Skip to main content
Today, online ordering has become the norm in the restaurant industry. Whether consumers prefer takeout or delivery, the effect is the same: off-premise dining is booming, and online ordering is the standard.

The rise in online ordering started over the last five years, but in 2020, we saw the certainty of how important it was. Many restaurants quickly adopted online ordering to keep their business afloat during COVID and cater to their customers’ needs.

Mobile and online ordering have skyrocketed across all industries because of their convenience. Online ordering solutions allow you to serve your guests more efficiently, add an additional revenue stream, and boost your online presence.

Does your restaurant offer online ordering? Check out the top 25 must-know stats that prove how powerful online ordering is.

Restaurant Online Ordering Statistics

Here is a list of statistics to show you how fast online ordering is growing, what it can do for your business, and how consumers prefer to order.

  1. Online food ordering has grown 300% faster than dine-in since 2014 and now accounts for roughly 40% of total restaurant sales.
  2. Revenue in the Online Food Delivery segment is projected to reach U.S. $339,257 million in 2022.
  3. Online food delivery revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate of 8.29%, resulting in a projected market volume of U.S. $466,472 million by 2026.
  4. Nearly 60% of diners expect to order more online in 2022. Of those diners, 42% plan to order somewhat or significantly more directly from restaurants, 3x more than those who plan to order more from third-party apps (14%).
  5. More restaurant customers are tapping mobile devices, with one-third (35%) placing more orders on apps compared to three months ago, and customers are likely to spend more when ordering via a restaurant app.
  6. Restaurants with an online ordering system are able to raise their takeout profits by 30% higher than those who do not.
  7. In 2022, the number of Americans using apps to order food and other groceries is expected to rise from 27.9 million to 30.4 million.
  8. About 92% of all top-performing restaurants offered mobile order-ahead and loyalty rewards programs or a combination of both.
  9. Nearly 28% of people ordered food online to save time from cooking and cleaning.
  10. Over 80% of restaurants are turning to technology – like online ordering, reservation and inventory apps, and restaurant analytics – to help them run their business successfully and efficiently.
  11. It is projected that online ordering food revenue will rise to be $220 billion in 2023 – 40% of restaurant sales.
  12. There was a 54% increase in direct online order volume, year over year.
  13. About 56% of customers and restaurant owners want online ordering in a restaurant app.
  14. The restaurant-to-consumer segment for online food ordering reached 760 million users, a 20% increase year-over-year.
  15. About 64% of consumers prefer to order digitally on-premises at a QSR.
  16. As of mid-November, 45% of consumers surveyed by PYMNTS/Paytronix said the ability to order online would encourage them to spend more on food, up from 37% in October. Nearly 35% said mobile app ordering, and 31% for curbside pickup said the same.
  17. Consumer demand for online food ordering has increased. Prior to the pandemic, 62% of U.S. consumers said they ordered food online at least once per month, while 78% said they either maintained or increased how often they ordered.
  18. Nearly 60% of restaurants can expect more sales when they offer online ordering.
  19. About 43% of people say they order online because they don’t feel like cooking.
  20. Around 59% of millennial restaurant orders are for takeout or delivery.
  21. Consumers who order pizza online spend an average of 18% more than orders placed over the phone.
  22. Customers who place an online order with a restaurant will visit that restaurant 67% more frequently than those who don’t.
  23. Around 31% of American consumers use third-party food delivery services at least twice a week.
  24. Curbside pickup has grown in prominence, with 67% of restaurants adding curbside delivery after March 2020, according to the National Restaurant Association.
  25. The average U.S. household spends $2,375 annually on dining and takeout purchases.

How to Create a Seamless Ordering Experience

The pandemic severely impacted restaurants. A contributing factor to these challenges is that some restaurants are not keeping up with consumers’ demand for technology. Offering a contactless experience and including online ordering is a crucial investment restaurant operators must consider adding.

Artboard 1-Aug-24-2022-05-54-43-13-PM

The demand for technology will keep growing because of its speed in the ordering process, which makes customers happy. Restaurant owners and operators will look to keep expanding their online ordering and other off-premise digital technology to gain customer satisfaction.

But, there is a disconnect between consumers and operators, and to stay competitive, you must begin to adapt to off-premise offerings. According to QSR Magazine, off-premises sales increased nearly four times faster than dine-in business.

