Food Delivery App Guide: Features, Cost & Benefits
Do You want to dine in or go out?
After a long workday, we all prefer pyjamas, good food, and the comfort of our couch. Have you ever said, let us avoid restaurant waiting lines and order food at home? This has given a boost to online food-ordering app development.
Food is the first necessity among the three basic necessities: Food, Clothing, and Shelter. It is what drives the human body and mind. Businesses have identified this and dived into the food ordering and delivery segment. There are no divergent ways to the fact that the food sector is trending and generating revenue. With businesses going digital, there are multiple ways to generate revenue. Let your customers not only get good services when they are in your restaurant but also be delighted with the same food reaching their doorstep.
“Whatever they desire, whenever they desire - Delivered at their doorstep.”
If your business is still in the primitive era with no app for food delivery, it is time to step up your game. Better sales and revenue also drive bigger competition. If you are into the food industry and want to stay afloat with the cut-throat competition, we have covered everything for you. Stay tuned to The One Technologies Blog and keep reading.
Table of Contents
- Statistical Facts
- Benefits of Building a Food Delivery Application
- Key Features of the Food Delivery App
- How Does a Restaurant Food Delivery App Work?
- Delivery Models for Food Ordering Apps
- Why Food Delivery Apps are So Popular?
- Top Applications in Food Delivery Segment
- Factors Affecting Cost of Food Delivery App Development
- Take Away
- FAQs
Statistical Facts About Food Delivery Apps – Numbers Don’t Lie
Source: https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/online-food-delivery/worldwide
- Online Food Delivery market revenue is expected to hit US $1tn in 2023.
- An annual revenue growth rate (CAGR 2023-2027) of 12.78% is expected, which might lead to a projected market volume of US$2tn by the year 2027.
- Expected growth of 22.2% can be seen in the Grocery Delivery sector by the year 2024.
- The number of users in the Meal Delivery industry is expected to reach 2.5bn users by the year 2027.
- User penetration in the Meal Delivery segment will be 25.2% in 2023.
- The US generated 218 billion USD in revenue from the delivery segment, of which 76 billion USD was from the meal delivery sector. These numbers are expected to jump to 500 billion USD by the year 2027
- Based on the reports from Statista, the revenue of the Online Food Delivery Sector Platform-to-Consumer Delivery worldwide in 2024 would be around 96,864.4 million USD.
Benefits of Building a Food Delivery Application
- Escalation in Sales
One of the highlighting benefits of an app for food delivery is increased sales. During rush hours or weekends with overcrowded places, people avoid visiting the restaurant, thus losing potential customers. Having an online food delivery app allows those customers to get their favorite dishes delivered right to their doorstep. Due to snowfall or rainfall, people might avoid getting out of their houses or are craving something but cannot get out of the office. Online meal delivery can cater to all those foodies and enhance your restaurant’s sales.
- Increased Customer Engagement
“We have been missing you” Imagine getting such a message or notification from a meal delivery app. Even if you do not want to order, you will read that message or notification, and it will put a smile on your face. Keep your user engaged by having a restaurant mobile app developed with The One Technologies, a leading Food Delivery App Development Company. Attractive deals, coupon codes, and offers also contribute to engaging new users and retaining old ones.
- Multiple Payment Options
One of the pros of developing food delivery apps is to provide the users with multiple payment options like cash on delivery, payment through debit card or credit card, or with UPI. This flexibility also encourages users to place more orders.
- Digital Presence, Reviews, and Ratings
We live in a digital era where every service is available and can be booked online, whether a cab, salon, laundry, or food. Giving your food business a digital presence is not just essential but mandatory. Having an app for food delivery will increase your business’s visibility, entice more users, improve sales, and give you a reach to the customers, which was not possible with a physical presence. Having good ratings and helpful reviews for the world to see is also a bonus.
Key Features of the Food Delivery App
Most apps include three separate versions (or three different login panels within the same app) to improve the overall work process.
- A version for the admin or the business owner
- A version for delivery
- A version for customers
Let's begin with all the features to include in a meal delivery app development.
Restaurant Owner or Admin App Features
Maintaining the efficiency of the service relies heavily on the admin app. The app's complexity will depend on the information stakeholders want to know and share. Naturally, business owners must be clear about this before the mobile app development process begins, as it influences the app design.
- Assigning Orders
This feature allows you or the restaurant to assign order requests to delivery employees via the admin panel. The admin panel also allows businesses to keep track of payments, past orders, customer reviews, order status, etc.
