12 Features Your Mobile Ordering Application Needs to Have

A basic ordering app just doesn’t cut it. Guests now expect frictionless, fast, and personalized mobile experiences. It doesn’t matter if they’re grabbing lunch at a quick-service restaurant or picking up snacks at a convenience store. 

If your brand is serious about boosting order frequency, building loyalty, and staying competitive, your mobile ordering application must do more than take orders. It should engage, convert, and keep guests coming back. 

This guide breaks down the must-have features your app needs to succeed, plus a few rising expectations worth planning for.

9 Must-Have Features in a Mobile Ordering Application 

The best mobile ordering apps aren’t built on guesswork. They’re built on features that solve real problems for guests and operators alike.  

If you're designing or refining your app, start with these essentials. They’re the foundation of a frictionless, engaging, and high-performing ordering experience. 

1. Intuitive, Fast User Experience

Speed and simplicity are non-negotiable. Your app’s design should make ordering feel effortless, especially for returning users.  
It should include features such as: 

• Streamlined navigation with clear categories 
• Clean design with minimal distractions 
• Fast load times and fewer clicks at checkout 

The more intuitive your interface, the more likely guests are to complete orders and come back again. Every second saved boosts conversion rates. 

2. Native Loyalty Integration

Your loyalty program shouldn't feel like an afterthought. It should be deeply embedded in your app’s experience.   

Customers should be incentivized to: 

• Earn and redeem points in-app 
• Unlock personalized offers and member-only rewards 
• Repeat visits with the help of tiers, challenges, and streaks 

A loyalty-driven app increases order frequency and gives guests a reason to stick with your brand over the competition. 

3. Customization and Modifier Support

Guests expect to customize their orders. Whether it’s “no onions,” “extra pickles,” or “half-and-half pizza,” make it easy to modify items without friction. 

This is critical not just for mobile apps for restaurant ordering, but also for convenience stores with growing foodservice programs and made-to-order options. 

A flexible modifier system improves accuracy, reduces staff confusion, and helps guests feel in control of their experience. 

4. Secure, Flexible Payment Options

Payment should never be a barrier. The checkout process should be fast, easy, and built around how your guests prefer to pay. Limiting options, or adding friction, can lead to abandoned carts.  

Your app should support: 

• Mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) 
• Saved credit cards 
• Gift cards and loyalty point redemption 
• Split payment capabilities for group orders 

Security and convenience go hand-in-hand, especially when guests are ordering on the go. 

5. Location Awareness and Order Routing

For multi-unit brands, routing is everything. Your app should detect the nearest location or allow guests to select a favorite, then route the order automatically. 

This reduces order errors and ensures that pickup and delivery experiences are timely, accurate, and efficient. For operators, it simplifies workflows and enhances scalability across multiple stores. 

6. Order Ahead, Curbside, and Delivery Options

Guests want control over when and how they get their food. Your app should support: 

• Scheduled pickup or curbside 
• Delivery tracking and ETAs 
• Real-time prep status updates

Flexibility on the front end helps smooth operations on the back end, especially when synced with your POS and kitchen systems. 

7. Built-in Marketing Tools

An app isn’t just a checkout system, it’s a marketing channel. Look for built-in tools that help you stay top of mind: 

• Push notifications 
• In-app promotions 
• Targeted offers based on behavior

Smart marketing keeps guests engaged and drives reorders without needing a separate platform. 

8. Guest Feedback and Ratings

Your app should make it easy for guests to share feedback, both good and bad. Real-time ratings and quick surveys help you: 

• Spot service issues before they become are mentioned in reviews 
• Monitor satisfaction by location or daypart 
• Close the loop with personalized follow-up offers 

The result? Higher retention, better reviews, and stronger guest relationships. 

9. Cross-Platform Consistency

Your mobile app isn’t your only digital channel so it needs to play well with others. Make sure your ordering experience is seamless across: 

• Mobile apps 
• Web-based ordering 
• Desktop platforms 

Guests should be able to start an order on one device and finish on another, with saved carts, loyalty data, and payment info intact.  

For brands managing multiple channels, the Paytronix Mobile Experience Builder simplifies app updates and ensures a seamless experience across platforms.

3 Features That Are Nice-to-Have (But Increasingly Expected) 

While not necessarily considered essential, these features are quickly becoming standard in top-performing mobile apps.  

They enhance convenience, boost average check size, and make your brand more memorable, especially for repeat guests. 

1. Group Ordering or Family Mode 

Whether it’s a team lunch or a family night in, group ordering simplifies the process for multiple users and large tickets. 

