What’s for Dinner? Technology & Dinner Go Hand in Hand

At the intersection of the time starved consumer and the age-old question, What’s for Dinner once again we find grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat meals and meal components front and center with technology according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Recently Tillster, a global leader in digital ordering and engagement solutions for restaurants, published the results from its 2019 Online and Mobile Ordering Index. The Index examines the digital ordering strategies best serving restaurants as they grow sales and engage with customers. However, there is little doubt that service delis, convenience stores, supermarkets, and legacy grocery stores should be paying attention on how to edify sales and drive customer migration leveraging technology to drive sales according to Johnson.

So, Tillster, partnered with JD Powers SSI, to conduct a study on how online and mobile ordering impacts guest behavior. One thing is clear consumers expect to not only find you on line but they want to buy from you from their mobile device according to Johnson.

Three key findings from the 2019 Index include:

Customers Expect Online & Mobile Ordering

Among the 2,000 customers polled, 70 percent expect a restaurant's website to offer online ordering, while 76 percent said they expect a restaurant's branded mobile app to offer it. These tools are no longer a nice-to-have but a necessity. 

Customers Spend More with Online Ordering

When ordering online, a majority of customers order for more than one person, which generally results in a higher check size. With digital ordering, most customers place an order for an item they didn't previously plan to order and spend more on their total order.  The majority of customers report spending up to $5 on extra items presented during digital ordering.

Online and Mobile Ordering Offers Needed Convenience

Nearly half of all customers polled reported using an order-ahead app when selecting a restaurant, in an effort to beat the line. Index data also indicates that online ordering offers convenience that forms powerful brand allegiance; from busy parents looking to quickly re-order meals customized to their families’ preferences, to working professionals who want a convenient meal without much effort.

“The demand for digital ordering grows with every Index we conduct. Customers today expect seamless and frictionless ordering experiences. For those restaurants already providing online ordering, the task at hand is to optimize efforts. Are you inviting consumers to buy your food on a mobile platform? Why not?

Are you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing tactics look more like yesterday that tomorrow?  Visit www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may have the clue you need to propel your continued success.