6 Benefits of Having a Dedicated Mobile App for a Restaurant

Ben Beddow

Ben Beddow

Published December 10th, 2021

The world is witnessing ever-increasing digitization and, whilst most restaurant owners might not be thinking of building a restaurant in the metaverse just yet, improving online presence and increasing income from virtual channels is high on everyone’s agenda.

A report published at the start of the year showed a year-on-year increase of 36% in people who said they had used a restaurant mobile ordering app for the first time. A different survey found that 86% of respondents had used a mobile app for restaurant ordering since early 2020, and another report found that mobile ordering had grown by 105% since the beginning of the year.

Mobile apps are being adopted quickly by national and international brands, restaurant groups, as well as individual locations. These simple tools are more than just an extension of a location’s digital offerings. Dedicated restaurant apps are highly effective at improving the exact elements of the restaurant experience that both the customer and the business see as important to them. Here are the 6 biggest benefits of online mobile apps for restaurants.

6 Benefits of Having a Dedicated Mobile App for a Restaurant
    restaurant mobile app

    Enhanced Customer Experience

    Put simply, convenience is king and convenience is one of the greatest benefits of mobile ordering for everyone. Mobile apps offer the user a convenient and seamless experience where they can browse a menu at their leisure, place orders for takeout and delivery, pay for those orders, and even save their favorite items for quicker access later. These functions are all just as important to the business as they are the customer. But, many business owners will argue that the most important part of a dedicated mobile app is the immersive and instantly recognizable brand experience it provides for the customer.

    Mobile apps don’t just enhance the user’s online experience, they also enhance their in-store experience too. One of the mobile app benefits for the user is that, instead of waiting in line in the store to claim their pick up order, mobile app users can often skip the line and simply pick their items up with ease; often without interacting with anyone. Placing orders online also has the benefit of removing the human element that was previously present in phone-in orders. This ensures that the order reaches the kitchen just as the customer intended and reduces costly, and sometimes embarrassing, errors.

    The experience for dine-in guests is also enriched because those customers ordering takeout food are not waiting in the location to order or collect their order, thus reducing crowding and wait times for dine-in guests. Having these orders placed online through an app also means that restaurant employees are spending time on the phone or the POS system handling these orders, freeing up their time so that they can better focus on the guests who are visiting the location. This also has the potential to reduce labor costs, as a location may require fewer staff on shift as a result of this shift toward online ordering.

    restaurant mobile app

    Put simply, convenience is king and convenience is one of the greatest benefits of mobile ordering for everyone. Mobile apps offer the user a convenient and seamless experience where they can browse a menu at their leisure, place orders for takeout and delivery, pay for those orders, and even save their favorite items for quicker access later. These functions are all just as important to the business as they are the customer. But, many business owners will argue that the most important part of a dedicated mobile app is the immersive and instantly recognizable brand experience it provides for the customer.

    Mobile apps don’t just enhance the user’s online experience, they also enhance their in-store experience too. One of the mobile app benefits for the user is that, instead of waiting in line in the store to claim their pick up order, mobile app users can often skip the line and simply pick their items up with ease; often without interacting with anyone. Placing orders online also has the benefit of removing the human element that was previously present in phone-in orders. This ensures that the order reaches the kitchen just as the customer intended and reduces costly, and sometimes embarrassing, errors.

    The experience for dine-in guests is also enriched because those customers ordering takeout food are not waiting in the location to order or collect their order, thus reducing crowding and wait times for dine-in guests. Having these orders placed online through an app also means that restaurant employees are spending time on the phone or the POS system handling these orders, freeing up their time so that they can better focus on the guests who are visiting the location. This also has the potential to reduce labor costs, as a location may require fewer staff on shift as a result of this shift toward online ordering.

    restaurant mobile app

    Put simply, convenience is king and convenience is one of the greatest benefits of mobile ordering for everyone. Mobile apps offer the user a convenient and seamless experience where they can browse a menu at their leisure, place orders for takeout and delivery, pay for those orders, and even save their favorite items for quicker access later. These functions are all just as important to the business as they are the customer. But, many business owners will argue that the most important part of a dedicated mobile app is the immersive and instantly recognizable brand experience it provides for the customer.

