A Complete Guide to Setting Up Online Ordering for Restaurants

More people than ever are ordering food online, and by 2030, around 2.5 billion people are expected to use meal delivery services worldwide. In India, the market is projected to reach USD 102.43 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of approximately 13.26%. This change isn’t just a trend; it demonstrates how much customers now rely on convenient, digital methods to obtain their meals.

To meet these expectations, restaurants are increasingly turning to online ordering systems. Serving consumers the way they want requires a seamless digital ordering platform. This guide outlines the essential steps to set up online ordering for your restaurant, its need and detailed process.

The Basics of Online Food Ordering for Restaurants

An online food ordering system enables restaurants to manage orders from their websites or food delivery apps efficiently. It smooths out the entire process, from taking orders to handling payments and sending deliveries. With a reliable system, restaurants can serve people faster and with fewer mix-ups.

Customers can browse the menu online, choose their favourite dishes, and customise their orders before checking out. Once the order is confirmed, the restaurant receives an immediate notification, allowing it to start preparing the dish.

Comparing Direct Ordering Systems and Aggregators for Restaurants

Food delivery services and direct online ordering platforms benefit restaurants in different ways. The key differences are as follows:

Aspect	Direct Ordering System	Aggregator
Brand Control	You decide exactly how your brand looks and feels	Less control, since the platform sets most of the look
Customer Relationship	You connect directly with your customers and build loyalty	No direct connection; the platform keeps the customer data
Commission Fees	No commission, so you keep all the money from orders	High commissions on every order can cut into your profits
Customer Reach	Smaller audience at first; it takes effort to get customers to use it	Big audience right away, which is good for visibility
Setup Costs	You pay upfront to build and run the system	No big setup cost; you just pay commission per order
Marketing Effort	You have to promote your ordering channels	The platform handles most of the marketing
Delivery Logistics	You take care of deliveries, which gives you more control	The platform manages deliveries, so it’s less work for you
Competition	Less crowded, only local competitors	Lots of competition on the same app
Data and Insights	You can see and use customer data to plan offers and loyalty deals	Customer data stays with the platform
Long-Term Costs	It can cost less over time if you get lots of orders	Commission fees add up as long as you keep using them

Step-by-Step Process to Build an Online Ordering System for Your Restaurant

Setting up an online ordering system can help you serve customers faster and make things easier for your team. Here’s a step-by-step to get you started:

Step 1: Define Your Objectives

First, begin by identifying the purpose of setting up the online ordering system. Do you want to reduce mistakes, save time, or attract more customers? Select whether you would like to provide delivery, pickup, or both. It is important to fix a budget so you know how much you can allocate for setting it up, promoting it, and maintaining it.

Step 2: Choose the Right Platform

You can list your business on food delivery platforms like Swiggy or Zomato, or build your online ordering system. Food delivery services charge a fee for each order. Building your system gives you total control and eliminates future commission charges, but it requires an initial investment.

Step 3: Create a Clear Menu

A clean and easy menu can make ordering easier for your consumers. Place dishes in their respective sections, such as starters, mains, and desserts. Use short names and high-quality photos whenever possible. You can also offer customisation options, such as adding toppings or removing ingredients. Update your menu occasionally to add new items or special offers.

Step 4: Set Up Easy Payments

People need to trust that their money is safe. Give them choices to pay by card, UPI, or cash on delivery. Make sure the payment procedure is safe and that their data is safe.

Step 5: Plan Delivery and Pickup

Determine how you will deliver the food to your customers. If you are delivering, establish a delivery area, set fixed charges, and clearly communicate the estimated time it will take. 

Step 6: Add Order Tracking

Customers like to know where their order is. With a simple tracking system, they can see if their food is getting prepared or on the way. This reduces inbound queries and helps your team manage orders efficiently.

Step 7: Optimise for Mobile Devices

Most people will place their orders on their phone. Test how your website or app looks on a small screen. Ensure buttons are easy to press and pages load quickly. Place a test order yourself to see how smooth it feels.

Step 8: Organise Your Kitchen

When it comes to processing online orders, your kitchen should have a simple system. Set up how you will take the order, prepare the food, and hand it over.

Step 9: Test Everything Before Launch

Try a few test orders before announcing your online ordering platform. Check to see if payments are processed, orders are transmitted accurately, and turnaround times are acceptable.

