Over the past few years, the restaurant industry has seen major transformation. Online food ordering and food delivery apps are making a lasting impact. Restaurants can no longer rely on the in-house dining experience. From fierce competition to changing customer behavior, restaurants must prioritize online food ordering channels. This includes the restaurant’s website or mobile app, food aggregators and delivery apps, to attract and retain customers.
Studies indicate that the online food delivery market in Saudi Arabia generated revenues of USD 9,623.3 million in 2024, with projections estimating it will reach USD 15,974.0 million by 2030.
Meanwhile, in Egypt, the online food delivery market registered $517.3 million in 2024. It’s forecast to reach $798.4 million by 2033, according to IMARC Group.
Discover 5 creative ways to increase online food orders for your restaurant, via your website, mobile app, and aggregators.
Enhancing the Restaurant and Food Delivery App Experience
To significantly boost your online food orders, make sure you have the right elements in place to support your customers. This means optimizing both your restaurant’s mobile app and how you manage external food delivery platforms.
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Easy-to-use, mobile-friendly app design
Make sure your website or app is super easy to use and looks great on all mobile screens. Customers should be able to navigate effortlessly between pages. The smoother the experience, the more likely they are to complete their order.
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Use a clear menu and appealing photos
Organize your menu into clear categories like appetizers, main courses, drinks, and desserts to make browsing a breeze. You can even add sections for “Most Popular,” “Combo Meals,” or “Special Offers.”
Always use high-quality, professional photos that truly make your dishes pop and entice customer appetites. Add short, enticing descriptions too. You can even use AI tools like ChatGPT to help you describe dishes.
Don’t forget to include basic ingredients, calorie info, and necessary dietary warnings, especially following the new Saudi Food and Drug Authority regulations.
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Simplify the payment process
Make it incredibly easy for customers to add items and pay. The simpler the checkout, the more online food orders you’ll get.
Use a modern point-of-sale (POS) system that supports various payment methods, including bank cards, digital wallets, and Apple Pay, to cater to everyone’s preferences.
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Use loyalty and rewards programs
One of the top benefits of restaurant loyalty programs is they attract customers, build long-term relationships, and encourage repeat business. This increases the likelihood of increased visits and online food orders, via your restaurant’s app.
Make sure to offer incentives that build strong brand loyalty. Use a loyalty points system where customers earn points with every purchase, redeemable later for discounts or free meals.
Use Social Media to Boost Your Restaurant’s Online Orders
Social media, especially Instagram, is a powerful tool to attract customers and encourage online orders.
Share various offers such as daily specials and new menu items. Use features like Stories or Reels to show behind-the-scenes food preparation, your team, and other engaging content.
Make sure to add “Order Now” buttons on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, allowing customers to place orders directly.
You can also collaborate with food influencers and bloggers to build credibility with their audience and reach new customers.
If you plan to run paid ads on social media, be sure to use geotargeting to reach customers closest to your location. This can significantly motivate them to order from your restaurant.
Activate Delivery and Pickup Services
To ensure a complete ordering experience, integrate your restaurant with leading external food delivery apps and aggregators in your country or city. In the Middle East, popular names include HungerStation, Talabat, and Mrsool. These food delivery apps help you reach more locations and thousands of customers, offering a great opportunity to attract new clients.
Promote flexible delivery hours and real-time order tracking. This builds customer trust and convenience during the ordering process. You can also offer delivery through your own restaurant app or provide curbside pickup options. But make sure you include clear instructions for customers for a smooth experience.
Use Smart Promos and Offers to Boost Online Sales
Depending on your restaurant type and offerings, you can create various offers to attract new and existing customers and increase sales. Here are a few ideas:
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Create limited-time offers
Offer special deals or meal bundles for a short period. This creates urgency, encouraging customers to grab the opportunity before it’s gone. This can significantly boost online orders, especially with limited-time promotions like Sunday Specials or lunch deals (e.g., 1 PM to 4 PM). You can amplify this sense of urgency by adding a countdown timer or a notification (like “Order before 8 PM and get free delivery.” This can encourage immediate purchases.
This strategy boosts your conversion rate, encourages larger order volumes, and speeds up decision-making.
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Offer deals on food delivery apps
Besides, promotions on your restaurant app, run special offers through external food delivery apps to boost your sales. As mentioned, these food aggregators help you reach a wider range of customers, so making special offers via these apps can boost your sales.
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Use first-order codes
Provide new customers with an exclusive discount code that’s applied automatically to their first order, whether through your website or app.
This creates a positive first impression and encourages repeat business later on. It can also boost your mobile app downloads.
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Send personalized offers
Leverage past customer data from your restaurant CRM system to send personalized offers via SMS or email that matches their preferences. You can also share promotions through mobile push notifications.
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Offer double loyalty points
Increase online food ordering by having specific days or periods where users can earn double points in your restaurant or cafe’s loyalty program. You can even add a trigger or requirement that the double points are applicable to orders placed via your app.
This strategy helps increase app downloads, loyalty program sign-ups, and direct sales through your mobile app.
Collect Reviews and Ratings to Improve the Customer Experience
Encourage customers to rate their orders and leave reviews after they’ve completed a purchase. Customers can leave reviews via restaurant review websites, your mobile app, or on food aggregator apps.
This will help you understand their needs, expectations, and any issues they might face. Make sure to respond to all reviews, be it a positive or negative review. Thank customers for positive feedback and address any problems raised in complaints.
You can also highlight positive reviews and testimonials in your social media marketing campaigns to attract new customers.
Further reading: What Are the Benefits of Customer Engagement for Restaurants?
Final Words
Optimizing the online ordering experience, especially through mobile apps, is no longer a luxury but a necessity for restaurants and cafes.
From organizing menus to launching offers to enhancing your presence on social media platforms and engaging with customers. Each step contributes to building a stronger relationship with customers, increasing retention and boosting sales and profits.
We advise restaurant owners to start step-by-step, implementing each strategy individually to ensure effective and sustainable results. With the right tools and smart planning, you can make a real difference.
If you’re using Foodics, you can connect various food delivery platforms with your restaurant management system, your website, mobile app, or all of the above.
Explore available integrations, visit the Foodics App Marketplace.
Alternatively, you can get a free personalized demo showcasing all Foodics has to offer for all types of restaurants and cafes. Register here.