    Mobile apps don’t just enhance the user’s online experience, they also enhance their in-store experience too. One of the mobile app benefits for the user is that, instead of waiting in line in the store to claim their pick up order, mobile app users can often skip the line and simply pick their items up with ease; often without interacting with anyone. Placing orders online also has the benefit of removing the human element that was previously present in phone-in orders. This ensures that the order reaches the kitchen just as the customer intended and reduces costly, and sometimes embarrassing, errors.

    The experience for dine-in guests is also enriched because those customers ordering takeout food are not waiting in the location to order or collect their order, thus reducing crowding and wait times for dine-in guests. Having these orders placed online through an app also means that restaurant employees are spending time on the phone or the POS system handling these orders, freeing up their time so that they can better focus on the guests who are visiting the location. This also has the potential to reduce labor costs, as a location may require fewer staff on shift as a result of this shift toward online ordering.

    Richer Customer Data

    Mobile apps don’t just work hard for customers, they also work hard for restaurant owners and management teams too. Having a dedicated mobile app as part of a connected technology stack allows restaurant owners and managers to track the customer journey from end-to-end. This gives a restaurant invaluable insights into their customers, which can then enlighten and improve their marketing tactics and help to increase the ROI on their marketing efforts.

    In comparison, a restaurant that uses a 3rd party app to manage customer order loses much of the identifying customer data to these platforms, leaving them in the dark when it comes producing targeted marketing campaigns. In addition to this, these 3rd party services can charge extortionately high fees of up to 30% of the order value.

    Mobile apps don’t just work hard for customers, they also work hard for restaurant owners and management teams too. Having a dedicated mobile app as part of a connected technology stack allows restaurant owners and managers to track the customer journey from end-to-end. This gives a restaurant invaluable insights into their customers, which can then enlighten and improve their marketing tactics and help to increase the ROI on their marketing efforts.

    app for restaurant

    In comparison, a restaurant that uses a 3rd party app to manage customer order loses much of the identifying customer data to these platforms, leaving them in the dark when it comes producing targeted marketing campaigns. In addition to this, these 3rd party services can charge extortionately high fees of up to 30% of the order value.

    Mobile apps don’t just work hard for customers, they also work hard for restaurant owners and management teams too. Having a dedicated mobile app as part of a connected technology stack allows restaurant owners and managers to track the customer journey from end-to-end. This gives a restaurant invaluable insights into their customers, which can then enlighten and improve their marketing tactics and help to increase the ROI on their marketing efforts.

    In comparison, a restaurant that uses a 3rd party app to manage customer order loses much of the identifying customer data to these platforms, leaving them in the dark when it comes producing targeted marketing campaigns. In addition to this, these 3rd party services can charge extortionately high fees of up to 30% of the order value.

    app for restaurant
    mobile order app

    A Platform for High Efficiency Marketing

    mobile order app

    Collecting richer customer data allows a location to improve their marketing materials and to better direct them at their target audience, allowing them to potentially increase the ROI of their marketing efforts. Having a dedicated mobile app takes this one step further and provides a new avenue where restaurants can reach their customers directly through their devices, and even choose who they send their adverts to and when they send them. This all increases their chances of success and increases the potential ROI.

    Collecting richer customer data allows a location to improve their marketing materials and to better direct them at their target audience, allowing them to potentially increase the ROI of their marketing efforts. Having a dedicated mobile app takes this one step further and provides a new avenue where restaurants can reach their customers directly through their devices, and even choose who they send their adverts to and when they send them. This all increases their chances of success and increases the potential ROI.

    mobile order app

    Collecting richer customer data allows a location to improve their marketing materials and to better direct them at their target audience, allowing them to potentially increase the ROI of their marketing efforts. Having a dedicated mobile app takes this one step further and provides a new avenue where restaurants can reach their customers directly through their devices, and even choose who they send their adverts to and when they send them. This all increases their chances of success and increases the potential ROI.

