| A simple Google search of the term "restaurant online | | | | enticing customers to order from it apply equally to |
| ordering software" will bring up pages of results of | | | | your presence on the web; so you should be making |
| companies offering to set up online ordering for | | | | sure that you do it properly by starting with a solid |
| restaurants. Unfortunately, it is also a list containing | | | | foundation that you can build on. |
| some good, some bad and some downright ugly! So | | | | Normal common sense rules should come into the |
| how should you as a restaurant operator go about | | | | process. Make a checklist of what is on offer and |
| selecting the right service provider to supply online | | | | research the companies that you are considering using. |
| ordering for your restaurant? | | | | First and foremost, check that the provider is Payment |
| There are a number of considerations to take into | | | | Card Industry (PCI) compliant and certified. If they are |
| account when selecting the best fit for your company | | | | not, you could be fined heavily or lose your merchant |
| and care should be taken before signing up with the | | | | account. Always be cautious about a service provider |
| first "quick and easy" solution, no matter how attractive | | | | with no telephone number on their website. |
| the offer of a "free site within hours" may be. As with | | | | Have a look at the service provider's list of customer's |
| all things in life, you have choices to make but be | | | | sites on their website. How user friendly is the system, |
| aware that the choice you make now may haunt you | | | | can you customize an item; are meal deals offered |
| for a long time to come. It will pay dividends if you | | | | and easy to use? Try a search of the term "powered |
| spend some time doing your homework. | | | | by ....... (Vendor's name)" this should bring up a list of all |
| Firstly, as a restaurateur, you should know that | | | | the sites which have online ordering by that provider. |
| ordering food is very different from ordering a book. | | | | Does the provider have any chains of restaurants as |
| When you buy a book online, does it really matter if | | | | customers or are they all single locations - if there are |
| the supplier is temporarily out of stock and that you | | | | no chains, ask yourself why not? What associations is |
| have to wait an extra day? Do you expect to | | | | the provider linked to - endorsement by an association |
| customize the book? How about delivery zones, | | | | is a vote of confidence. Ask the service provider if |
| kitchen capacity, menus by time of day or day of | | | | you may inspect the facilities where they host the |
| week, specials, meal deals, half and half pizzas, group | | | | service and store your customer data - if only to |
| orders? The first lesson is that a "shopping basket" | | | | make sure that the hosting is not being done from a |
| does not suit the needs of the restaurant industry, | | | | garage in someone's home! Check whether they |
| period. There are, unfortunately, a lot of service | | | | provide 24/7 support and if so ask for the number and |
| providers who have taken the simple shopping basket | | | | try calling it after hours. |
| and modified it slightly or sometimes not at all and are | | | | The list could go on and on, dealing with issues such as |
| now offering it as a solution for restaurant online | | | | feature sets, functionality, versioning etc. all of which |
| ordering. | | | | can seem daunting. Don't be scared to ask questions, |
| So, before leaping into offering online ordering to your | | | | remember, there is no such thing as a silly question and |
| customers, try to think of your online store as a the | | | | you should view entering into a contract with your |
| opening of a new "brick and mortar" store - imagine | | | | provider as the beginning of a relationship - make sure |
| that this store is going to be your flagship store in time | | | | it is a relationship that you are comfortable being in. |
| to come. It needs to be carefully designed, planned, built | | | | Above all, remember that restaurant online ordering |
| and implemented after consideration of your needs | | | | really does work and can prove to be a very |
| rather than thrown into a "one size fits all" template. | | | | profitable venture if it is done right. However, merely |
| Going back to the brick and mortar example, if you | | | | having a website with online ordering is not going to |
| were opening a new store, would you choose your | | | | dramatically increase your orders. You will need to |
| shop fitter because he offered to fit your shop in a | | | | market your site, encourage customers to sign up and |
| few hours or simply supply you with the tools to do it | | | | introduce new customers through promotions and |
| yourself? Would you buy your tables and counters | | | | specials, increase customer loyalty through loyalty |
| from the local DIY store? The answer should be easy | | | | programs etc. All of these marketing activities are vital |
| but yet many restaurant operators (even large chains) | | | | to the good health of your new store. So remember, |
| opt for an ill fit when it comes to building their presence | | | | this is not just a website that is "nice to have" - this |
| on the web. | | | | could be the most profitable store you have ever |
| All of the rules that apply to creating a store and | | | | owned. The choice is yours! |