How to Develop a Restaurant Mobile App? Trends, Features and Pro Tips

Updated 11 Mar 2024
Published 31 Mar 2023
Satyam Chaturvedi 2800 Views
Restaurant Mobile App

The market for restaurant mobile apps is expanding and flourishing exponentially in today’s technologically advanced and fast-paced environment. Employing resources like applications with high-quality interfaces, where customer involvement is the ultimate goal, is necessary for this environment.

Creating an application for a restaurant business can alter everything, from involving customers to boosting sales and bringing convenience. Let’s talk about how you can create a restaurant application for your business.

Applications for Restaurant Apps: Why is it the Need of the Business Hours?

Restaurant Mobile App UI Animation by Mohammad Elgayar on Dribbble

Have you ever given your clientele or those who eat at your eatery any thought? or those who want to taste your cuisine while they are at home? Have you considered enhancing their experience with your restaurant mobile app development?

What if your company had a tailored app that could give consumers a detailed look at your offer? One solution, the creation of applications for mobile restaurants, could satisfy all of these inquiries.

You can give your customers the best experience by utilizing technology and developing a convenient option. They would come back to you repeatedly.

Statistics of the Restaurant Mobile App Market

us-restaurant-management-software-market

The market for restaurant applications and indoor delivery facilities is growing in number each day. A recent study and survey pointed out that around 63% of customers found ordering food at home more convenient than dining. Also, 32% of the customers prefer to place orders directly from the restaurant’s mobile applications.

This is also leading to a significant increase in revenue generation by restaurants, as they are spending more than 20% on off-premises orders against regular dine-in experiences.

It’s Time to Switch to Mobile App Ordering

It's Time to Switch to Mobile App Ordering

As the proprietor, a restaurant app is necessary to differentiate your business and guarantee a better user experience. To create an app that tends to provide all the food delivery services to your clients, all you have to do is work with a reputable service provider for your company. Many components are involved in creating and operating a smartphone application.

What is Trending in the Market of Restaurant Apps and Eatery Businesses?

Trending in the mobile applications and restaurant business in recent years:

What is Trending in the Market for Mobile Applications and Restaurant Business

1. Personalization

Every customer has a different collection of requirements, and every prospect wants to be treated differently. Customers anticipate more individualized encounters. Here, restaurant applications must be created in a manner that meets these needs.

They can go about providing customized menus, discount-based offers, or some promotions to retain their clients. This is how clients would constantly return to your business.

2. Loyalty Regimes

In the modern world, no matter how wealthy or unconstrained by financial obligations a consumer is, certain offers will always entice them. Therefore, you must have some ready solutions for them if you want your client base to grow and keep using your services.

Freebies, appealing discounts, and free deliveries are a few loyalty programs that can help them keep more money on your menu.

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3. Contactless Dining

This is one of the most prominent trends of the post-COVID-19 period. Through the use of curbside pickup, contactless payments, and online purchasing, restaurants can leverage the power of this feature.

Different Types of Restaurant Mobile Apps

Several different types of restaurant mobile apps serve different purposes. Here are some of the most common types:

Different Types of Restaurant Mobile Apps

  • Find Your Restaurant App

This type of app allows users to search for restaurants based on their location, cuisine, price range, and ratings. It provides users with detailed information about the restaurant’s menu, hours of operation, and reviews from other customers. Users can also make reservations or contact the restaurant directly through the app.

  • On-table Order and Pay App

With an on-table order and pay app customers can view a restaurant’s menu, place an order, and pay for their meal directly from their mobile device. This eliminates the need for customers to flag down a server or wait in line to pay at the end of the meal.

  • Online Ordering and Delivery App

With this type of restaurant application, users can place orders for food and beverages from their favorite restaurants and have them delivered to their doorstep. It also allows customers to track their orders in real-time and receive notifications when their food is ready for pickup or delivery.

food ordering app development

  • Loyalty Program App

The loyalty program app rewards customers for their loyalty to a particular restaurant. Customers earn points for every purchase they make, and these points can be redeemed for discounts, free meals, or other rewards.