Step 10: Promote Your System

Once your system is ready, post on your social media, update your website, and even put a note on takeaway orders. You can offer a small discount or free delivery to first-time online customers, encouraging them to try it out.

Essential Features Your Food Ordering System Must Have

The following are some essential features every food ordering system must have:

• Branded Look and Feel: Your online ordering system should have a look and feel that matches your restaurant. When you use your logo, colours, and style, it keeps your brand strong.
• Real-time Updates: Customers want to know the status of their order. Displaying real-time updates eliminates the need for repeated inquiries
• Smart Dispatch: It is beneficial to have a system that alerts the right driver and finds the best route.
• Easy Reports and Insights: Simple reports on your best-selling dishes, busiest hours, and delivery times can help you plan, identify problems, and grow your business with minimal stress.
• Smooth Connections with Other Tools: Your ordering system should seamlessly integrate with your payment systems, billing, and customer records.
• Simple and Mobile-Friendly Ordering: Your system should work well on any screen. A clean layout, easy search, and helpful suggestions make it quick and simple for customers to place their order.
• Flexible and Safe Payments: It’s always beneficial to offer customers multiple payment options, such as cards, wallets, or cash. Keeping payments safe builds trust. 
• Customisable Orders: Allowing people to modify their orders, such as adding toppings or excluding certain items, makes them feel more comfortable ordering from you.
• Centralised Order Management: Seeing all your orders in one place makes work easier for you and your team. You can serve customers more quickly and with fewer mistakes.
• Customer Support and Feedback: If a consumer has an issue, it should be easy for them to contact you by call or chat. You can also ask for reviews to improve your service.
• Social Media Links: When you connect your system to social media, it’s easier for people to log in and share what they ordered. This can market your restaurant and boost customer loyalty.
• Push Notifications and Deals: Sending customers reminders about sales or discounts is an effective way to get them to place orders.
• Loyalty Rewards: They will return if you include loyalty benefits or simple discounts for repeat customers. It gives them a sense of worth and encourages them to pick you again.

Why Your Restaurant Needs an Online Ordering Platform

Here’s why you should launch your online ordering platform:

1. Boosts Profits and Save Costs: When you set up an online ordering system, you can handle more orders without hiring extra staff or worrying about missed calls. Fewer mistakes mean less wasted food, and clear pricing upfront means no confusion. All this helps you protect your profit and even grow it over time.
2. Reach More Customers: Many people look for restaurants online first, especially if they’re busy or working late. By being there, you reach families, students, office workers, and anyone who might not visit in person, and give them a simple way to order from you again and again.
3. Streamline Workflow: With online orders going straight to the kitchen, your staff can focus on making great food instead of answering phones all day. Less stress, fewer errors, and a smoother kitchen flow make work better for everyone.
4. Enhance Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty: People like being able to check your menu, place an order, and track their food without any hassle. If the process is smooth, they’ll trust you more and remember you next time. Add in loyalty rewards or simple discounts, and they’ll keep coming back.
5. Improve Planning and Minimise Waste: A clear price up front avoids confusion, and fewer mistakes result in less food getting wasted and fewer cancelled orders.  All of this helps protect and ultimately boost your profits.
6. Stay Competitive: Today’s diners expect the convenience of online ordering. Without it, you risk losing business to competitors who offer this feature. A user-friendly system helps you stay relevant and attract more attention in a crowded food service market.

How to Accelerate Online Food Deliveries with Shiprocket Quick

If you’re looking for a simple way to handle local deliveries, Shiprocket Quick could really help. It brings different courier partners in one place, so you don’t have to deal with different apps. Rates start at around INR 10 per km, with no unexpected rush charges, making it easy to calculate your expenses. 

The platform ensures quick rider allocation, even during late hours, so your food stays fresh and reaches customers on time.

Whether you’re managing cash-on-delivery orders or delivering to multiple addresses, Shiprocket Quick simplifies the process with its intuitive booking system and transparent pricing. This reduces delays and keep customers happy.

Conclusion

Having an online food ordering platform makes things easy for both you and your customers. Once you launch it, check how it’s working and resolve any minor issues promptly. For a long-term growth, ask for feedback from your consumers. 

Keep your platform simple, mobile-friendly and refine it as per the customer needs. Your online ordering can help in establishing your brand if you pay attention to what works best for you. And for faster, stress-free deliveries, tools like Shiprocket Quick can help you stay ahead of delays and competition.