The convenience provided by food delivery apps to consumers

Online food delivery apps are now a part of a changed lifestyle. And, the changed lifestyle, growing expectations of consumers from the food delivery giants, the fast penetration of smartphones, big screen multimedia devices and availability of cheap internet services have further accelerated the usage of online food delivery apps, bringing a boom into the online food industry.

Of the many reasons, the changed lifestyle is perhaps one of the most important reasons behind the fast growing popularity of the food delivery application. Sharing the findings of a research carried out by a renowned firm Real Research– more than 20 year old firm that offers companies a platform where they can conveniently conduct surveys and acquire data from qualified respondents.

The findings of the survey, the sample size of which was 300,000, the majority (74.45%) are using food delivery apps, while only 25.55% are not using this kind of application. When asked how many times per week they use a food delivery application, over half of the respondents (53.04%) use it 1-2 times a week. In addition, 22.63% of the participants admitted that they are using it 3-4 times a week, and 8.68% of them use food delivery apps more than 5 times a week.

Most of them discovered these food delivery apps through social media advertisements (34.70%). While others heard from ads on TV & Radio (26.10%), billboards (16.37%), newspapers (4.77%), online platforms (2.58%), and 1.46% from seeing the delivery bike/car on the streets.

Based on this survey, the people who are using the apps like using it for different reasons. 42.95% like food delivery apps because they get to choose from a variety of menus. 30.30% said they use it for convenience as they don’t need to physically travel to a restaurant anymore.

Highlights

• Almost 75% of the respondents are using food delivery apps.
• Over 42% like food delivery apps because they get to choose from a variety of menus.
• 28% want to add more payment options like crypto payment on these kinds of apps.

Other than the survey, the growing popularity of the food delivery via food delivery apps can be further estimated from the fact that the online food delivery market is projected to reach US$0.77tn in 2022, states the statistics released by a leading research body–Statista. As per the statistics, the revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2022-2027) of 13.68% resulting in a projected market volume of US $1.45tn by 2027. Other than this, the grocery delivery segment is expected to show a revenue growth of 22.8% in 2023. It was also concluded that in global comparison, most revenue was generated in China (US $309.90bn) in 2022. In the meal delivery segment, the number of users is expected to amount to 2,644.2m users by 2027. And the user penetration in the online food delivery segment will be at 32.8% in 2022.

But, have you thought about why the usership of the food delivery apps that are a part of the food delivery softwares are increasing by leaps and bounds with each passing day? The industry watchers gave the entire credit to the convenience, which is the user experiences while ordering food online via food delivery app.

“There are certain times when you don’t have enough time or energy to cook or go to a restaurant to eat. This can happen due to sickness, being caught up with work at home or in the office, or just those lazy days when you don’t feel like doing anything. If you want to beat those hunger pangs and get re-energized, you can always order food online and have it delivered to your home or office,” the industry watchers say.

And the online food delivery software or the food delivery apps are also improving day by day because of the growing competition in the food delivery industry. Today, you just need a smartphone to order your favorite food from your favorite restaurant without any trouble.

Here are some major reasons why ordering food online via food delivery app is preferred over eating out at the restaurants–

1. Vast food choices

Biggest convenience the food delivery app offers to the consumers is the wide array of food choices that cannot be found in the menu card of a single restaurant. Whether it’s pizza, chinese, burner, bakery products or buns, food ordering apps have them all. Such great food choices will be helpful while ordering for family get-togethers or house parties, one can choose from a wide option without having to rely on a limited menu.

2. Simple procedure

Then comes the simple interface. Call it laziness or a matter of great convenience, people prefer to order food online rather than leaving their homes to visit an eatery. All you need to do is scroll through the app to find your favorite dish and tap to order. Hassle-free services are not just convenient but also comforting. Imagine after a long toiling day.

3. Live tracking or real time updates

Another feature is live tracking, which is considered among the most important features. The hassle of calling the restaurant or any other food outlet to know the exact location of their orders has been overcome by the advanced food delivery apps. They can live track the delivery boys in a click and get their order’s exact location.

4. Better Customer Satisfaction

The online food delivery app ensures that there is enough room for human interaction between their customers and staff to ensure optimum customer satisfaction. As soon as an order is placed, you will receive a message with the contact number of the delivery person along with his current location details. If required, you can contact the delivery person over the phone to get the food delivered without any hassles.

Such virtual guest experience efforts by food apps make people prefer online food delivery over visiting restaurants. Some apps also offer special services like 1 person meal plan, midnight food delivery service and free home delivery for enhancing customer satisfaction.

5. Star Ratings and Reviews

You might be skeptical while planning to visit a new restaurant in a locality, as there would be very less information about the quality, taste, price, and service. However, this is not the case when you order food online from a new restaurant. The food apps would provide critical details like star ratings and reviews about that eatery to help you have a clear idea before ordering.

The online food delivery services always ask their customers to leave feedback after tasting foods to let other users make a well-informed decision. The reviews by the actual customers who have tried the foods will help in deciding whether to choose that eatery or go for another one. In short, you need not have any concerns about wasting your money on bland food.

6. Discounts and Offers

The discounts and coupons offered by online food apps are another reason why people prefer ordering in rather than eating out. If you have the habit of eating out regularly, then such discounts or coupons would help in saving a lot every month. Making use of premium subscriptions with added benefits will help in saving even more while ordering food online.

Plus, online food delivery services also announce special offers like 50 per cent discount, free delivery and buy 1 get 1 free on special occasions to help their customers save more.

7. Hassle-Free Payment Options

The idea is to offer an effortless experience to the users and so these apps accept payment by debit or credit cards, e-wallets, cash on delivery, etc. Some food apps also offer extra discounts if you make an online payment to encourage digital transactions. However, some restaurant owners still believe that mobile transactions can be a high-risk option, which makes online food delivery a viable option.

8. Personalized Dining Experience

When dining out, you might have to remind the waiter about the food choices of your family, level of spice and salt, especially if there are any diet restrictions. But, while ordering food online, there are no such hassles involved. Food apps readily display food and eatery suggestions based on your diet requirements and food preferences in the earlier order.

Online food delivery apps also let users repeat their previous orders if they are too tired to go through the menu. They also send push notifications regularly if there is a new combo offer or discount announced by their favorite restaurant. Such a personalized experience based on your favorite orders and order history makes online food delivery services a preferred option among the masses.

These are some of the reasons that has pushed the popularity of food delivery apps to the upper limits. Online food delivery apps are redefining the way people eat. From the kitchen to comfort eating, the secular shift to food delivery apps is because of the convenience. It makes the customers stay hooked with impressive food options, personalized menus, and timely delivery service. So what are you waiting for? Pick up your smartphone and order your favorite food to satisfy your hunger pangs.

Conclusion

If you are used to the traditional way of ordering food via phone or walking into a restaurant, it’s high time you tried a food delivery app. Make sure you download the most reliable application to avoid delays or other disappointments.