- Content Management Functionality
Dashboards are a massive part of optimizing your service's performance. The app should provide easy access and management functions to all the content you need, such as menus, ingredient lists, pictures, menu prices, promotional offers, and more.
- Analytical Tools
The admin app has comprehensive and automatic analytical tools to provide relevant and actionable business insights, which include:
- Customer acquisition rate
- Tastes and choices of customers
- Order volumes received during different seasons and times of the year
- Coupons customers used to save money
- Different loyalty program statuses for other customers.
- Delivery Status
If you were a customer awaiting your order, would you prefer to be kept updated? The admin panel changes the delivery status quickly to notify the customer that they are on their way to pick up or drop off the order. Real-time notifications about delivery status are sent based on the combination of location and delivery partner.
- Reviews & Ratings
A business can benefit significantly from feedback or ratings about its delivery application to learn about its shortcomings. Using this feature, your customers can rate and comment on the dishes listed in different restaurants.
Delivery Partner App Features
Besides the person ordering food through the app, you must also consider the person delivering it. Your app also needs valuable features for the delivery boy app.
- Sharing Details
A list of essential information about delivery executives, including names, phone numbers, locations, credentials, etc., will be kept on the app. The delivery boy can receive any needed assistance during an accident or any other disaster thanks to this feature.
- Message & Communication Panel
Among essential aspects of developing a food delivery app is the inclusion of in-app messaging for three-way communication between restaurant owners, clients, and delivery drivers. The delivery partner's messenger feature is essential for communicating with clients and resolving issues.
Customer App Features
Your food delivery app will be more helpful if you incorporate features tailored to your customers' needs. There are a few key features that each type of food delivery app development should have.
- Rating & Feedback Section
Once the orders have been received and the food has been served, customers may want to give feedback about the food and delivery. This feature lets Customers rate and assess your restaurant based on their food preferences.
- Push Notifications
Businesses can use app push notifications to maintain contact with their customers. A push notification is the best way to keep up with your competitors and increase your exposure. If you manage to push notifications well, they will significantly increase the growth of your food delivery app development. Just remember to make them more promotional and frequent.
- Tracking
Once the customer places the order with the restaurant, they become nervous and impatient. Your food delivery application must have a way to track deliveries to avoid problems like this. Your online food delivery services allow customers to track their food's location in real-time using GPS, an invaluable feature. Many great APIs are available for this feature, including Google Maps, Mapbox, and Waze's Navigation.
- Discounts & Rewards
Users will be more loyal to you if you offer them perks. Remember that promotional offers and coupons can help you attract new customers to your online food delivery services. It has been reported that 40% of users use food-ordering apps to find money-saving offers, with 25% using them for loyalty rewards. Offer frequent discounts to your customers if you want them to stay interested.
How Does a Restaurant Food Delivery App Work?
It is simple and easy. A step-by-step guide is all you need. Read ahead and follow.
- Register with the app through email id or contact number.
- Add the address you want your food to be delivered. You can also add multiple addresses and save them for using it later.
- Scroll the app and check the menu available with the prices.
- Add your favorite items to the cart.
- Choose a coupon code or discount offer available and apply it for the best rate.
- Check the items and price in the cart and go for placing the order.
- Choose your desired mode of payment – COD (cash on delivery), Debit or Credit, or UPI payment.
- Once the order is placed, you will be notified whether the order is accepted, and keep updating you in real-time.
- It will show the time to get delivered, who is the delivery partner, when the order is picked up by the delivery partner, and how long it will take to reach.
- After the food is delivered, the user can rate the food and the delivery partner and share reviews for other users to check.
Business Models for Food Ordering Apps
There are basic models for Food ordering and delivery apps. Explore all three and pick the one that bodes well with your requirements.
- Aggregator Model
This is the basic and most preferred model. Top companies like Doordash and UberEats are following this model. In this model, the business owner, its users, and drivers get a website as well as a separate app for Android and iOS. The only con of this model is that the business owners must give a significant part of their profit to aggregators. The profit portion varies as per the aggregator.
- Owner Model
In this model, you will have to hire a food delivery app development company to develop custom mobile applications for whichever platform they choose. They can also develop a website for their restaurant. Here, the entire profit goes to the business owner without having to share it with anyone. This model needs a higher initial investment, but it will be a win-win in the long run.