  • Inventory Management Software

This type of software helps restaurant owners keep track of their inventory levels, reorder supplies when needed, and manage food costs. It can also generate reports that provide insights into the restaurant’s profitability and help owners make informed decisions about menu pricing and inventory management.

How to Create a Restaurant Mobile App in Simple Steps?

When creating an eatery application for your business, your top priority should be learning more about what your customers want.

These days, the market is firmly focused on the consumer’s needs, leaving no nook untouched by their increasing expectations. Therefore, as an eatery business, you must take all the necessary measures to provide your consumers with an excellent experience.

An app needs to be developed to maximize efficiency and foster client loyalty so they return to you. You must follow these instructions to reduce your future workload.

How to Create a Restaurant Mobile Appin Simple Steps

1. Check the Grounds of Application Availability Based On their Types

You should be aware of the numerous types of restaurant apps available on the market if you own or operate an eatery. This information would make knowing your competitive environment and making the best decision easier. Among the most popular kinds of restaurant apps on the market are:

  • Framework for Restaurant Suppliers

The most effective supply chain is necessary for a thriving restaurant chain. With this type of restaurant administration software, you can get fresh produce and other necessities, like drinks, whenever you want.

  • Application for Getting Food From Restaurants

Users can browse a broader selection of menu items, get an idea of the prices, and choose which restaurants to order from nearby. This is one-way restaurants can expand their offering.

  • Table Reservations

Everyone who uses a service or patronizes an eatery wants to avoid waiting in lines and wants a table immediately. A restaurant owner can create a table reservation application so that customers can reserve a table in advance and avoid the hassles of standing in long lines.

restaurant booking app development

When you’re finished with this research, you’ll be able to see which applications are the best and most popular on the market. Additionally, a thorough study would provide comprehensive information and data analysis to help you select the best application for your Food delivery business.

  • Restaurant Locators

Business owners of restaurants can use this application to ensure that their website always appears at the top of search engine results sites. These locator apps provide the user with information about dining options in the area.

  • Restaurant-to-Customer Application

This direct program connects the restaurant directly to the intended customers. It provides online ordering, table reservations, and feedback to enhance online food ordering apps.

2. Including Features to Make your Application More Functional

Now that you’ve reached this stage, you need to add some features to your food delivery application to boost its usefulness and performance. Make a top-to-bottom list of the characteristics that must be included. The following are some of the most notable elements you can add to your application:

  • Online Order Feature

One of the most important components to include in every restaurant’s application is this. Customers would have the option to order straight from the restaurant for pickup or delivery.

  • Push Notifications

This function would keep the user informed. It immediately sends out new updates. Additionally, it communicates details about discounts. It also enhances the function of customer engagement and gains customer loyalty.

Push Notifications

  • Reservation of a Table

As we already stated, waiting in lines can be more than annoying for a customer. To allay this worry, you incorporate a table registration feature into your application, allowing customers to reserve tables in advance when they want to eat.

  • GPS Tracking

The customer always wonders where their food is after placing an online purchase. You can incorporate the GPS monitoring feature to keep track of the food and to know the precise location of the delivery person in real-time.

Your customers can easily follow the progress of your order from the restaurant, including when it was made, what is currently on the production line, etc.

  • Menu Customizations

When customers order food from home, their goal is to request smaller portions. Customers can order food that suits their tastes through a feature on the customized menu, which improves the customer’s overall personal experience.

menu customization feature in restaurant app development

  • Payments

For your customers’ added convenience, it is always better to integrate various payment applications. Incorporating different payment methods will increase client friendliness and improve accessibility.

  • Reward Systems

There should be some additional benefits to selecting your time again. You can introduce a loyalty program for them, so they have a special incentive.

They would be inspired to use your services in this manner as well. Some loyalty programs, like cashback, gifts, and points, can be implemented to keep customers.

  • Social Integrations and Connections

With this feature, your customers can post their opinions of the food on their social media accounts. It also makes it possible to join the restaurant app using social media.

