurant online ordering systems, seven prevalent choices tend to stand out as favored selections among establishments. 

  

MenuDrive 

  

MenuDrive caters to restaurants seeking a distinctive branded online ordering encounter via a dedicated website. This avenue empowers restaurant proprietors to transform their menus into interactive websites, enabling patrons to personalize their orders. MenuDrive facilitates alterations to menus, business hours, and promotions from any internet-connected device. 

  

Toast POS 

  

Toast POS is a comprehensive point-of-sale system primarily tailored for restaurants, coffee shops, and food service entities. Functioning on a cloud-based framework, it remains accessible from various devices linked to the internet. 

  

It encompasses online ordering, inventory tracking, menu management, customer engagement, and real-time analytics. This solution also facilitates online order placement and food delivery oversight. 

  

Toast POS seamlessly integrates with a spectrum of third-party applications, encompassing accounting tools, payment processors, and kitchen display systems. 

  

Flipdish 

  

Flipdish represents an online ordering and delivery platform, allowing restaurants to forge their mobile applications and websites dedicated to online ordering. The system incorporates features like real-time report generation, customer database administration, and integrated payment processing. 

  

Diners can leverage this platform for online food orders, making payments for both deliveries and pickups directly from the restaurant. 

  

Restaurantify 

  

Restaurantify operates as a restaurant website construction platform, fashioning restaurant websites with their mobile apps and dedicated interfaces for online ordering. By linking order APIs to chosen delivery management systems, orders can be confirmed via smartphones or tablets through the online ordering system. 

  

Restaurantify's restaurant websites are designed to transform menus into interactive online platforms, enabling customers to personalize their orders. 

  

GloriaFood 

  

GloriaFood stands as a cloud-based online ordering solution, furnishing restaurants with a range of online ordering avenues for their patrons. Customers can place orders for delivery or pickup directly through the restaurant's official website, Facebook page, or mobile application. 

  

This online ordering software encompasses functions like online payment processing, order tracking, and automated kitchen ticket printing. These attributes expedite the ordering process, rendering GloriaFood a compelling restaurant ordering system. 

  

Cake 

  

CAKE stands as a comprehensive POS and management system incorporating online ordering capabilities. Notably, it's one of the rare options enabling restaurants to manage both online and in-person orders within the same framework. 

  

Patrons can craft customized orders via your restaurant's website or Facebook page using the integrated online ordering module. 

  

Moreover, this system integrates a tool for managing curbside pickups, ensuring the accurate delivery of orders to the right customers. 

  

Upserve 

  

Upserve represents another full-fledged restaurant management tool, encompassing an online ordering module harmonizing with its POS system, payment service, and mobile app. This tool is renowned for its user-friendly nature and adaptability. Integration of the online ordering gateway into a restaurant's website is easily achieved. 

  

Noteworthy features of Upserve encompass inventory supervision, analytics, and a customer loyalty program. 

  

Key Insights    

Free systems often come with concealed expenses. 

  

The paramount restaurant online ordering system offers patrons a distinctive branded experience. This entails features like a loyalty program, POS system connectivity, and customer data gathering across menus, applications, and websites. 

  

Contrary to some online ordering systems, Restaurantify offers seamless integration with third-party apps. 

  

Numerous free online ordering systems neglect crucial aspects of effective restaurant management and operations. 

  

Explore further about this intriguing subject using Restaurantify.