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Hot Trends That Will Change The Future Of The Food Delivery Industry

What makes Just Eat and UberEats global brands? These food delivery industry giants have written their success stories by implementing technological advancements in their innovative business models. Today, as competition has intensified like never before in the food delivery sector, every business owner has to keep the latest trends and technological advancements in mind to excel.

Top seven trends will reshape the future of the food delivery industry.

Focus on Millennials

As compared to other on-demand services, online food delivery is more popular among millennials worldwide. As per the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) report, Millennials spend less time on food preparation, clean up, and presentation as compared to Gen X people. It supports the finding that Millennials tend to buy ready-to-eat foods. At least two-thirds of the Millennials in the US have reported purchasing some form of prepared food.

Here, a readymade online food ordering system and a dedicated food delivery app come into the picture. These are the best ordering channels for satisfying the demands of Millennials.

New Channels for Food Delivery

These days, tech-savvy customers prefer innovative food delivery channels. As per the survey, 55% of the US adults want an easier online food ordering system. A robust system should be capable of handling multiple orders at once from all possible channels like social media, smartphones, and even virtual assistants. For example, Domino accepts orders from Twitter, virtual assistant, and smartwatch. Order Up facilitates its customers to place orders, track delivery statuses, and see an approximate time of delivery using the Apple Watch.

What’s more, many people tend to place orders through smart TVs while relaxing. Papa John’s has made it possible for its customers to place orders through Apple TV. Similarly, TV takeaways is integrated with Samsung’s Smart TV. How about placing orders from the car? Pizza Hut has made it possible by creating an in-car pizza ordering system in partnership with Accenture.

Also Read : 10 Things to Strongly Consider with an On-Demand Food Delivery App

New Categories

Many food delivery service providers focus on special niches like farm-grown food, healthy foods, and vegan items. Startups can easily break through the entry barriers and address intense competition by offering their food delivery services in completely new and unique categories. As a startup owner or a food delivery businessman, it is always better to explore new areas in your domain to generate more revenue and attract more people to your business. For example, you can consult a reputed mobile app development company to make a food waste app that can assist restaurants and grocery stores to get rid of leftovers. People in need can get food at a lower price through this app.

Pet food apps and virtual kitchen apps are some other concepts that can assist you to increase sales in relatively a short period.

AR and VR

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) can be game-changer in food delivery services. Be it attracting new customers or satisfying existing ones with excellent services, both these technologies can work wonders. Companies can use AR to strengthen their marketing campaigns and enhance brand awareness. Both these technologies can be used to provide additional training to keep your staff updated and ready to meet the customer’s changing expectations. KFC is one of the food delivery companies that has used virtual reality for the training of its new employees. There is a virtual training escape room called ‘The Hard Way’ where cooks have to fry chicken for escaping the secret lodge of Colonel Sanders.

Delivery Channels

Just like ordering channels, we have innovative food delivery options as well. It is fair to mention that in the age of COVID-19 food ordering service providers have to deal with social distancing and other stringent norms as well as limited resources. In such a troubled time, unique delivery channels including drones, robots, and the like can not only save and time but also save human intervention in the food delivery process.

Thanks to advancing AI technology and robotics, people can get food delivery through robots. Just Eat has launched delivery through moving pavement droids in the UK with the help of Starship Technologies. Eat 24 has also come up with autonomous delivery robots. Food delivery through drones and parachutes will also gain ground in the future.

Data Analytics

Big data and data analytics can have a great help for a thriving food delivery sector. On one hand, big data can fetch valuable data regarding road traffic, customer’s buying pattern likes and dislikes of customers, and reviews/comments on social media; and on the other hand, data analytics can help restaurateurs to get actionable insights through analyzing the data.

Takeaways and food delivery companies can also enhance their services while monitoring customer’s emotions, and offering personalized food offers. Grubhub and Doordash have successfully leveraged big data technology to improve their services.

Blockchain 

Thriving blockchain technology has brought a new trend of crypto food orders. Customers can place orders for takeaway or delivery using cryptocurrencies. Though this trend will take time to gain popularity across the world, Pizza For Coins have started accepting 50+ cryptocurrencies to date.

Food delivery companies and takeaways can get rid of fraudulent activities and enhance the food ordering experience with the help of an online food ordering system with cryptocurrency support. Customers can also get more payment options and use cryptocurrencies for payment.

Concluding Lines

Modern smart devices and growing competition has compelled restaurant owners and startups to bring online food ordering solutions. Whether it is a dedicated website, an app, or both, the food ordering solutions can assist you to improve ordering services and enhance the customer experience. These seven trends will certainly drive the future of a thriving food delivery domain.