By Meredith Sandland, CEO and Co-Founder of Empower Delivery - 7.10.2024
In the bustling restaurant world, delivery has evolved from a convenience to a core service. Third-party services like UberEats and DoorDash have carved out a large piece of the delivery pie – but not without complications. While they may expand reach, they also undermine your restaurant’s control over the delivery process and, most importantly, the guest experience.
As more people expect quick and dependable delivery, it’s critical to find a reliable and cost-effective solution. This is where delivery management technology steps in to offer a complete system that integrates seamlessly with your current operations.
What is Delivery Management Technology?
Delivery management technology handles all the steps of getting your restaurant’s meals into the hands of guests in their homes. It coordinates the orders, delivery staff, and guest communications – making sure every touchpoint is fast and error-free.
This technology can include features like:
- On-demand driver management
- Order-to-driver demand matching
- Real-time delivery tracking
- First-party ordering
- Order routing
Why Modern Restaurants Need Delivery Management
Imagine transforming chaotic scenes within your restaurant – the ones where orders pile up and drivers disrupt the dining ambiance – into a streamlined operation where every delivery is a seamless extension of your restaurant’s service.
With the rising demand for delivery, restaurants need systems that not only keep up, but improve how they operate and satisfy all guests. Delivery management technology is a key part of a modern restaurant’s tech stack, helping you manage all your delivery needs in-house so you can have control over the most important part: the brand experience.
When you have complete control and the right tools, you can offer the convenience of third-party with the quality of first-party or in-house service.
Enhancing the Guest Experience Through Technology
Good delivery management means guests get a consistent and enjoyable dining experience – regardless of where they are eating. This is difficult to do with third-party services, which cause countless problems that your restaurant has to scramble to remedy after the fact. And as delivery continues to grow, this is only going to get more challenging. Which is why restaurant operators need to take back control and stop problems at the source.
Delivery management systems improve the at-home guest experience by reducing wait times, improving order accuracy, and ensuring the highest quality of delivered orders. You can not only match the online ordering and delivery experiences that guests have come to expect from third-party apps, but improve the speed and quality of the final product more effectively. This ensures guests have a high-quality and on-brand experience every time they order from you, no matter what.
Overcoming Challenges with Delivery Management Solutions
The best delivery management systems tackle common issues like order mistakes, inaccurate quote times, and inconsistent guest experiences. When you centralize control and start using smart technology, you can prevent these problems at the source and ensure every order maintains your reputation for top quality.
Empower Delivery is a prime example of innovative delivery management technology. The software doesn’t just manage the logistics of delivery – it reimagines the full process to make it more efficient, effective, and affordable. This means things like flexible order-to-driver assignment, dedicated on-demand drivers, and many other unique features that no other modern technology is doing.
There has been a lot of investment and innovation in a restaurant’s front-end. Now it’s time to innovate on the back-end – like delivery operations – to fulfill promises and meet expectations of modern consumers.
Mastering Delivery for Future Success
The world of restaurant delivery is constantly evolving, and the stakes are high. Restaurants that see delivery as an opportunity for innovation, rather than just a necessary evil, will thrive. With advanced delivery management technology like Empower Delivery, you can ensure that your restaurant not only meets today’s demands but is also prepared to grow and succeed in an ever-changing market.
Restaurant veteran and digital foodservice expert Meredith Sandland is the CEO and Co-Founder of Empower Delivery. The Empower Delivery software allows restaurants to offer superior delivery without compromising on food quality, profitability, or the customer experience. Previously, she served as founding COO at Kitchen United. As Chief Development Officer at Taco Bell (Yum! Brands), she quadrupled Taco Bell net new unit growth, relaunched the concept to accommodate modern demands including digital interaction, added over 1,000 units to the brand, and over $1 billion in system sales.
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