Social media can be linked to the program for loyalty and reward-based systems. You can use social media to entice customers with seasonal specials, the finest food, and other things in addition to what’s new on your menu.

  • Ratings and Suggestions

You would have a chance to naturally draw in more customers with this function. Customers can rate the cuisine, the environment, and other things. A highly rated application aids in customer acquisition for the company.

rating review in restaurant app

With the employment of AI and machine learning tools, you can learn more about your users. On the basis of previous purchases, it would suggest dishes. The user experience may be improved by personalizing the restaurant website.

  • Dashboard

This component or page provides access to information such as the total number of orders made, sales for the week, month, and other statistics. Through this function, restaurant owners gain thorough insights.

  • Preparation Guidelines

Some individuals have distinctive methods—or, for that matter, distinctive requirements—for preparing their food. This feature would make it easier for your customers to communicate their preferences with restaurants, such as making salt-free food and keeping it light.

  • Managing the Orders

This function would assist the eatery in determining whether to accept or reject the order. It firmly updates the order’s state.

A prioritized list of features and some advance planning can give you the added benefit of being ready and resourceful when putting your application into action. Additionally, this would enable you to adapt to customer requirements.

It would also inform you of the motivating factor that would encourage users to use your application. Increased customer interaction and more application downloads are the main goals of the add-on features and performance improvements. This makes increasing organic traffic and uploads simple.

3. Select the Category of Application: Client or Vendor for Restaurants

It is essential to establish your goals early on and to decide what kind of application you will create to meet market needs. You must have a clear grasp of the application or need you will be addressed before you make a financial commitment. Selecting the ideal platform for your restaurant company involves many steps. These specific features consist of:

  • Recognize your Intended Audience

Understanding the people you will serve is a very important first step. Anyone could be anybody ranging, including your clients or customers for the company and your staff. This would give you an idea of the problem-solving analysis you tend to implement.

  • Finding the Root of the Issue

Once you have a firm grasp of your target market, the next stage is to develop solutions by becoming aware of all the existing issues.

For instance, if your framework is founded on suppliers, your concern might be addressing their inventory-related problems or handling supply chain difficulties.

It would be easier to create the best action plan if you were aware of the issues. Additionally, it would provide a clearer image of the restaurant application that your company should strive to create.

  • Identifying & Closing the Disparities

Understanding your industry’s competition is also essential. Conduct an exhaustive and in-depth competitor analysis to identify any shortcomings in the existing apps and implement fixes for improved usability.

  • Setting Objectives & Goals

You must define the goals for your restaurant business at the end of the procedure. This would become apparent through the application, improved management, or greater acquisition among the other group of points. Your food delivery application development strategy needs to align with the objectives you hope to accomplish. This is how a simple program can be built in this manner.

This analysis would provide you with a means of comprehending the restaurant application industry’s demands and your company’s predetermined objectives. Getting to know your intended audiences better would also be beneficial.

4. Selecting a Tech Stack Based on the Sort of Application

You must select the tech stack in the very next step based on the sort of application build you have. The tech stack is crucial for helping restaurant application writers make wise decisions. If you are looking for a native application, you must go for iOS or Android based.

The tool you intend to use can then be chosen. Another option is creating a cross-platform mobile application using a separate tech stack. But a number of variables would affect the tech platform selection.

  • Size & Complexity

The size of the project will directly influence the selected technology, regardless of how varied your requirements are for an On-demand mobile app or website.

  • Budget

Prior to developing anything else, budgetary restrictions or costs must be considered. A cross-platform technology can allay your worries if you need an application but are working with a limited budget. However, any technology can work for you if you don’t have to second-guess your purchases.

  • Speed & Performance

For your customers to use, a highly developed mobile application with a faster speed would be more than helpful and enhanced. Use functions that allow your client to use the app immediately.

  • Secure

How secure your app is in terms of keeping data is what counts. The security and safety of your mobile application would be directly impacted by the technology platform you choose. The food delivery mobile app development of the program must prioritize security. The security objectives would influence the technology decision.

