11 App for Online Ordering Features That Boost Revenue Quickly

In the last year, the number of restaurants leveraging online ordering automation hit a record high of 68 percent (FSR Magazine). This uptick is in large part due to increased demand for the technology by customers.

Your loyal guests want a smooth process to order food. Yet, without your own app, you end up relying on third-party platforms, which take a commission and hinder your profitability.

To help you build a direct path to profitable online ordering, we’ve compiled a list of 11 game-changing features that maximize your return on investment (ROI). Let’s get started. 

Apps for Restaurant Ordering Core Features

Building a solid, branded foundation for your app is crucial, and you can do so by covering the bases in these two categories.

1. Online Restaurant Applications Setup

These are three important components to make sure you have while setting up online ordering as a restaurant owner:

1. Quick deployment for local restaurants: Any new online ordering app needs to be easy to start using, no matter the size, scale, or location of a restaurant.
2. ZIP code verification systems: Checking ZIP code accuracy ensures only customers within your delivery radius can see your restaurant and place orders.
3. Multilocation management: If you have several locations, you need to be able to manage their stock levels, track local favorites, and make menu changes accordingly. The app should allow you to mark menu items and add-ons as out-of-stock for a long or indefinite period, giving you flexibility in managing availability.

Marking menu items and add-ons as out-of-stock helps prevent customer complaints by ensuring customers only order what is currently available.

2. Restaurant Order System App Integration

Your online ordering system must connect with your existing systems. The most important integrations include your point of sale (POS) and stock management.

These tools equip you to immediately mark out-of-stock menu items to provide real-time menu updates, and flexible payment processing options, allowing customers to order with Apple Pay, credit cards, Klarna, or another method that works for them.  

App to Take Food Orders Efficiently

Your guests want to place their orders using an intuitive and effective app interface. With a simple tap, users can quickly and conveniently place an order or make a reservation, streamlining the entire process. Here’s how to make sure they’re satisfied with their experience.

Real-time order tracking with live GPS updates is also essential, as it keeps both customers and restaurants informed throughout the ordering process.

3. Hotel Order Taking App Adaptability

For hotels, taking and processing food orders online requires additional features. First is room service integration. This way, you make sure that your customers can order room service easily by inputting their last name, room number, and any other identifying information. 

Next, guests will need a way to input special dietary restrictions or requests. It’s easiest to allow guests to set up an account that they can manage from the app easily, including any food requests. 

4. Online Orders Processing

There are five important components of processing online orders successfully that you should have in mind when choosing or designing features for your restaurant’s app. Automated order flow from the moment a guest places an order and receives a confirmation email shortly thereafter to delivery, kitchen display integrations, organization for pickup order, delivery fee optimization, and other delivery options.

Additionally, your app should allow customers to select their preferred delivery or pickup options and customize their orders directly within the app. After discussing kitchen display integrations, it's important to note that accepted orders can be automatically printed from the mobile order taking app to streamline operations.

Managing Inventory and Orders

Managing inventory and orders is a critical challenge for local restaurants, especially when juggling food delivery, takeout, and pickup orders. With an app, your restaurant can instantly mark menu items or add-ons as out of stock, preventing customers from ordering unavailable food and reducing the risk of disappointment or negative reviews.

This real-time stock update ensures that customers always find accurate menu options when they search for food, whether they’re placing a delivery or pickup order. Additionally, an app’s automatic order printing feature streamlines communication between front-of-house and back-of-house teams, minimizing errors and speeding up order fulfillment.

This is especially valuable for restaurants handling a high volume of online orders, as it helps ensure that every order, whether for takeout, delivery, or pickup, is processed quickly and accurately. By keeping inventory and order management efficient and up-to-date, restaurant owners can focus on delivering great food and service, while customers enjoy a seamless ordering experience.

Customer Interface Excellence

It’s important to place yourself in your guests’ shoes when designing the online ordering experience. Follow the steps in these two categories to create an excellent customer interface.

5. Find Food and Order Features

Customer experience can make or break the success of your online ordering app, which makes features like searching by cuisine type, quick reorder functionality, and location-based menu browsing crucial components. These features help your guests find whatever menu item they’re craving and place an order easily.

6. Checkout Optimization

A customer is more likely to abandon their cart if the checkout process is slow, confusing, or inefficient. Features like saved payment methods, order customization tools, and guest checkout options allow customers to place their order in a way that aligns with their preferences. 

Food Delivery Management

You can best serve your guests by making sure delivery orders placed online are accurate, efficient, and on time. Integrating order buttons directly on your website can streamline customer interactions and improve operational efficiency. Use these strategies to build that experience.

Platforms like Instacart connect users with local grocery stores for delivery, expanding the range of products available.

7. Delivery Options Configuration

For efficient order delivery, you’ll need a seamless in-house delivery setup, third-party integrations, pickup time management, correct address verification, and convenient pick-up options. These features ensure accuracy and timely delivery.

Offering customers the ability to pick up their orders in-store lets them skip the line and adds convenience for those who prefer collecting from your physical store location. That way, you can meet your customer’s expectations, boosting satisfaction and trust. An effective app also streamlines communication between front-of-house and back-of-house by connecting to a thermal printer.

