Two statements that have stood the test of time are: 1. People are busy, and 2. People desire convenience. Yes, people enjoy a vacation and try to slow down on weekends, but for the most part, people lead busy lives and restaurants are able to step in and save the day when it comes to mealtime through delivery. Delivery is an important part of running a restaurant these days, many are faced with deciding whether they want to outsource delivery through a third party service or have their own delivery option. What does choosing a delivery method mean for your restaurant? We will look at pros and cons to each and let you decide what works best for you!
When you choose in-house delivery you are able to have control over your customers’ entire experience, from when they place the order to when they receive their food. Customer service is crucial for restaurants, so if something goes wrong, it is always better if the restaurant is able to handle the situation immediately. When a third party is involved there is more room for poor communication. Maybe it is taking longer than expected for the driver to make a delivery, maybe food doesn’t make it in tact, or something is missing from the order. Another mishap that can happen when using a third party service is the inability to adjust your menu fast enough when you sell out of something or if you are a bakery with a rotating menu it can sometimes be challenging to keep it updated. Many third party services have to approve changes, so they might not see what your restaurant actually has on hand in real time. These problems are much easier to address and you are more likely to not lose a customer over it when you have in-house delivery services.
When it comes to saving money, one option will save you money up front, and the other will save you in the long run. Third party delivery has commission fees for every order, meaning you will always have to pay out part of your profit. This commission fee can be anywhere from 15% to nearly 30%. When you choose in-house delivery, there are many costs upfront to get your delivery operation going, but you will profit more later on down the road. Not only will it save you money in the long run, but you will help your customers save money as well. When they order from third party services, there are usually additional fees tacked on that make it quite a bit more expensive.
Depending on the size of your restaurant and what you are financially capable of, sometimes third party delivery is an easier option to start with. Starting up your own delivery service requires a lot of capital, insurance, vehicles, and extra staff and if you have not done enough research, it can cost you a lot more than just that. Technology is growing and making it easier than ever to start up your own delivery service, and there are many benefits to doing it this way, however there is still a large learning curve and much to consider. So whether you think you are ready to handle your own delivery or think it best to stick with a third party service, just make sure you have done your homework and are making the best choice for your restaurant!
