Merosys Blog

Due to shortage of time and busy schedules, people are looking for the ways that could speed-up the purchase of food and groceries. At the same time, food industry players continue to strive ever harder to overcome financial challenges posed by the recession, as well as to distinguish themselves from the competitors. Online food ordering applications represent a solution that addresses these issues, and more.

In order to strive in the cut-throat competition, restaurants need to provide convenient and fast food ordering options to their customers. Online food ordering system works here which provides an opportunity to restaurants, to meet consumer needs, while also enhancing profitability and improving operational efficiencies.

Restaurateurs can reap numerous benefits through online food ordering solutions deployment. Increased customer satisfaction, spurred by significant decreases in the amount of time needed to execute orders, easy access to menus and specials, improved order accuracy and heightened consumer control over the entire ordering process, tops the list. Other advantages encompass the ability to boost sales by leveraging the system to intelligently up sell high-margin impulse menu items or other fare based on individual customers’ previous orders and/or end user specifications, as well as to cultivate diners’ loyalty by collecting customer email addresses and subsequently sending them promotional information in line with specific criteria, such as ordering frequency and location.

Statistics also make a strong case for online meal ordering systems adoption by food-service establishments, as well as for their addition to Value Added Resellers’ (VSRs) technology arsenals. While stand-alone meal ordering solutions are readily available in the marketplace, a trend towards integration with restaurant POS applications is rapidly emerging. In addition to integrating their solutions with restaurant POS systems, some online meal ordering systems providers have begun to incorporate a link with payment processing services and applications. Such integration affords restaurants a centralized, and hence more efficient means of processing payments

Customers initiate the ordering process by logging on to a restaurant’s Web site, placing an order and entering their payment information. From there, the request is directed to an order review screen, signaling restaurant employees to begin preparing the food. An automatic confirmation email is sent to the customer, and transaction details are transmitted to the POS component.

Tags: food ordering, online food ordering, payment, POS, restaurants