The Impact of Mobile Ordering Platforms on Dining Establishments

As a restaurant or cafe owner, you want to ensure that your establishment is doing everything possible to accommodate your customers' needs. That includes being up-to-date with the latest technology to help make the dining experience as seamless as possible.

One of these trends is mobile ordering platforms. These platforms allow customers to order and pay for their food and drinks directly from their smartphones. From QR codes to apps, there are many ways these platforms can be integrated into your restaurant.

We're giving you a complete rundown on all things mobile ordering, from the benefits to the best platforms to use, so you can make an informed decision on whether this technology is right for your dining establishment.

Mobile ordering trend: explained

Before we dive into the benefits, let's quickly go over what mobile ordering is, how it works and look at some numbers to give you a better idea of how popular this trend has become.

During the COVID 19 pandemic, mobile ordering was a game-changer for the hospitality industry. With indoor dining restricted in many areas, restaurants had to get creative to continue serving their customers.

Mobile ordering platforms allow customers to place orders and make payments directly from their smartphones. This contactless ordering system is not only more convenient for customers, but it can also help to reduce queues and wait times.

Here are some stats on mobile ordering:

• 64% of consumers report they are likely to continue using mobile ordering as their primary payment method in hospitality venues post-pandemic, proving this technology has become habitual for many consumers. This figure rises to 75% of 18-24 year-olds [1]. 
• 44% of UK industry respondents strongly agreed that ​​new technology adoption over the last two years has been critical for their business' survival [2].
• 57% of UK hospitality operators foresee online ordering technology changing the industry in the next 2-3 years [3].

What mobile ordering apps integrate with Epos Now?

There are a few different mobile ordering platforms that integrate with Epos Now. These include:

Epos Now Order & Pay

Epos Now Order & Pay is a browser-based app that allows customers to order and pay for their food directly from their smartphones. Powered by Deliverect, the app allows customers to:

• Scan your QR code with their smartphone
• Order and pay for their food directly from their phone
• Receive digital receipts via email

Mr Yum

Mr Yum is a web-based mobile menu and ordering platform that millions of customers use worldwide. It integrates seamlessly with Epos Now, allowing customers to order and pay for their food directly from their smartphones.

• Customers scan your QR code with their smartphone
• Scan your menu and add items to their cart
• Checkout securely with their choice of payment
• Order gets delivered or picked up

Me&U

me&u makes ordering smarter and helps teams focus on what matters to deliver the best customer experience. It’s a web-based platform that allows guests to place an order in three simple steps.

• Tap your phone on the me&u beacon or scan the QR code
• Order both food and drinks from the fun, image-based online menu
• Pay using your preferred digital payment platform

What are the benefits of using a mobile ordering platform?

Many benefits come with using a mobile ordering platform. These include,

Increased efficiency

Mobile ordering can help speed up the service in your restaurant, as customers can order and pay for their food before they even arrive. This can help to reduce queues and waiting times, making the overall dining experience more efficient.

Let's say you're running a busy restaurant with many customers coming in and out. If they're all using the same traditional ordering system, it can take a while for everyone to place their orders and get their food. 

However, if you switch to a mobile ordering system, customers can order and pay for their food from their phone before they even arrive at the restaurant. This means that their food will already be prepared when they arrive, and they can go straight to their table.

Improved customer experience

Another benefit of mobile ordering platforms is that they can help to improve the overall customer experience. Customers are increasingly looking for a streamlined and convenient dining experience, and a mobile ordering platform can provide just that.

For example, let's say a customer is heading to your cafe for lunch but doesn't have much time before returning to work. They might be worried about queueing up and waiting for their food. However, if you have a mobile ordering system, they can order and pay for their food from the office without queueing. This means they can grab their food and go without worrying about being late back to work.

Access to more data

As a restaurant owner, you're always looking for ways to collect and analyse more data on your customers. This information can be used to help improve the overall dining experience, as well as target hospitality marketing campaigns.

Mobile ordering platforms can help you collect more data on your customers, as they can track the items being ordered and when they're being ordered. This information can be used to help you understand what your customers like and don't like, so you can make changes accordingly. For example, if you see that a particular dish isn't being ordered very often, you might want to take it off the menu or make changes.

Contactless ordering 

Another benefit of mobile ordering platforms is that they offer contactless payments. This is important as many customers continue to look for ways to socially distance themselves from others as much as possible.

Contactless payments allow customers to pay for their food without having to hand over cash or cards. Instead, they can simply pay for their food using their smartphone. This is a convenient and safe way to pay, as it reduces the need for customers to handle cash or cards.

Final thoughts

So there you have it. These are just some of the benefits of using a mobile ordering platform. If you're looking to improve the overall dining experience in your restaurant, then a mobile ordering platform is definitely worth considering.