  • Scalability

In this cutthroat environment, a company must be adaptable enough to survive. Scale the application with a rise in customers. Additionally, your tech stack should give you some flexibility to introduce new features in accordance with the most recent trends.

  • Teamwork

If you had a team of internal specialists, the tech stack would be based on the knowledge they could contribute. A committed coder can assist you here.

  • Timelines for Delivery

This would directly impact your decision regarding the software stack. You should consider cross-platform development for your instant app launch efforts. A tech stack would be the ideal course of support, though, if you have some time set aside for the launch of your application.

You will have a good understanding of the technological architecture after completing these steps, which will help you select the best technology for your application. Additionally, it would help you understand how to improve the customer experience.

Additionally, you would study and put into practice application prototyping to find out how users would move through your mobile app.

Read also: Top 10 Successful Food Delivery Apps to Follow in 2024

5. Putting the Program Into Action and Designing It

Now that you have an in-hand solution of the technology stack, it’s time to direct your efforts toward building your restaurant application. In order to proceed with creating the application at this point, you must select the restaurant application development services.

Putting the Program Into Action and Designing It

The most employable technology stack would be used to create the program. An experienced food delivery app developer can streamline all of your processes if your network is more formal.

You must then proceed to shortlist the qualified candidates in the following stage. Your app needs to be made and furnished with the finest features, from the front-end to the back-end tools.

This is how you can ensure your application is created while carefully adhering to the earlier-developed business goals. The process of creating an application would also give you a chance to plan and begin moving toward a more dependable and cleanly coded product for your clients. An app with a dynamic UI would not represent your company well.

6. Pilot Testing

It is essential that you test the application and confirm its dependability, functionality, and performance before launching it. It must be able to endure the time, speed, performance, and ease of use requirements set forth by your company objectives.

If your customer base is in some way demanding it, a high-definition platform might also be the best option for your app development company.

application testing

Before releasing your application, ensure there are no bugs and perform thorough, confirmed testing. Create test scenarios and specify the testing equipment. Write those test cases, then proceed to run them.

This will enable you to have a thoroughly examined and validated application that loads quickly and with outstanding quality. It would be fully synchronized with the intended goals.

7. The Application’s Launch

You should now start working on developing and launching the mobile program for your restaurant. A fine-tuning or optimizing step would be anticipated of you prior to launch.

Before moving forward with the concept of deploying the application, make sure the application complies with the app store’s rules.

3,900+ Mobile App Launch Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images - iStock

You must complete duties like creating your food delivery mobile application’s title and description in order to optimize it. To find out which key phrases are popular and have high search traffic, you can use tools like keyword research. By doing this, you can draw increasingly more users to your application.

You must also follow all laws and licensure requirements. The dedicated developer’s license is a requirement for submitting your mobile application to the appropriate app stores. This phase might also require you to pay a specific amount to get your application into its running stage.

Now your restaurant company would have a highly functional, tested, and verified application. It would be a completely optimized mobile application that your target audience could quickly find. Additionally, this product would be completely in line with market demands.

How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Restaurant Mobile App?

The cost to develop a restaurant app can vary depending on several factors, including the complexity of the app, the features included, and the mobile app developer’s hourly rate.

A basic restaurant app with essential features like menu browsing, ordering, and payment processing can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000.

However, if you want to add more advanced features like table booking, loyalty programs, push notifications, and real-time tracking, the cost can increase significantly to $40,000 to $80,000 or more.

It is essential to consult with a professional restaurant app development company to get an accurate estimate of the cost of developing a restaurant app based on your specific requirements.

Know the Cost: How to Develop a Food Delivery Mobile App: Features & Cost

Challenges While Developing Restaurant Application

Developing a restaurant app can be challenging due to various technical and procedural reasons. Initially, it requires a lot of execution planning to best fit the functional scope of the application.

Here, as we work on the app’s compatibility with various devices and operating systems it can be complex in various ways to establish technical validation and compliance.

Further, creating a user-friendly interface that provides seamless navigation and ordering experience can be daunting. Also in that sequence, integrating payment gateways and ensuring security can be challenging.