This feature is especially helpful for convenience stores catering to offices or road trips, and it drives up increases average order value. 

2. Reorder History and Favorites 

Give guests the option to reorder with a single tap. Let them save favorite items or view past orders to streamline the process.  

This small feature can have a major impact on repeat orders and overall app satisfaction. 

3. In-App Tip Suggestions and Upsells 

In-app prompts like “Would you like to add a drink?” or “Tip your driver?” can boost both your average check size and staff compensation. 

Smart upsells are unobtrusive and relevant, not spammy. And they help you increase revenue with every transaction. 

What a Great Mobile Ordering App Looks Like in Action 

It’s one thing to list features. It’s another to see how they come together in real-world settings.  

Here’s how top restaurants and convenience stores are using mobile ordering apps to streamline operations, personalize the guest experience, and drive revenue. 

For Restaurants 

Restaurants thrive when apps do more than take orders. With a well-built mobile ordering application, you can: 

• Drive traffic during slower hours with targeted push offers 
• Suggest high-margin add-ons based on guest data 
• Let guests schedule orders for pickup or delivery at their convenience 

Whether you're running a full-service restaurant or managing a growing bakery, even a well-designed bakery mobile app can help streamline orders, promote specials, and drive repeat visits. 

For Convenience Stores 

C-store apps need to prioritize speed and simplicity. The ideal setup includes: 

• Scan-and-go functionality 
• Fuel pump integration 
• Timed or express pickup options 

Guests are often in a hurry. Make it easy for them to get in and out, and they’ll come back. 

See how regional brand Yatco is combining mobile ordering and loyalty to drive results in this webinar on mobile apps for c-stores. 

How to Choose the Right Mobile Ordering Partner 

The right partner can make or break your mobile strategy. Beyond features, you need a platform that’s flexible, future-proof, and built for long-term growth.  

Here’s what to look for when evaluating providers:. 

Prioritize API-First, Flexible Solutions 

You need a platform that plays well with your existing tech stack, including: 

• POS systems 
• Loyalty programs 
• Payment gateways 
• Third-party delivery tools 

Look for Proven Guest Experience Tools 

Choose a provider that gives you tools to track and improve performance, personalize interactions, and collect guest insights. 

Focus on Data Ownership and Long-Term Value 

The best platforms give you full access to guest data so you can use it to improve marketing, retention, and loyalty over time. 

3 Common Mistakes to Avoid in App Development 

Even well-intentioned apps can fall short if critical details are overlooked. Avoid these common mistakes while creating a mobile app to ensure your mobile ordering experience works for guests and not against them. 

1. Overcomplicating the UX

Guests don’t want to learn how to use your app. If it takes too long to place an order, they’ll abandon it. 

Restaurant mobile app templates can help you keep it simple. Every extra second at checkout increases the risk of a lost sale. 

2. Ignoring Loyalty or CRM Integration

If your app doesn’t support your loyalty strategy, you’re missing a huge opportunity. Integrated CRM tools let you market smarter, not louder. 

3. Not Updating Content Regularly

Old photos, out-of-stock items, and expired promos kill trust. Keep your app content fresh and relevant. It shows guests you’re paying attention. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Mobile Ordering Applications 

Whether you’re just starting to explore mobile ordering or looking to refine your current setup, questions come up often. Here are a few of the most common ones answered clearly and simply. 

What is a mobile ordering app? 

It’s a branded application that lets guests browse your menu, customize orders, pay, and choose pickup or delivery options—all from their phone. 

What’s the best online ordering system for restaurants and c-stores? 

The best systems integrate loyalty, marketing, and flexible ordering flows into one seamless platform. Paytronix is designed specifically with restaurant and c-store operators in mind. 

Which delivery app is used the most? 

Third-party platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash dominate delivery, but brands are increasingly using their own apps to avoid fees and build loyalty. 

What was the first delivery app? 

Grubhub is often credited as one of the first digital food ordering platforms, launching in the early 2000s. 

What is the most popular package delivery company? 

For general deliveries (non-food), UPS, FedEx, and Amazon lead the pack. 

Don’t Just Order: Engage, Reward, and Grow 

Your mobile ordering application is more than a digital storefront—it’s a brand experience, loyalty engine, and revenue stream all in one.  

Whether you're building from scratch or optimizing your restaurant mobile app design, the right features make all the difference. 

Want to launch or level-up your mobile ordering app? See what Paytronix can do. Download our Guide to Maximizing Digital Ordering for Restaurants to get started.