    Increased Customer Loyalty

    Acquiring new customers can cost up to 25x more than retaining an old one, and increasing customer retention rates by just 5% can increase profits by up to 95%! It has also been shown that customers who use a restaurant’s dedicated mobile app order up to twice as often as their non-app using counterparts. So, introducing a customer to a mobile app can not only increase customer retention but it also has the ability to reduce customer acquisition cost for the restaurant, increase the venue’s profits, and increase a customer’s engagement with their brand; two benefits of mobiles apps for restaurants in one!

    Another point to consider is that a brand can often get lost amongst the crowd on third party platforms, thereby reducing the chance of customers building loyalty to a particular brand.

    restaurant app

    Acquiring new customers can cost up to 25x more than retaining an old one, and increasing customer retention rates by just 5% can increase profits by up to 95%! It has also been shown that customers who use a restaurant’s dedicated mobile app order up to twice as often as their non-app using counterparts. So, introducing a customer to a mobile app can not only increase customer retention but it also has the ability to reduce customer acquisition cost for the restaurant, increase the venue’s profits, and increase a customer’s engagement with their brand; two benefits of mobiles apps for restaurants in one!

    Another point to consider is that a brand can often get lost amongst the crowd on third party platforms, thereby reducing the chance of customers building loyalty to a particular brand.

    Acquiring new customers can cost up to 25x more than retaining an old one, and increasing customer retention rates by just 5% can increase profits by up to 95%! It has also been shown that customers who use a restaurant’s dedicated mobile app order up to twice as often as their non-app using counterparts. So, introducing a customer to a mobile app can not only increase customer retention but it also has the ability to reduce customer acquisition cost for the restaurant, increase the venue’s profits, and increase a customer’s engagement with their brand; two benefits of mobiles apps for restaurants in one!

    Another point to consider is that a brand can often get lost amongst the crowd on third party platforms, thereby reducing the chance of customers building loyalty to a particular brand.

    restaurant app
    mobile app for restaurant ordering

    Customers Order More Online

    Customers readily admit that they are more likely to place larger orders when ordering online and through mobile apps, and studies have shown that, on average, online orders are 20% larger than their in-store counterparts. These statistics prove that providing a streamline online ordering platform, like a branded mobile app, for customers can increase a restaurant's average check and, therefore, the location’s overall profitability.

    mobile app for restaurant ordering

    Customers readily admit that they are more likely to place larger orders when ordering online and through mobile apps, and studies have shown that, on average, online orders are 20% larger than their in-store counterparts. These statistics prove that providing a streamline online ordering platform, like a branded mobile app, for customers can increase a restaurant's average check and, therefore, the location’s overall profitability.

    mobile app for restaurant ordering

    Customers readily admit that they are more likely to place larger orders when ordering online and through mobile apps, and studies have shown that, on average, online orders are 20% larger than their in-store counterparts. These statistics prove that providing a streamline online ordering platform, like a branded mobile app, for customers can increase a restaurant's average check and, therefore, the location’s overall profitability.

    Integrated Loyalty Programs

    food mobile apps

    Branded mobile apps allow customers to immediately identify their experience with a particular brand, whilst also allowing that brand to offer a loyalty program to their customers. Loyalty programs are growing ever more popular and 63% of millennials have said they will not commit to a brand that does not offer loyalty benefits. Integrating loyalty programs into dedicated mobile apps also encourages customer spending and it has been shown that loyalty rewards members can spend upwards of 60% more than their non-loyal counterparts.

    Branded mobile apps allow customers to immediately identify their experience with a particular brand, whilst also allowing that brand to offer a loyalty program to their customers. Loyalty programs are growing ever more popular and 63% of millennials have said they will not commit to a brand that does not offer loyalty benefits. Integrating loyalty programs into dedicated mobile apps also encourages customer spending and it has been shown that loyalty rewards members can spend upwards of 60% more than their non-loyal counterparts.

