The Impact Of Technology On Takeaway Trends

Thankfully, the UK has an abundance of takeaways from which to choose from. Alongside Lookers, we take a look at how technology is changing the takeaway industry, including deliveries, and how the sector in continuing to go from strength to strength.

The introduction of apps

While we used to have to ring up or physically call in to the establishment to place an order, we can now use a number of applications to speed up and simplify the process.

There are currently over 36,000 dedicated takeaways and in 2016 alone we spent £9.9 billion as a nation on takeaway food; up 34% since 2009. This figure is expected to keep rising, with the projected size of the takeaway sector by 2021 being £11.2 billion.

One such service is the extremely popular Just Eat. The takeaway now represents an eighth of the whole food services sector and apps can take a lot of the credit for this boom. In a recent survey, the takeaway company found that 39% of restaurants had noticed an increase in orders outside of the regular mealtimes, with 72% of businesses claiming apps had been a positive addition for their business.

By allowing customers to rate the service and food, your business may rank highly outside of your immediate area, meaning more consumers from further afield would be willing to give your service a try. This highlights that for many fast food companies, their app is allowing them to reach an audience they previously wouldn’t have been able to attract.

How have advertising methods began to vary?

By having a good product that’s regularly in the public eye, your company should be constantly gaining new customers. It’s a cheap (free if you don’t promote your posts) and productive tool which will help you advertise your product and any offers you may have. A strong social media presence can also go a long way in getting your name out there. However, be sure to use it correctly as any misuse can have the opposite effect and be detrimental to your business.

Gone are the days when word of mouth would suffice. Nowadays, without a functioning website, you are running a huge risk of your business faltering. Customers want to know what they’re getting without leaving the house and a quick search on the internet should give them this opportunity. Similarly to the app, having a well-presented website will provide your audience with a platform to make a well-informed decision. If they are able to do this, then they are likely to gain confidence in your service.

How is service become more efficient?

The service, in conjunction with Deliveroo-style food courier service Postmates, is set to be trialed in the United States, but could be a game changer if it’s a success.

The Ford Transit Connect has excellent storage space and the automotive manufacturer is planning on cashing in on this by creating an automatic delivery service that will drop off your ordered food and drink — and it is closer than you think! This highlights that the death of the delivery driver – metaphorically speaking – may be near.

A company can install heated containers which would mean the vehicle could be out for longer without the risk of the order getting cold. By utilising all of a van’s space in a similar fashion to your supermarket deliveries. The vehicle would automatically send users a text on arrival and you’d need to type in a unique code to be granted access. It also helps to avoid payment issues, with Just Eat noting that nearly half of all in-person payments are now contactless.

Alongside all the benefits for the customer and advertising, larger businesses can take advantage of facilities, such as scheduling the workforce and it appears that the sector is only going to continue to grow. It’s clear that technology can benefit any industry, but it seems like the takeaway sector has fully embraced the advances.