Coronavirus numbers surged overwhelmingly in many countries around the world. It emerged that mishandling the pandemic is what caused the most affected countries to see higher death tolls. In addition to the pandemic’s human cost, other casualties have been economic powerhouses that thrived before everything went into lockdown mode.
The restaurant industry has seen many players lose money; employees no longer have work, and others have been forced to close entirely and call it quits. This industry has lost billions of pounds worldwide due to closures, drastically fewer seated restaurants, lockdown restrictions, and disruptions in the supply chain.
Smaller restaurants are feeling the brunt more, but even older establishments with prestigious legacies are not spared.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic took hold, online food ordering was seen as one of the restaurant industry’s fastest-growing sections. The estimates projected that growth would probably hit $200 billion by 2025. Right now, it is the only source of income for restaurants trying to stave off complete or full closure.
However, it does not seem like the pandemic will end any time soon. The online ordering segment is showing people exactly why they need it. Most of those who order online do so for convenience, and it might just be the successor restaurants have been looking for.
Although it is unlikely that restaurants will be phased out completely, the pandemic seems to be coming back in a second wave, with recent reports showing that the number of new infections tested in a day could rise again.
The lockdown, which was easing due to economic pressures and cabin fever, have gone back into effect in most places, including the U.K.
That leaves us with online food ordering as the one way to go when trying to get something to eat conveniently.
As with any transition from previously established industries, the online food ordering trend is fueled by some factors that will continue to operate long after people can eat in a restaurant again.
Despite the adversity of tough times like these, the food industry is still delivering what they can. They are a frontline service, seen by many as essential in providing nutrition to those unable to get it by other means.
This connection is psychological and has a likelihood of continuing after the pandemic. The people who depended on the online food ordering service will stand by the business they trusted to bring them what they needed when they couldn’t go out.
Before the pandemic, a significant number of restaurants did not have in-house delivery services, and others relied on third-party delivery services. With the pandemic in full swing, most of the restaurants have had to adapt or die out.
The decision to have an in-house delivery service has taken hold. It will continue to improve as it leverages technology to ensure that efficiency and convenience characterize the entire operation.
The likelihood is that the online food ordering trend will continue as these systems remain in place even after the pandemic is over.
The post-coronavirus world is going to be more digital than ever before. The development of AI and cyberspace activities is taking massive strides.
Advanced tech is going to play a significant role in restaurant establishments. Not only can it streamline delivery, but it can also enforce safety, improve efficiency, and ensure that the people running the online food ordering business can stay afloat.
Even the most traditional shoppers have been forced to buy things online by the pandemic. The market for online goods grew, whether we liked it or not.
By giving online delivery services, restaurants cannot only reach those who are most comfortable with online ordering but also loyal customers who would like to eat some of their favorite foods and have no choice but to order online.
Companies in tech are continually changing the way we operate in daily activities. The current crisis has not only forced innovation to move faster, it has also assured that businesses have to adapt to survive.
New workplace models are not the only adoption that innovation has brought. Technologies have been integrating to give people platforms that allow them to do more for less.
The restaurant business is not left out as it can leverage the same technologies other companies are using, ensuring that they can be at the forefront of a changing business environment.
It was clear right after the pandemic started that not any businesses were prepared for that kind of adversity. What is it about this pandemic that will make the online food ordering trend irreversible?
Food eCommerce is not a niche market anymore. In the coming months and years, we will need to figure out what responsibilities online food platforms have while enforcing food safety and proper regulation.