On-demand food delivery app services have been in the limelight for more than a decade. These apps create an unparalleled experience among users by delivering their favorite food from the desired restaurant in the shortest time possible. Even for entrepreneurs, the market proves to be a potential investment ground, assuring their ROI. Apps like UberEats, Doordash, Grubhub, Zomato, etc., have established their brands successfully with their target audience.

A dynamic market grows and sustains with the demands of the people. As days pass by, people expect more from online platforms. On-demand food delivery apps are adapting to the changing environment by imposing several attractive strategies. The merger of UberEats and Grubhub, with the former proposing a deal to acquire the latter, has been buzzing in the air for quite some time now. However, Uber is likely to pull out of the deal, with Grubhub expected to reach a deal with JustEat Takeaway. In this blog, let’s visualize the future for food delivery apps and different strategies that can come in handy for an UberEats clone app.

How is the industry faring amid the COVID-19 crisis?

 

Let’s take a look at some reports that suggest the upsurge of the food delivery apps.

• According to the Consumers Intelligence Research Partners, UberEats was used by almost 34% of users in the last three months.
• Doordash and Grubhub followed in the list, with 33% and 21% users accessing the apps, respectively.
• According to Edison Trends, Doordash is leading the race with 47% of the total transactions (190,000) to its total tally.
• UberEats and Grubhub account for 26% and 23% of the transactions, respectively.
• The buzz in the air has spiked the shares of Grubhub to 29%, according to Bloomberg.
• Besides, the global food delivery services market is forecasted to grow with a CAGR of 15%.

It is apparent that the food delivery services industry is witnessing multiple competitors, who are growing neck-to-neck. The facts suggest that entrepreneurs can assure their ROI if they can venture into the market with a best-in-class food delivery app.

What are the recent advancements in the delivery medium? 

• Delivery by robots: Instead of hiring delivery professionals, platforms can opt for delivery by robots. This recent trend has already been put to action by Eat24, a popular on-demand food delivery app. Robots are sophisticated, accurate, and highly reliable devices made for the replacement of humans. With the digitization of the world, this idea can be the one to watch out for in the near future.
• Delivery by drones: While land deliveries pose various disadvantages like traffic, routes, etc., you can choose deliveries by air. Yes, you read that right. The development of drones has widened this possibility to a considerable extent. Zomato and Domino’s Pizza have already trial launched this delivery system and have obtained exhilarating results.
• Delivery by parachutes: How about a mini-parachute to deliver food instantly? Isn’t that cool? Researchers have identified the prospects of this delivery and are generating favorable results from various tests. An Australian firm, Jafflechute, has conducted deliveries through parachutes and it gained popularity among the masses.

What are the different strategies for food ordering? 

With the rise of different gadgets, people prefer different ways to order food. Some of the popular strategies include,

• Ordering through smartwatches: The market for smartwatches is thriving, and according to Apple, an Apple Watch is sold for almost every second throughout the world. This trend has pushed food delivery platforms to let users order these digital devices. Domino’s Pizza and OrderUp have already implemented this strategy.
• Ordering through an in-car ordering system: People, in their busy schedules, need services on the go. This need has led to the development of the in-car ordering system. This way, people can order food during their drive, thereby avoiding time considerably. Pizza Hut has joined hands with Accenture to implement this type of ordering system.
• Ordering through Smart TVs: Just as the name implies, TVs are meant to be smart nowadays, don’t they? While binge-watching their favorite series or movies, people must have the option of ordering food through their television sets. Papa John’s Pizza has approached Apple TV to let people use this feature.

All these advancements signify that popular on-demand food delivery apps are attracting users through different improvements.

What are the ways to attract the audience towards the app?

Instead of food ordering alone, your UberEats clone should have unique characteristics to stand apart from the rest of the lot. Let’s discuss those characteristics here,

• Waste Management: People order and enjoy their food in the comfort of their homes. Food wastes amount to $2.6 trillion annually. This has become a significant threat to our environment. Hence, integrating a waste management plugin in your app can come in handy. The idea is quite simple. If at all your app users cannot complete their food, they can opt for a delivery professional to pick the leftover food and feed the needy. This way, they can achieve a sense of satisfaction that they have helped the environment and the society they live in.
• Pet food delivery: Pets are an integral part of the family, aren’t they? Hence, users, while ordering food, should have the option of ordering pet food through your app. This way, your app acts as a one-stop destination for pet lovers who can order food for themselves and their pets. Just so you know, 68% of the families in the US own a pet.
• Virtual Kitchens: Commonly known as the ghost kitchens, your app can help restaurants establish their business among their target audience. This strategy involves data analysis, and it is usually well-accurate and result-oriented. The data analysts of your apps can identify certain bestselling cuisines based on the data available through your app. With this data, you can provide crucial information to restaurants approaching your platform. These restaurants accept orders only through your app, and there are no facilities for dine-in or takeaway. This is a win-win situation for the online platform as well as the restaurants.

What is the role of ‘Big Data’ in the near future?

“The goal is to turn data into information, and information into insight,” states Carly Fiorina, ex-CEO of HP. Big Data is, inevitably, the next big thing of the modern era. Your app stores a massive amount of data that can be used for the betterment of your services. For example, periodic assessment of the traffic in a particular area, customer behavior, ratings for a particular product, etc., can all be used to provide accurate results to users in the future.

Users are annoyed if their food orders do not reach them within a stipulated time. With the aid of big data, you can provide exact delivery timings, leading to increased customer satisfaction. With advancements in cloud and data, Big data is set to rule almost every industry in the upcoming years.

What are the digital techniques to look out for in the future?

Digital techniques are sprouting up to enhance the security of databases and provide instant services to people. Some of the significant methods include,

• Hybrid cloud services: Platforms generally use public or private cloud infrastructure. Public services are more prone to data thefts, while private services increase your responsibility and the total development cost. Hence, the hybrid model, which adds the advantages of public and private models, can significantly aid in enhancing data security. These cloud services are agile and pocket-friendly, as well.
• Virtual currencies: With the rise of blockchain and cryptocurrency, integrating virtual currency payments through your app can be a wise business idea. This way, users can pay for their orders via digital money. Most of the restaurants nowadays are implementing these strategies to attract the masses towards their platforms.
• 5G services: 5G is the latest advancement in cellular technology, aimed at achieving higher bandwidth and increased download speeds. In a food delivery network, restaurants accept users’ orders, and delivery workers are dispatched to pick up the order accordingly. The time to share the details within the system can be reduced drastically with the upcoming 5G services. Real-time updates and instant services can propel your on-demand food delivery app to your target audience.

How can Appdupe help you in food delivery app development? 

At Appdupe, we have a seasoned team of experts who analyze the recent trends of the market. Besides, with over a decade of in-hand experience, they can create new trends, thereby making your app successful. Our well-equipped technical team hears you out entirely and provides quality insights into how your app will turn out. Our solutions are completely customizable, allowing you to modify the plan as per your specifications. We deploy the best minds to do extensive market research on your locality before initiating app development. You can stay miles ahead of your competitors with our best-in-class and robust app features.

Schedule an appointment with us, and we’ll take care of the rest. Rest assured, you can climb the ladders of success by enhancing your UberEats clone in the shortest time possible.