There are a large number of food delivery applications on the market today. As an investor launching your food delivery app, it is easy to be lost among the sea of competitors. So ultimately what will set you apart from them? The same thing that sets two similar apps apart, features and trends. These come into play during food delivery application development.
But what trends exactly are food delivery app users looking for that you should implement during food ordering app development? These trends could include easier methods of placing orders, studying data, or entering into new niches.
Acknowledge User Demographics
A major part of having a successful food delivery app is catering directly to your audience. But not in a way that would block out chances of attracting your prospective audience. Operating with bias can affect your business by limiting how big your audience can grow.
It’s obvious that millennials are the major users of food apps (and apps in general). You must simplify your app so that other people that are not so mobile-savvy can also use your app.
Currently, millennials have taken to the trend of ordering food several times a week. Reasons for this are not enough time to cook, the convenience offered, and the relatively cheap cost. It makes for an easier solution seeing as millennials do have a higher budget to avail food ordering and delivery services.
Food ordering and food delivery have been changing constantly due to technological changes and users’ requirements for convenience.
Global Food & Beverages Industry Market Size, Trends Shows a Rapid Growth by 2025
Different Delivery Channels
The various delivery channels of food ordering and delivery services explore various ways by which users can place an order. The aim of creating exciting and efficient delivery channels is to get more orders and get them more frequently.
Order Through Social Media
It is no secret that capitalizing on ordering through social media would definitely put your app in a favorable position. Everyone uses social media and spends a lot of time on at least one social media app.
Allowing orders directly through social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter would be so convenient! Imagine seeing a picture of a pizza on Instagram. Wouldn’t it be amazing to order one within a few seconds without exiting the Instagram app?
This would also benefit restaurants and delivery apps since people are prone to developing a craving while on social media.
Order by Virtual Assistant or Chatbot
Isn’t it annoying placing a food order by phone? Chances are that it will take a long time, only for the restaurant assistant to get the order wrong!
Everyone has used a chatbot before, perhaps to get information or solve a customer care query. It’s a text application that is programmed to answer questions without having to involve a human representative. It would be easy and time-efficient to place an order through a chatbot.
During food ordering app development, you can highlight the ‘order through chatbot’ feature to get people to try it. But, once you have made people accustomed to this feature, make sure you provide enough resources to ensure effective functioning.
Order Through A Smart TV!
The introduction of Smart TVs has definitely changed the experience of watching television, for the better! Is there a way to utilize this improved technology in the food industry? Maybe.
It would take imagination and some really good food delivery application development to make this possible. Right now a Smart TV supports applications such as YouTube, Netflix, Google, etc. Meaning there must also be a way to get your food ordering application to run on a Smart TV.
It would be convenient for a family to take a 5-minute movie break to make an order through their smartTV. This eliminates the need to have a mobile phone on hand whenever you want to order some food.
Order In Your Car
Many fast-food eaters use the drive-through restaurant option when ordering food. Wouldn’t it be better if users could place an order while in their car? It would be nice to arrive home from a journey to a food delivery that is still hot!
Alternatively, enable a user to order through their car and then pick it up from a drive-through or restaurant en-route. This would be much faster than other alternative methods that include long waiting and chances of receiving a cold meal.
This idea would be largely successful if implemented correctly as it is most convenient.
Order Through Smartwatch
The idea of smartwatches has grown a lot and day by day more apps are being made compatible with smartwatches. Even with a small screen and functionality limits, these devices can be connected to the internet.
This connectivity makes it possible for your food delivery app to be accessible on these devices. All you have to do is make sure your app is customized and capable of being operated by smartwatch owners.
To create these changes to your app, let your food delivery app developer know exactly what you want.
Significant Benefits of Using a Food Delivery App in Melbourne
Delivery Opportunities
Food delivery methods mostly involve vehicles that use a form of fossil fuel, or in some areas, bicycles. There have to be other cheaper, faster, and more sustainable approaches to food delivery. Indeed there are a few.
Drone Delivery
There has been much conversation about the use of drones to deliver items, in particular food! This is a reality since extreme traffic can cause food to get cold or even spoil. Plus, being more sustainable and avoiding fossil fuels can reduce global warming effects.
The use of drones could essentially eliminate the issue of traffic on roads if you invest enough resources. Food delivery app development should account for drone delivery provisions. Drones can be more efficient than humans for delivery by not making mistakes and delivering exactly to pinpointed locations.
Plus, there are no chances of delays with a drone, or at least none that have been brought to light!
Role of Robots in Food Delivery
Another prospect for food delivery is the use of robots. Advanced robots are being developed constantly as new technology and hardware are being made available. These robots commonly called droids are capable of delivering items within a 10-mile radius.
Robot food delivery is an avenue of the food delivery industry that needs more exploration and development for a better future. This would be another sustainable approach to delivery and if successful it could be applicable to all delivery services.
Robots involve more than just hardware, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) play an integral part.
Innovations In Food Delivery Services
Exploring Other Niches
If you explore new niches, you may find a unique niche that does not have many competitors. Focusing your resources on this new niche can prove to be a gold mine! You are capable of gaining the majority of the market for this niche. Let us look at a few explorable niches.
Pet Food Delivery Apps
Most dry dog foods claim to be healthy but there is no way of knowing their true contents. An incredible number of pet owners are waking up to the benefits of giving their pets homemade organic meals. But not everyone has the time and knowledge to make them.
During food ordering app development you can incorporate the ability for pet owners to order homemade pet meals from makers. Pet owners will appreciate high-quality pet food conveniently arriving at their doorstep.
With the vast amount of pet owners around the world, pet food ordering apps are bound to make an appearance. You might as well be the first to feature this in your app!
Food Waste Apps (Collecting and Delivering Excess Food)
If delivery agents can deliver food why can’t they pick it up again as well? It’s a concept that has been circulating for a while and is in effect in some areas. Leftover food can be picked up, collected, and distributed to homeless people. A charity organization usually takes care of this final distribution step.
But, to truly be effective it has to be implemented on a much larger scale with many more participating restaurants. This will increase the amount of food that is collected at the end of each day.
Your app can have a section where restaurants can schedule a food waste collection at a specific time. Agents will then pick it up and distribute it or pass it on to the next place.
Top 05 Food and Dining Trends Coming Your Way in 2021-2022
Payment With Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency is not a new term. In fact, the acceptance of various cryptocurrencies has become quite prominent and widespread. Accepting popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin will be appreciated by crypto users.
This extra feature will gain a lot of users who use and deal with cryptocurrency on a regular basis. Who knows, maybe this move will pioneer other food delivery apps to start using cryptocurrency.
How Payment Gateway is The Essential Feature For Food Delivery App?
Conclusion
Staying atop the mountain of food delivery applications will require you to think out of the box. Or in simple terms, think about what your competitors aren’t! You have to be a pioneer and bring out features that compliment the approaching trends. To incorporate these features into your app, get help from a food delivery app developer who has ample experience.
