How Covid-19 changed restaurant orders

It’s fair to say that Covid-19 has changed the way we buy restaurant meals. How much so? Tyro partner DoorDash surveyed 1,015 customers across Australia in March 2021¹ to learn about their experiences, and we’ve unpacked the key findings into bite-sized thoughts on ordering, pickup, delivery, and more.

Pre Covid-19 dining behaviours continue to grow

The DoorDash research shows that 93% of survey respondents ordered food for pickup at least once in the past month, with an average of 3.2 times per month. For delivery, 71% of respondents had ordered in the past month, with an average of 2.6 orders. Both figures are higher than dine-in experiences, with 69% going out to dine one or more times in that same month.

Key take-out

Will this trend continue once Covid-19 restrictions ease? Though we don’t have a crystal ball, these figures indicate that restaurants are in a strong position to adapt if their systems support all ordering options.

Ordering experience and lightning-fast service are top priorities

Of those surveyed by DoorDash, 74% said a good ordering experience was the key reason when deciding where to order their meals from. A similar number – 75% – said that speed of service was the key factor behind their decision about whether to order pickup, delivery, or dine-in.

Key take-out

Restaurants need a convenient and efficient ordering system to ensure accuracy and speed. From the moment a customer makes contact to place an order, the aim is to make their experience is a positive one.

Delivery platforms are here for the long haul

In the two years between 2018 and 2020, use of food delivery services by individuals aged 14 and up jumped from 9.8% to 19.1%. Why do customers choose delivery over pickup? Of survey respondents, 70% said it’s because they find delivery more convenient.

Key take-out

Delivery platform use can lead to increased sales month over month and year over year. Tyro Connect facilitates restaurants to benefit from this trend, plus it’s compatible with key ordering platforms.

Pick up complements dine-in and delivery

Even though uptake of delivery has nearly doubled in the past two years, 45% of customers report that they choose to pick up their most recent order, rather than having it delivered, because they happened to be nearby the restaurant at the time.

Key take-out

Having systems that can smoothly move between dine-in, pick-up, and delivery orders is essential to capture the trend of people supporting local business through their choice of interaction.

Building online sales is key

Just over half of surveyed customers (53%) say they choose a restaurant’s online ordering option over a phone call because of the ease of use of its online ordering system.

Key take-out

Some say that restaurants don’t need a website, but this research indicates that having a strong online presence (including a killer website) will increase customer awareness and capture sales, especially for customers who live in the area. 75% of restaurants on DoorDash agree that the platform has helped them reach new customers.

How can Tyro Connect support your restaurant business?

Some restaurants have tried a food ordering service but found it didn’t work because of the challenge of managing multiple applications and hardware, combined with the time taken to double enter information into both the delivery app and the standard Point of Sale (POS).

Tyro Connect is compatible with DoorDash, Deliveroo, Google^TM, me&u (and new big names to come soon) as well as leading POS software systems designed for cafes, pubs, clubs, bars, and restaurants.

How it works:

• Tyro Connect receives the order from the food ordering partner
• Automatically pushes it directly through to your POS
• Staff are immediately notified of the order

According to the research, customers value order accuracy and speed of service therefore providing a more accurate and faster service will increase customer satisfaction.

Could your business use the benefits of DoorDash and Tyro Connect?

Get started with a 60-day free DoorDash trial or learn more about Tyro Connect by visiting https://www.tyro.com/products/tyro-connect/ or call our Local Support team on 1300 00 TYRO (8976).

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_{1 2021 DoorDash Report ‘Restaurant Online Ordering Trends’- Australia Edition}