8. Different Location Handling

Coordinating orders for multiple restaurant locations can get tricky, so it's important to use in-app functionality that simplifies the process. Features like multistore routing, strategic driver assignment, delivery zone mapping, and real-time order tracking can help you keep online orders organized.

Restaurant Owner Tools

Running a successful restaurant business requires more than just great food. It demands efficient management of online orders, food delivery, and daily operations. 

With the ability to pause online ordering services at any time, you more effectively manage busy periods or unexpected closures, providing customers with a personalized message and estimated timeframe for when service will resume. This transparency sets clear expectations and maintains customer trust.

The right app also makes it easy for restaurant owners to create and update their menu, including adjusting prices and descriptions to reflect seasonal changes or special offers. Real-time order and sales tracking gives owners instant insight into their business performance, allowing them to make informed decisions and optimize their operations.

By leveraging these tools, restaurant owners can streamline their workflow, improve the customer experience, and focus on what matters most: delivering delicious food and exceptional service.

Growth and Retention Tools

Once you’ve established a strong baseline for online ordering, the next step is to incorporate customer growth and retention tools to drive ROI. 

9. Customer Engagement Systems

There are four effective ways to drive guest engagement with your mobile app for restaurant ordering: Send email confirmation when a customer places an order, allow users to opt in for push notifications, integrate your loyalty program, and track referrals. 

10. Zero-Commission Benefits

Relying too heavily on third parties will reduce your total ROI. This is why it’s worth it to keep the entire online ordering process internal. We call this first party vs. third party online ordering and it's a key differentiator between higher and lower revenue B2c businesses.

11. Direct Order Advantages

Third-party order apps take a commission from every order a customer places with your restaurant. You can avoid losing out of this revenue by keeping online ordering in-house.

That way, customers place orders from your restaurant directly, allowing you to build customer relationships and control pricing to ensure profitability. It also makes it easier to aggregate customer preference data, which you can use to tailor your offers to your loyal guests. 

Key insight: To learn more crucial online ordering trends and predictions, read our newest Online Ordering and Catering Report, full of practical insights for growing your business.

Marketing and Promotion Strategies

Standing out in a crowded market is essential for local restaurants looking to grow their business and attract new customers. Restaurants can easily create special offers, such as free delivery or discounts on first-time orders, to entice new customers and encourage repeat business.

These promotions can be highlighted directly in your app, making it easy for customers to find and take advantage of deals when they order food. Your brand app also supports integrated email marketing and social media promotion, allowing restaurants to reach a wider audience and keep their community informed about new menu items, events, or special offers.

With nationwide coverage and a valid zip code search feature, customers can quickly find local restaurants in their area, making it easier than ever to order takeout or delivery. By leveraging these marketing tools, restaurants can effectively compete with larger chains, connect with more customers, and drive sustained business growth.

Customer Support and Service

Exceptional customer support is at the heart of a successful online ordering experience. With intuitive search features, customers can quickly find restaurants by cuisine, location, or prices, and place orders for takeout or delivery with just a few taps. Real-time order tracking keeps customers informed about the status of their order, from preparation to pickup or delivery, so they always know when to expect their food.

Analytics and Reporting Tools

Understanding your business performance is key to making smart decisions and maximizing profits. Restaurant owners can easily track which menu items are most popular, identify peak ordering times, and monitor customer loyalty trends. A powerful restaurant online ordering app also breaks down delivery fees and commissions, helping restaurants optimize their pricing strategies and improve their bottom line.

With detailed reports on customer demographics, ordering habits, and preferences, restaurants can create targeted marketing campaigns and special offers that resonate with their audience. These analytics tools are user-friendly and accessible, giving restaurant owners the data they need to make informed decisions and drive their business forward.

By using this info well, your business gets ahead of competitors, improves its service, and continues growing its takeout and delivery operations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Apps for Online Ordering Features

Here are our answers to common questions about building an app for online ordering features.

How can I cancel my order?

To cancel your order, please contact the restaurant directly. Most restaurants require direct communication to process order cancellations.

How do I request a refund?

If you need a refund for your order, reach out to the restaurant directly. Refunds are typically handled by the restaurant, and direct contact ensures your request is processed promptly.

Do online ordering apps offer sustainability filters?

Yes, many online ordering apps now include sustainability filters. These features are increasingly prioritized by Gen Z and Millennial users who want to make environmentally conscious choices when ordering food.

How do I take orders from customers online?

You can take orders online by setting up an intuitive app that makes it easy for guests to browse your menu, place orders, and track order status. You can boost satisfaction by integrating your loyalty program so guests can monitor their reward status with each order. 

What is the most used delivery app in North America?

The most popular delivery app in North America is DoorDash. Uber Eats and Grubhub are two other common online ordering apps. 

Which delivery app has the most customers?

In the United States, DoorDash is the delivery app with the most customers. However, Uber Eats tends to be more popular internationally. 

Your Next ROI Transformation 

Driving your restaurant’s ROI is well within reach when you have the right online ordering app features at work. Make sure to prioritize commission-free ordering and customer data ownership to get the most insight into and control over your restaurant’s online ordering approach.

If you’re ready to get started, Paytronix can help. With robust online ordering and integrative technology, the platform is your asset for driving ROI. Book a customized free demo now.