Below are three tips on how to expand your off-premise dining and create a seamless ordering experience for your customers:

1. Get a Directly Integrated Online Ordering System

As a restaurant owner, you need a system that simplifies your operations and saves you money. Indeed it’s easy to turn to third-party ordering and delivery platforms because of the instant online customer base they offer. But, you could lose an average of 25-30% of monthly revenue with these providers.

To have complete control of your online ordering, you need an integrated system that works with you, not against you. When restaurants offer online ordering through their POS system, like CAKE’s Online Ordering, they get these benefits below:

  • Increased revenue.
  • Increased order accuracy.
  • Saving time and money.
  • Boost online presence.

2. Offer Curbside Pickup

The demand for curbside pickup has tremendously increased since the pandemic. For many restaurants, that was the only way of staying in business. Soon after, customers began to favor this alternative way of dining.

  • About 58% of customers love this method and are more apt to choose establishments offering it.
  • Nearly 43% of customers say this method makes them more loyal to the eatery.
  • Approximately 54% of customers say they would spend more because of this service option, with that number jumping to 80% for Millennials.

Curbside offers the convenience and safety that guests want when ordering food online. Make sure that guests have the option to pick up curbside within your online ordering system to ensure this.

You want to make this process as seamless as possible for you and your guests. Get a system that allows for two-way direct communication through text so you can identify customers hassle-free and with minimal contact.

Artboard 1 copy-Aug-24-2022-05-55-49-00-PM

3. Create a Custom Ordering Experience

To attract more customers to your site directly, you need to tailor your online ordering to be custom to your brand and easy to navigate. You can do this by completing a menu analysis. From the content itself to the overall feel of the menu, creating the right aesthetic is essential to draw the customer’s attention.

You need an online ordering system that acts as an extension of your brand so guests feel like they are getting the same kind of service from you online that they would in person. Consider these five things when evaluating your menu online ordering system:

  1. Do you have the ability to personalize your platform with your logo, branding, and images of your food?
  2. Are guests easily able to make modifications to their orders?
  3. Does your system accept multiple payment options so guests can pay how they’d like? (Credit cars, Apple Pay, or Google Pay)
  4. Is the platform easy to navigate, and can it integrate with your website?
  5. Does it have the ability to offer different pick-up options, such as curbside pickup or contactless delivery?

When you have a direct restaurant online ordering system, you have the power to create a custom ordering experience that will benefit your business and customers. Additionally, it will help strengthen your brand recognition an online visibility. An in-house online ordering system just makes sense. 

Based on the statistics you’ve seen, online ordering is here to stay and is only going to continue to thrive. It offers convenience for your customers, ultimately enhancing the ordering experience.  

FAQs

How do restaurants handle fluctuations in demand for online ordering during peak hours or special occasions? 

Restaurants typically handle fluctuations in demand for online ordering during peak hours or special occasions by implementing strategies such as dynamic pricing, staffing adjustments, and optimizing kitchen workflows. Dynamic pricing allows restaurants to adjust menu prices based on demand, encouraging customers to order during off-peak hours. Staffing adjustments can involve scheduling more personnel during peak times to manage orders efficiently. Optimizing kitchen workflows involves streamlining processes to handle increased order volumes without sacrificing quality or speed of service. 

What are the common challenges faced by restaurants when implementing and maintaining a directly integrated online ordering system? 

Common challenges faced by restaurants when implementing and maintaining a directly integrated online ordering system include technical issues such as system downtime or glitches, integration complexities with existing POS systems, and the need for ongoing staff training and support. Ensuring seamless integration between the online ordering system and POS requires meticulous planning and coordination. Additionally, staff training is crucial to ensure smooth operations and minimize errors when processing online orders.  

Are there any insights on how online ordering affects dine-in business and customer satisfaction in the long run? 

Online ordering can help boost overall business for restaurants and increase customer satisfaction. Recent insights from Paytronix’s 2023 Online Ordering Report have found that guests using a restaurant’s integrated online ordering system return, tip, and spend more. In addition, brands that are respond to reviews can see a 23% in orders and 22% higher ratings from customers. Such research may explore changes in customer behavior, preferences, and spending patterns in response to the availability of online ordering options. Additionally, assessing customer satisfaction with online ordering compared to traditional dine-in experiences can provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of restaurant operations and consumer preferences. 

Close Menu