Why Top Restaurants Are Going All-In on Mobile Ordering and Order Apps

Over the last few years, the mobile ordering market has now been valued in the tens of billions of dollars. In essence, the mobile order app has completely changed the restaurant industry.
by
Charis Yip
May 24, 2022

Mobile order pick up at restaurants has soared in popularity in recent years. Even prior to the emergence of the pandemic, when restaurants were forced to pivot due to public health restrictions, between 2015 and 2018, mobile order pick up increased from 11% to 39%. By 2022, that percentage has increased even more and top restaurants are recognizing that the paradigm has shifted completely and that mobile order options are very much a part of the future.

Mobile Ordering Systems

One of the primary reasons why restaurants and coffee shops are going all-in on mobile ordering systems is because they represent the most effective method of processing the online orders of an establishment. 

In essence, mobile ordering systems refer to a downloadable app available for iOS or Android. Having a dependable mobile ordering system is crucial for any restaurant or coffee shop to flourish with customers increasingly reliant on mobile devices. 

Mobile Ordering

The mobile ordering market has now been valued at an estimated $38 billion. Over the past couple of years, mobile ordering has significantly altered the restaurant landscape. Given those prospects, top restaurants are certainly going all-in when it comes to mobile ordering. 

According to research, 61% of customers order delivery and takeout at least once a week (this is up from 29% in 2020 and 18% in 2019). Furthermore, 64% of customers stated that they were unlikely to return to their pre-pandemic habits of dining in restaurants in the next half a year. 

Order App

Most importantly, an astounding 57% of Americans said they now preferred to use an order app when ordering meals and beverages from restaurants. There are now three important factors for restaurant customers in a post-pandemic world:

  • Convenience - More so than ever, restaurant customers now expect the convenience of delivery and take-out options.
  • Digital - Increasingly, clientele now demand digital app solutions when ordering meals and beverages from local restaurants.

Overall, the last two years have brought a tremendous amount of change to the restaurant industry, but the future does look very promising for those eateries that utilize mobile ordering.

Restaurant Mobile App

An excellent restaurant mobile app solution is Ritual. Ritual is a mobile ordering app that enables users to order meals and beverages from participating restaurants all while collecting rewards from location-based credits. 

By partnering with Ritual, restaurants gain access to the entirety of Ritual’s customer network. In addition, customers can easily place Ritual orders directly from your company's Google Search results or Google Maps listing. Moreover, restaurant owners can reward loyal customers with Ritual’s points-based loyalty rewards program to win their repeat business.

Restaurant Mobile Ordering

Ritual is a great restaurant mobile ordering solution, because not only does your establishment have access to their entire customer network, you can likewise reward regulars with Loyalty+, the Ritual Rewards loyalty program. Loyalty+ automates your business’ loyalty program such that customers are able to track their rewards on a digital card from the convenience of their mobile devices.

As a restaurant owner, loyalty programs are crucial. Research shows that in 2022, the average restaurant customer is a member of two loyalty programs. Yet, an astounding 79% of customers said their decision about which restaurant to order from was influenced by their participation in a loyalty program.

There are numerous benefits of Ritual Rewards including:

  • Greater Customer Engagement - By offering a personalized experience, strengthens brand loyalty towards your eatery and helps to attract new customers.
  • Increased Visibility - With Ritual Offers your restaurant will be featured at the top of the app coupled with automated campaigns, making your business more visible to our entire network of customers.
  • No Initial Investment - You pay nothing until customers redeem their loyalty rewards.

Once you have signed up for Ritual, you gain access to the Loyalty+ program, the Ritual app, the online ordering system, special offers, and much more. In addition, you can customize the automated loyalty program and automate your marketing campaigns to perfectly fit the needs of your restaurant. 

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Charis Yip
Charis is the Senior Global Marketing Manager at Ritual. Having worked in North America and Asia Pacific, she brings 7 years of diverse experience in B2B marketing and category management within the retail, e-commerce and technology industries. She has a demonstrated history in building and scaling brands in both corporate and startup environments and enjoys exploring topics on marketing, e-commerce, retail, product trends, mentorship, and more.
Charis Yip
Charis is the Senior Global Marketing Manager at Ritual. Having worked in North America and Asia Pacific, she brings 7 years of diverse experience in B2B marketing and category management within the retail, e-commerce and technology industries. She has a demonstrated history in building and scaling brands in both corporate and startup environments and enjoys exploring topics on marketing, e-commerce, retail, product trends, mentorship, and more.