Finally, maintaining the app and continuously updating it to meet changing user requirements can have its own set of challenges.

Overcoming these challenges requires a well-organized team of analysts, application programmers, and support professionals who can work together in close tandem to deliver a high-quality app that perfectly meets the project’s requirements.

How to hire food delivery app development company in UAE

Best Examples of Restaurant Mobile Apps

Here are some examples of restaurant mobile apps:-

Dominos

Dominos

This global pizza chain is known for its faster offerings, variety of pizzas, and online ordering, among other capabilities. Online ordering and applications advent has changed the game for dominos and its customers completely.

Online ordering has witnessed an enhancement in operational efficiency. Dominos is beating all odds. Its digital platforms comprise 30% of its sales.

Zomato

Zomato

This popular India-based food delivery regime and application have achieved tremendous success recently. The application is the critical component of the success of the company.

It allows for menu browsing, ordering food and deliveries, leaving reviews, and making table reservations beforehand. At present, the active Zomato users are around 32.1 million.

Starbucks

Starbucks

Leveraging the power of technology to drive sales and working towards customer engagement, this popular coffee chain allows customers to order and pay for drinks and food ahead of time.

It also enables users to earn special rewards and special access promotions offered on another day. The role of application has been tremendous.

OpenTable

OpenTable

This popular restaurant reservation and management system is a platform that has achieved significant success through mobile application development.

From searching for restaurants to making reservations and managing all the bookings, a customer can make all the bookings on one platform. It offers an interactive UI.

McDonald’s

McDonald's

This multinational fast-food chain has used mobile applications’ capabilities to increase client engagement, success, and sales. Users can access special offers and promos, make payments, and place advance food orders.

This chain’s undivided emphasis on convenience through mobile applications is the main factor in its success.

Why Arka Softwares is the best choice for Developing a Restaurant App?

Arka Softwares offers customized solutions for businesses to best suit their technological, quality, and budget preference. Arka has in-depth market experience in developing restaurant applications and holds a great deal of expertise in tech-led innovation in the domain.

Plus, the undivided focus on resource engagement and post-launch support makes Arka Softwares the most riveted choice for ventures to invest their restaurant application ideas into it.

The food delivery app development company has been working extensively towards improvisations of experience and operations for businesses through a customized and comprehensive approach. This has shown significant results in platform performance and business ROIs besides building a strong presence and rapport for the application in the target markets.

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Last Thoughts

Enhancing the user experience is one of the main goals of the mobile application creation process. To draw consumers in from all directions, it must be constructed in a way that is both intuitive and aesthetically pleasing.

Technology and its surroundings are constantly changing. All you need to do to create an app that outperforms is to capture the keynotes of the trends in action at that time. Make your customers the center of your growth because they will ultimately be responsible for your company’s sales and profitability.

A carefully thought-out strategy can help you create mobile applications with great success. An application is meant to streamline your business operations and let your app do that by hiring pros for its functionality and performance.

FAQs for Developing a Restaurant App

        • Why Do Restaurants Need Mobile Apps?

          Restaurants need mobile apps to improve customer experience, increase revenue, and streamline operations. An app can help restaurants reach more customers, accept orders online, reduce wait times, and provide personalized promotions. It can also allow customers to track their orders and provide feedback.

        • How Does a Restaurant App Make Money?

          A restaurant app can make money in several ways, such as through commission-based fees on food orders, advertising, subscriptions, or premium features. Some apps charge restaurants to be listed, while others charge a percentage of the sale made through the app.

        • How Long Does it Take to Develop a Restaurant App?

          The time it takes to develop a restaurant app depends on several factors, such as the complexity of the app, the features required, and the on-demand food delivery app development platform used. Generally, it can take anywhere from several weeks to several months to develop an app, depending on the team’s size and expertise, the scope of the project, and the testing and debugging process.

Satyam Chaturvedi

Satyam Chaturvedi is a Digital Marketing Manager at Arka Softwares, a leading app development company dealing in modern and futuristic solutions. He loves to spend his time studying the latest market insights.

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