The pandemic undeniably led to consumers ordering restaurant delivery in record numbers. Now, as dining rooms have been reopened and mandates lifted, many consumers have headed back to their favorite eateries. Still, delivery remains a huge part of many restaurants’ business. According to Technomic’s 2022 Delivery and Takeout Consumer Trend Report, 51% of consumers in 2022 say they order delivery or carryout instead of dining in because it’s more comfortable to eat at home; 41% say it’s because they want to watch TV at home while eating; 35% say it’s because they don’t feel like dining in at a restaurant; and 27% say it’s because they are concerned about the safety of dining in during the pandemic.
Whatever their reasoning, the point is consumers are still ordering delivery regularly, and restaurants are facing challenges yet again—how can they keep up with delivery demand amid staffing shortages and a lack of in-house delivery drivers?
The good news is that many consumers are already familiar with third-party delivery solutions, such as DoorDash, which allow restaurants to complete delivery orders efficiently without needing to hire onsite drivers. Technomic’s Delivery and Takeout report finds that 36% of delivery orders are placed with a third-party delivery company, with 41% of consumers who order at least once a month saying they use DoorDash to do so.
Partnering with a third-party delivery service offers restaurants a few different benefits. With labor challenges posing a threat to many restaurants’ bottom lines, some may have considered eliminating delivery altogether if they don’t have anyone to drive the food. Partnering with a delivery company, of course, solves the delivery problem for them.
In fact, with a fleet of third-party drivers at the ready, operators can focus more of their staff’s labor on executing orders faster—and happy customers make loyal customers. By speeding up the process from order to delivery, diners get their food faster, and word travels fast when diners have good delivery experiences. Additionally, because many consumers look to a third-party platform when choosing a restaurant to order from, restaurants that partner with a third-party delivery service will inherently have more eyes on their menus than they would if they relied solely on in-house delivery options—and in turn, more sales.
Boosting delivery sales while dealing with an unprecedented labor crunch doesn’t have to be a difficult undertaking—by working with a third-party delivery provider, restaurants can increase the number of delivery orders they sell, all without having to hire in-house delivery drivers.
Finding the right third-party delivery partner is key, however. The right provider will be able to offer POS integration and reliable customer support for the restaurants it serves, plus easy updates to online menus and more. DoorDash is proud to be a leader in third-party delivery solutions for restaurants. To learn more, visit get.doordash.com.
This post is sponsored by DoorDash