When it comes to Pickup & Delivery – COVID changed everything. During the pandemic, many restaurants, bars and cafes that had no previous intention of offering a takeaway service were forced to do just that in order to stay afloat – and post-COVID, those changes look set to stick around.
When it comes to Pickup & Delivery – COVID changed everything.
During the pandemic, many restaurants, bars and cafes that had no previous intention of offering a takeaway service were forced to do just that in order to stay afloat – and post-COVID, those changes look set to stick around.
“Covid-19 was a significant time for many reasons, not least because online shopping became more cemented in people’s lives,” says food delivery platform Deliveroo. “The acceleration in adoption by consumers was reflected in the growth in online food delivery orders. “And,” she adds firmly, “that trend is here to stay.
Global POS-provider Square agrees. “Customers now expect it as a must-have, not a nice-to-have,” they say, referencing the findings of their recent report. “With restaurants now deep in rebuilding mode, services and practices born out of necessity are becoming the standard.” They add that “almost all (97%) restaurant operators surveyed [by Square] will continue to offer options that were introduced during COVID-19, with takeaway and delivery from third-party apps being the services most likely to stay.”
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.…almost all (97%) restaurant operators surveyed [by Square] will continue to offer options that were introduced during COVID-19.
We spoke to Square and Deliveroo about the role tech is playing post-pandemic and how platforms like theirs and integration platforms like Doshii are helping venues navigate this sudden and intense change in service. Read on to learn all about how Pickup & Delivery apps – with a little help from Doshii’s seamless integration – can serve your venue.
How did Pickup & Delivery get so popular?
“The way we dine as a nation is changing,” Square says. “Over a third of Australian adults’ preferred dining method is now based on takeaway and delivery. Of Square sellers that we surveyed for the Future of Restaurants report, approximately 44% had introduced takeaway/delivery options for the first time during the pandemic.”
Square points to Merewether NSW’s Convoy Commune cafe as a case study, where owner Dave Rugendyke found that “the pandemic completely changed the way that consumers interacted with our business. Rather than dining in, takeaway became the default method for many customers. We already had a takeaway option, but because the volume grew so much we transitioned to a complete takeaway model. To manage that, we had to rely on technology.”
They’re hardly alone in that, as Deliveroo explains. “In the most recent HospoVitality Index Report restaurant partners identified inflationary pressures leading to higher input costs, rising interest rates and staff shortages as the key challenges they faced,” says Deliveroo. “As restaurants look to overcome these challenges, 42% said they are relying more on food delivery platforms, and more than six in ten (62%) said delivery platforms would play an even bigger role in the future – this was higher amongst takeaway restaurants, with 68% saying delivery will be even more important.”
In other words? The majority of venues offering Pickup & Delivery options is a trend that’s here to stay.
Which Pickup & Delivery apps should I choose?
There are a number of hospitality apps for Pickup & Delivery that can help venues take their delicious food on the go – and Doshii integrates with many of the best in the business.
According to Deliveroo, restaurants that partner with them experience a range of benefits including but not limited to, “tapping into meal occasions that they might not have historically promoted, like Valentine’s Day, access to marketing support and Deliveroo’s account management team for advice and expertise, and improving the use of their kitchen to its fullest potential.”
Likewise, when it comes to your POS, systems like Square are well-placed to help you implement Pickup & Delivery with ease. “With Square’s automated tools like item availability tracking, sellers can set an item count at the beginning of the night, and when the food runs out, make it clear in their Square POS that the item is no longer available,” they explain. “This means staff will stay informed and so will customers utilising third party delivery apps for their takeaway or pickup orders.”
Whichever app and POS you decide to go with is completely dependent on the unique needs and wants of your venue – and only you can tell what those are.
Leaning on technology
As Michael Bascetta, CEO, Worksmith and Owner of Made Well Group (Bar Liberty, Capitano & Falco Bakery) notes, “leaning on technology in your restaurant takes courage.” He adds that “adjusting your technology providers comes with a bit of risk in implementation, but the efficiency gains that can be made are huge. If I had my time again, I’d invest in technology that integrates with one another.”
Square has found Doshii integration to be a major bonus.
Michael Bascetta
CEO, Worksmith and Owner of Made Well Group
Square has found Doshii integration to be a major bonus. “Doshii gets third party delivery and order ahead apps such as DoorDash talking right to Square, meaning venues can spend more time with their customers and less time dealing with tech.”
But the benefits don’t stop at boosting a venue’s delivery and ordering services. Doshii connects to Australia’s largest range of hospitality apps across a whole range of categories: from Rostering to Reservations – Business Intelligence to Gifting and more.
The benefits of implementing Pickup & Delivery tech
Beyond a quick and seamless way to get your food into your customers’ hands, there are a range of benefits to utilising Pickup & Delivery apps.
Square notes that Pickup & Delivery can benefit a range of venues, regardless of the scale of their operation. “Whether you own a taco truck, bakery, or QSR, finding new ways to serve customers who are looking to shop and place orders from anywhere is key to adapting to today’s challenges. Restaurants are embracing new channels for customers to interact with their business, effectively meeting them wherever they are. Each of these channels represents a revenue stream for the restaurant and an opportunity to serve new customers by expanding coverage into catchment areas and encouraging repeat business.
“Encouraging businesses to adopt digital technology is a key priority for the new federal government and this is something we know can be a challenge for small businesses,” adds Deliveroo. “Partnering with a food delivery platform such as Deliveroo gives restaurant partners access to new technology in an uncomplicated way.”
The bottom line
Whichever way you slice it, integrating Pickup & Delivery apps into your venue’s operations can be an excellent way to expand your customer base while saving time and freeing up staff – ultimately boosting your bottom line. Sounds like a pretty tasty deal to us!
For more information on Pickup & Delivery apps, visit our website to explore the category and get connected today.