    Branded mobile apps allow customers to immediately identify their experience with a particular brand, whilst also allowing that brand to offer a loyalty program to their customers. Loyalty programs are growing ever more popular and 63% of millennials have said they will not commit to a brand that does not offer loyalty benefits. Integrating loyalty programs into dedicated mobile apps also encourages customer spending and it has been shown that loyalty rewards members can spend upwards of 60% more than their non-loyal counterparts.

    food mobile apps
    Active Menus logo

    ActiveMenus Offers a World Class, Branded Mobile App

    Active Menus logo

    Apps for restaurant owners to choose for their business, or businesses, vary wildly in their functionality and their quality. The ActiveMenus mobile app is designed by restaurant people for restaurant people, and, unlike 3rd party services, it ranks the venue’s needs and concerns just as highly as those of their customers. This creates an unparalleled experience that works intuitively for the benefit of both the customer and the business.

    Apps for restaurant owners to choose for their business, or businesses, vary wildly in their functionality and their quality. The ActiveMenus mobile app is designed by restaurant people for restaurant people, and, unlike 3rd party services, it ranks the venue’s needs and concerns just as highly as those of their customers. This creates an unparalleled experience that works intuitively for the benefit of both the customer and the business.

    The ActiveMenus’ app provides a food mobile app that can be optimized and branded to suit any and all locations, and ActiveMenus’ services can even feature all of the location’s owned and operated by a restaurant group in one easily accessible location. Menus can be edited on the fly, and customers can be sent special push notifications optimized for them, that coincide with when they commonly place orders.

    Finally, the ActiveMenus dedicated mobile ordering app offers a flat fee or predictable fee structure (so no surprises!), and allows for built-in, custom loyalty programs. Enabling locations to capture repeat customers, increase their sales volume, and enhance their knowledge of their customers to better inform their marketing efforts and improve their marketing ROI. A dedicated team will help you set up and tailor your branded mobile application to your restaurant, showing you how to get and give the best out of what is now your own mobile ordering app!

    The ActiveMenus’ app provides a food mobile app that can be optimized and branded to suit any and all locations, and ActiveMenus’ services can even feature all of the location’s owned and operated by a restaurant group in one easily accessible location. Menus can be edited on the fly, and customers can be sent special push notifications optimized for them, that coincide with when they commonly place orders.

    Finally, the ActiveMenus dedicated mobile ordering app offers a flat fee or predictable fee structure (so no surprises!), and allows for built-in, custom loyalty programs. Enabling locations to capture repeat customers, increase their sales volume, and enhance their knowledge of their customers to better inform their marketing efforts and improve their marketing ROI. A dedicated team will help you set up and tailor your branded mobile application to your restaurant, showing you how to get and give the best out of what is now your own mobile ordering app!

    Active Menus logo

    Apps for restaurant owners to choose for their business, or businesses, vary wildly in their functionality and their quality. The ActiveMenus mobile app is designed by restaurant people for restaurant people, and, unlike 3rd party services, it ranks the venue’s needs and concerns just as highly as those of their customers. This creates an unparalleled experience that works intuitively for the benefit of both the customer and the business.

    The ActiveMenus’ app provides a food mobile app that can be optimized and branded to suit any and all locations, and ActiveMenus’ services can even feature all of the location’s owned and operated by a restaurant group in one easily accessible location. Menus can be edited on the fly, and customers can be sent special push notifications optimized for them, that coincide with when they commonly place orders.

    Finally, the ActiveMenus dedicated mobile ordering app offers a flat fee or predictable fee structure (so no surprises!), and allows for built-in, custom loyalty programs. Enabling locations to capture repeat customers, increase their sales volume, and enhance their knowledge of their customers to better inform their marketing efforts and improve their marketing ROI. A dedicated team will help you set up and tailor your branded mobile application to your restaurant, showing you how to get and give the best out of what is now your own mobile ordering app!

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