If you run a restaurant, you’ve probably noticed that people want their food fast—especially when ordering delivery. The faster you get their food to them, the happier they’ll be, and that’s great for business. So how do you speed up delivery times? One of the best ways is to use an online food ordering platform. Let’s break down how it can help you get orders out the door quicker and keep your customers smiling.
Use an Online Food Ordering System to Make Life Easier
Using an online food ordering system is a game-changer. Think about it: when someone calls to place an order, your staff has to listen, confirm everything, and make sure they don’t miss any details. That’s a lot of back-and-forth and takes up precious time. But when customers order online, they handle all the details themselves—leaving less room for mistakes and speeding up the process.
With the order instantly sent to the kitchen, your team can start on it right away. There is no need to wait for someone to relay the message, which cuts down on prep time. Quicker prep means faster delivery, plain and simple.
Tip: Clean Up Your Online Menu
Another simple way to speed things up is to ensure that your menu design is clean and easy to navigate. If your menu is scattered or hard to read, customers will take forever to decide what they want. A well-organised online menu—where your best dishes are easy to find—will help customers place their orders faster, so you can get cooking sooner.
Keep Things Running Smoothly with an EPOS System
Another piece of tech that can really help speed up deliveries is an EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale) system. Linking this to your online food ordering platform makes everything smoother. Orders are automatically sent to the right team in your kitchen, so there’s no confusion about who’s doing what.
An EPOS system also helps track orders in real time. Your delivery drivers can see exactly when an order is ready to go, so they won’t have to wait around. The whole process becomes quicker, and fewer things fall through the cracks.
Avoid Bottlenecks in the Kitchen
We’ve all had those busy nights where orders pile up and the kitchen gets overwhelmed. An EPOS system helps you manage that by giving you a clear view of what’s going on. You can see which dishes are ready and which ones are lagging behind. This allows you to step in if needed, rearrange the workload, and keep things moving smoothly.
Slim Down Your Menu for Speed
Having a massive menu seems like a good idea, but it can slow things down. More options mean longer prep times, which leads to slower deliveries. Simplifying your menu—especially for delivery—can work wonders.
Focus on the dishes that are quick to prepare but still popular with customers. Highlight these on your online a la carte menu design so they’re easy to find. You could even create a “quick delivery” section for the fastest options, which will help cut down waiting times even more.
Let Customers Track Their Orders
Another great way to keep customers happy is to offer real-time order tracking through your online platform. When people know exactly where their food is—whether it’s being cooked or on its way to their door—they tend to be more patient.
Plus, it means fewer phone calls to your restaurant asking, “Where’s my food?” Your staff will have more time to focus on getting orders out the door, and customers will appreciate the transparency.
Plan the Fastest Delivery Routes
Bad delivery routes can mess things up even if your kitchen is cranking out food quickly. That’s where route optimisation comes in. Many online ordering systems come with built-in tools that help your drivers find the quickest way to deliver, taking traffic and other factors into account.
Also, make sure your drivers have the right tools to speed up deliveries. Give them EPOS systems so they can quickly process payments and get on their way. The less time they spend at the door, the faster they can move on to the next delivery.
Hire Drivers Who Know the Area
Having good drivers can make or break your delivery times. You need people who know the area so they can avoid traffic and take shortcuts. Whether you hire your own drivers or use a third-party service, make sure they’re familiar with the local streets.
A little training goes a long way, too. Teaching your drivers how to use the EPOS system properly can save time and prevent mistakes. When everyone is on the same page, the delivery process becomes smoother.
Get Feedback and Improve
Lastly, don’t forget to ask your customers for feedback. Many online ordering systems allow customers to leave reviews or rate their experience after delivery. This feedback is gold—you’ll know what’s working well and what needs improvement. Use it to tweak your process and make things even faster.
Offering a small discount or deal to customers who leave reviews is a great way to encourage feedback. Positive reviews help you identify what’s working, while constructive criticism points out areas for improvement.
Final Thoughts
Using an online food ordering system, keeping your menu design clean, optimising with an EPOS system, and offering real-time tracking can significantly reduce delivery times. Customers will appreciate the faster service, and your restaurant will benefit from smoother operations and repeat business.