- SaaS-based Model
This model functions around having a monthly subscription in place. It is best of both the previous models. This model has various plans, and the restaurant owner can choose a plan that works well with their needs and budget. The SaaS-based service provider has all the necessary websites and apps for the owners to pick.
Why Food Delivery Apps are So Popular?
- Saves time and energy.
- Saves cost with offers and coupon codes.
- Food ordering is easy and convenient.
- Transparent pricing and no hidden charges.
- Availability of multiple payment options.
- The trend of ghost kitchen.
Top Applications in Food Delivery Segment
We have jotted down the app for food delivery who have outdone themselves and grabbed a spot in the table of tops.
(Source: https://www.businessofapps.com/data/food-delivery-app-market)
- UberEats
- Just Eat
- DoorDash
- Deliveroo
- Grubhub
- Postmates
- Takeaway.com
- Delivery Hero
- Ele.me
- Meituan
- Rappi
- iFood
- Zomato
Factors Affecting Cost of Food Delivery App Development
There is no fixed cost until and unless the project scope is determined. However, there are certain factors that can affect the cost of developing a food delivery app.
- Features of the Food Delivery App
Features play a pivotal role in determining the budget of the project. Basic features will cost differently, and if you choose to integrate advanced-level features, the cost will be more. So, the first step is deciding what features you pick for your app.
- Choice of Platform
The platform you pick also contributes to deciding the app development cost. If you go for Android app development, the cost would be less compared to iOS app development. If you pick launching an app on both platforms with native as your choice, the price would be higher with optimum performance. If you choose cross-platform with Flutter app development, then both platforms would be covered with a single code and lesser cost.
- Number of Development Hours
Choose the per-hour model where the cost per hour is decided, but the number of hours is not fixed. Hence, the number of hours invested in developing an app contributes to the budget of the app or website.
- The Complexity of the App
A complex panel will have no set goals or structure with high-level features and complexity. A professional food delivery app development company can help streamline your project, and along with good development, they provide a clear understanding and precise workflow.
- Geographical Location
The cost of developing the same app with the same features will be different in different areas. Outsource your project to mobile app development in India, as Indian app development companies have skilled professionals with reasonable pricing.
- Experience of the Food Delivery App Development Company You Pick
It is obvious that an experienced company will cost highly, whereas freelancers or companies with less experience charge less experience will be costing less. However, it is advisable not to go for the cheapest food delivery app development company. Check their portfolio, their work experience, and the developer's skill, and pick a company with sound experience in this domain.
Take Away
We can clearly say that online food delivery apps are in high demand, and a booming trend concluded with the statistical data. All you need to work on now is the features to integrate, definite cost, a Mobile app designing and development partner, and be a part of this booming industry with a dynamic app.
Whether you are a restaurant owner looking to boost sales, satisfaction, and retention rates or an entrepreneur looking to launch an online food ordering service, you need these features in your app.
Make a name for yourself in the world of food delivery apps by building a cloud kitchen for your restaurant right now. A credible mobile app development company can use current technologies and help you make an engaging app.
Contact The One Technologies - a reliable software company, if you want a food delivery app with many more features.
FAQs
Get your cloud of queries resolved with some frequent questions answered for your awareness. If you have any more questions, please get in touch with our experts; we will be more than happy to answer them.
- What are the steps for food delivery app development?
The first step is to connect with a software consulting company, share your idea, and know if it is feasible. Also, create a list of features you want to integrate. If you have a specific app in mind, like developing an app like Zomato or Swiggy, share your thoughts, and then they will guide you to the next step.
The One Technologies is waiting to help you with anything you require.
- What is a must-have feature for a food ordering and delivery app development?
There are several features for building an online food delivery service, but what is a must-have is order tracking, real-time updates, push notifications, and multiple payment modes.
- Is the food delivery app profitable?
Meal delivery app is one of the most trending categories; it is high in user demand, has good future growth, and generates considerable profit.
- What is the unique selling point of food delivery apps?
One of the elements of a successful meal delivery app is COD (cash on delivery). Users need to feel secure while using the app and that they are not being cheated. Constant customer support with a chatbot can be one of the USPs. Also, upgrading your app with VPS (visual positioning system) instead of GPS can be something out-of-the-box for your app.
- How much time is needed to develop an app for food delivery?
The time to develop a food delivery application depends on multiple factors and features, including a team of developers working on the app, the developers' experience, the app's complexity, the platforms to cover, and many more. However, the ballpark estimation can be between 3 months to 6 months.
