While the Coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone, some sectors have been hit harder than others. Unfortunately, the food and beverage industry ranks quite high among those who have been negatively impacted. Thankfully, mobile technology, in the form of apps for restaurants, has helped mitigate the damage by allowing eateries to carry on with business in the midst of protracted lockdowns and stringent restrictions.
Apps for restaurants come in two forms: custom-branded apps and third-party apps. Deciding which platform to use can be challenging, especially without proper information on functions and offerings. While third-party apps may seem like the more convenient option, custom-branded mobile apps offer a whole range of benefits that are simply not available on third-party apps.
Here are just five advantages that are extremely valuable:
1. Contactless technology
Social distancing is, to use this modern cliche, the new norm. Minimizing face-to-face contact is one of the most important measures in containing the transmission of the virus and this is where custom-branded mobile apps come in. Customers can make reservations, place their orders and complete payment through the app without the need to speak to a member of the staff. Thus, an in-house restaurant app is a boon for the safety of both staff and diners.
2. The profits are all yours
Third-party apps take a hefty chunk of your profits – on average between 30% to 40%. Thus, in order to ensure proper earnings, pricing needs to be done accordingly. In the current context, cost is a vital consideration for customers when making purchases and so in order to keep business flowing, your menu items need to be affordable. Discounts and reduced prices are attractive to customers, but if you are paying more than a third of the total amount to someone else, you will be left with almost nothing. With custom-branded mobile apps, the money you make is pretty much all yours.
Must Read: 7 Things You Should Know Before Building Your Restaurant Online Ordering App
3. Loyalty programs and rewards points
Your own restaurant app will allow you to integrate a loyalty program and offer rewards points. The value of loyalty programs must not be underestimated – as its name suggests, studies have shown that these programs result in a significant increase in customer loyalty. A simple 5% increase in customer retention is said to boost revenue by 25%. Thus, loyalty programs are necessary to enhance business in these financially challenging times.
4. Data analytics and customer engagement
Independent apps for restaurants have a data analytics feature that can provide rich, actionable insights. From frequently purchased dishes to locations and preferred times for ordering, the information thus gleaned can be used for future customer engagement. You can tailor your marketing to suit the specific customer profile and so get a larger portion of their purse. Discounts and offers can be made on occasions like birthdays. Customers like to be made to feel special and are more likely to give their business to establishments that do just that.
5. The preferred platform
A study commissioned by Oracle involving 2,000 participants from the US and UK revealed that 86% of respondents prefer to interact directly with a restaurant, rather than order through a third-party app. Thus, custom-branded mobile apps are the preferred platform for customers. So, having your own app means that more people are likely to patronize your restaurant.
One of the main reasons why food and beverage establishments shy away from custom-brand mobile apps is the misconception that they are hard to set up. Nothing could be further from the truth. With Applova, creating apps for restaurants is a very straightforward process. Simply visit Applova, click on ‘Get a Demo’, fill in the form and Applova’s team of experts will be in touch with you to help you create your very own restaurant app.
Must Read: 10 Reasons Your Restaurant Should Own A Food Ordering App