Are you ready to tap into a $1.91 trillion industry? Because according to predictions, that’s where the online food delivery market is headed. If you own a food business and are wondering if taking it online is the next big step, the answer is yes. Right now, there are about 173 million meal delivery users in the U.S. alone, and that number will only grow. Going digital opens up new revenue streams, expands your customer base, and helps you stay competitive. If you have already made up your mind and are looking for actionable strategies for making that transition, you are in the right place. Here’s a beginner-friendly guide to beefing up your food delivery business through digitization.
Partner With a Food Aggregator Platform
If you’ve been thinking about it for quite some time now but haven’t gotten around to it yet, act now. In Q1 2024 alone, DoorDash received approx. 620 million orders. That’s a 21% increase from the previous year. The demand for food delivery is skyrocketing, and partnering with an aggregator platform like DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub can help you capitalize on this ever-growing market. When you register your business on platforms like DoorDash, UberEats, or Grubhub, you instantly gain access to a massive, ready-to-use customer base and a reliable delivery infrastructure.
These platforms handle the bulk of the work on your behalf: marketing, logistics, customer service, and payment processing. For businesses that lack the technical resources or time to build their own app, this can be a serious game-changer. However, the convenience comes at a cost, obviously. Aggregator platforms charge commission fees (typically 15%-30%). These fees can eat into your margins, but the volume they bring often justifies the cost, especially if you’re aiming for quick growth.
Build Your Own Food Delivery Business App
Assuming you are probably already on big delivery platforms and the business is going great, what’s next? How do you avoid hitting stagnancy? Build your own custom food delivery app. It puts you in control—over your brand, your customer experience, and, most importantly, your profits. With your own app, you cut out those steep commission fees and avoid competing with countless other restaurants. This is especially valuable for businesses with a loyal, local following. Instead of relying on third parties, you can drive more direct sales, offer personalized experiences, and keep customers coming back. If you’re serious about growing, investing in your own app is a step you can’t afford to skip. But how do you start building your own food delivery app? Well, you have a couple of options.
One, if you have the technical expertise or a team of in-house software developers, you can build the app yourself. This gives you full control over every detail—design, features, and functionality. But it’s also time-consuming and requires resources to maintain. If you already have a solid tech team, this might be the most cost-effective route.
Two, if you don’t have the resources or manpower to execute the task yourself, take the shortcut—outsource. According to Coral Creative Technologies, custom mobile apps and software development services are the right solution. Coral Tech Team recommends that small to medium business owners opt for on-demand developers. They offer benefits like reasonable pricing, quick turnaround times, and brand-aligned app designs.
Use Social Media to Boost Orders and Brand Visibility
The whole world is on social media these days. If your business isn’t, you’re losing out on a big pool of potential lifelong customers. Social media isn’t just a platform to post flashy photos. It’s a powerful tool to humanize your brand and build real connections with your audience. People want to know the story behind the food, not just what’s on the plate.
Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok give you the chance to show your values, introduce your team, and highlight what makes your business unique. Share behind-the-scenes moments, post customer reviews, or simply engage with your followers. This helps you build trust and create a stronger connection with your audience. Social media, when utilized tactfully, can be a powerful sales tool. Run targeted ads, share special offers, or promote limited-time discounts to drive direct sales for your food delivery business.
You have to start by defining your target audience—who you want to reach—and tailoring your posts to them. Meta platforms feature advanced targeting tools that allow you to fine-tune your ads based on factors like age, location, interests, and even past behaviors. This is a highly effective way to reach out to people who are most likely to engage with your brand.
Upwards Is the Only Way Forward
You can have the best cloud kitchen with a food-ravishing menu in your locality. But without proper marketing, you’re going to have a hard time staying relevant in this cutthroat industry. By taking your business online, you can expand your reach, increase customer loyalty, and continuously grow in this competitive market.
nandbox App Builder
Taking your food delivery business online can be intimidating, but it does not have to be if you have the correct resources. Presenting nandbox App Builder, a no-code solution made to make it simple for companies like yours to develop a unique food delivery app. nandbox gives you complete control over your brand, consumer interactions, and revenue streams, in contrast to aggregator platforms that eat away at your earnings with high commission costs.
Without any technical knowledge, you can create an app using nandbox that is customized to your specific requirements. With features like real-time tracking, easy ordering, and customized client experiences, your app can compete with the best meal delivery services. Are you prepared to make an impression in the $1.91 trillion market? Allow nandbox App Builder to assist you in digitizing your company and achieving rapid expansion.
