The online food delivery world is full of exciting opportunities. Companies like Uber Eats, Foodpanda, GrubHub, and other innovative startups are changing how we satisfy our cravings. It’s a truly exciting time in the food industry.
Crafting an app like Uber Eats demands immense dedication and specialized knowledge. Designing a groundbreaking application with all the essential features is akin to attempting to merge two distinct worlds – an arduous challenge. The process entails a substantial investment of time and funds, but the potential for triumph is exceedingly promising when you assemble the required components.
Food Marketplace Models
Two distinct food startup models dominate the market, and it’s essential to delve deeper into each for a better understanding.
Order-only platform model
Order-only platforms connect customers with many food establishments. The system collects restaurant information; users can access menus, prices, and reviews.
This cutting-edge solution empowers restaurants to broaden their reach, allowing users to discover the perfect spot to satisfy their culinary cravings swiftly. Unlike conventional delivery services, these platforms entrust restaurants to handle their own drivers and, in return, generate revenue through a nominal commission fee (typically capped at 15%).
The key aspects of such applications:
- Users select menu items and place an order
- Payment is system-authorized
- The restaurant receives the order and starts preparing it
- The food is delivered to the restaurant’s driver
- The driver brings the food to the client and the payment is withdrawn
The primary challenge these emerging startups face is establishing an extensive network of restaurants. App proprietors must employ innovative strategies to entice a diverse array of partners, encompassing prominent establishments and charming, niche eateries. Each platform boasts a sleek design and incorporates various filters—from dishes and locations to pricing—to enhance the user’s quest for the perfect dining destination. Nonetheless, their range of choices and revenue streams remains somewhat constrained.
Order and delivery platform model
Unlike regular restaurant aggregators, this model provides complete logistical support. It’s a great asset for startups, small restaurants, and other establishments without a delivery service. These startups partner with delivery companies for a fee.
Order and delivery platforms typically offer a range of convenient services to ensure a seamless experience for their users:
- Users can easily place their orders with secure payment authorization to streamline transactions.
- Once the order is placed, the chosen establishment promptly accepts it and commences meticulously preparing the selected food items.
- To ensure efficient delivery, the platform employs its dedicated fleet of couriers, ensuring swift and reliable transportation.
- As soon as the order is prepared, the platform promptly notifies the designated courier to initiate the delivery process.
- The diligent courier collects the freshly prepared food and embarks on a journey to deliver it to the client’s doorstep.
- After the customer confirms receipt of the order, the payment is processed and withdrawn, completing the seamless transaction.
These online platforms significantly commission restaurants, sometimes as high as 30% of the entire order value. Moreover, customers are also subject to a delivery fee, which can either be a fixed amount or vary based on the distance.
Monetization
In Uber Eats, delivery rates are custom, based on the distance, ensuring you get your food right at your doorstep. They used to charge a fixed $4.99 fee in the USA. Now, it’s all about the distance. Not only is it a fantastic source of steady income, but this company refuses to be confined to a single approach.
Today, where demand considerably outweighs supply, Uber introduces its ‘fee for busy areas’ to ensure prompt delivery. Rest assured, this fee guarantees that you’ll never have to wait for your food, even when our delivery partners are swamped.
Customers not only relish the unparalleled ease of Uber Eats, but restaurants also face the brunt of a substantial 30% commission on each order. With a customer spending $50 on their delectable meal, the restaurant’s earnings dwindle to $35 (excluding Stripe fees). On a positive note, Uber Eats offers restaurants a platform to showcase their culinary expertise. Still, they charge an additional fee to highlight venues at the top of their listings.
How Uber Eats monetizes their services
Uber Eats makes money through four different channels, each with its own advantages to cater to various needs. Creating an app like Uber Eats may require a significant investment, but the potential for profits is high. If you’re new to food app development, starting with the order-only system could be a good option.
What to Consider Before You Make an App Like Uber Eats
Before beginning your search for mobile developers, it is advisable to conduct thorough research. Identify your target audience, develop a value proposition, and gain knowledge on collaborating with restaurants that will be your future partners. You should familiarize yourself with FDA regulations in your country as a starting point.
Before beginning your search for mobile developers, it is advisable to conduct thorough research. Identify your target audience, develop a value proposition, and gain knowledge on collaborating with restaurants that will be your future partners. You should familiarize yourself with FDA regulations in your country as a starting point.
FDA Regulations
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an acronym for the regulatory agency responsible for overseeing food safety and quality, diligently conducts comprehensive monitoring and oversight of various food sources. These sources encompass traditional establishments such as grocery stores and restaurants and contemporary online food aggregators. The primary objective of such rigorous vigilance is to ensure the highest safety and quality for the food offerings made available to consumers.
Marketing Tips for an App Like Uber Eats
To establish a dependable food marketplace, it is imperative to employ multiple applications. Uber Eats, as a transformative force in the food delivery industry, introduces a comprehensive solution comprising three distinct components: a customer application catering to all ordering requirements, a delivery application for drivers, and an administrative panel enabling restaurants to confront substantial competition.
Don’t make a move towards marketplace app development or mobile apps without first forming a list of must-have features that your business simply cannot survive without.
Customer Application Features for an App Like Uber Eats
Let’s start with the feature specifically essential for an advanced user experience.
Registration and profile management: Upon entering the product, customers have a registration interface offering sign-up and log-in options. The registration process accommodates an email address or a phone number alongside a password entry field. Additionally, it is advisable to include alternative options for user convenience, such as registration through Google or Facebook accounts.
Furthermore, users should be provided with the capability to personalize their accounts. This entails uploading profile pictures, defining preferences, and inputting payment and shipping information. This feature permits users to establish default profile settings that will be automatically applied upon each login and allows for a seamless registration process by enabling login via existing Facebook or Twitter accounts.
Search field
Upon completing the profile setup, users access a comprehensive catalog of establishments. To facilitate convenient navigation, a search field is provided. This search functionality enables customers to explore establishments based on criteria such as the restaurant or cafe name, location, or menu.
Furthermore, the search box incorporates diverse filters, allowing users to streamline their search process. They can sort the options by price range, cuisine, or specific ingredients, thereby enhancing the efficiency of their search experience.
Order Placement
Creating an effortless and stress-free ordering experience is essential. You must ensure customers are delighted, effortlessly adding dishes to their cart with just a few clicks. Editing and deleting items should be as easy. After that, users confirm the order by reviewing all vital information before paying.
It is also worth considering the possibility of self-pickup of the order without a driver, as some customers may wish to collect their order themselves.
Payment
Speed, security, and convenience are the main aspects at the checkout stage. With multiple gateways like PayPal or Stripe, your customers will have the ultimate convenience.
And as your business expands, you can easily add even more choices. Plus, if your users have already saved their payment info, they can breeze through checkout with just a few clicks.
Nevertheless, the order tracking feature lets your customers stay in the loop and know exactly when their package will arrive. Drivers are constantly on the radar, their every move monitored through the cutting-edge Location API from Google (Android) or the innovative CoreLocation framework on iOS. Now, your users can track drivers’ every move on the map as they make their way to their doorstep.
Also, custom notifications sent through the app may include order and delivery status information.
Rating and reviews
The best way for users to share their experience is by leaving a review and rating. Encourage users to rate delivery service, wait time, and food quality.
Additional Features for an App Like Uber Eats
The list of extra features may include:
Bookmarks
When customers hurry, they instinctively reach for their trusty bookmarks or wishlist to find what they need. They can discover and save their favorite food options, allowing them to mark the best places to order from or go to already-tried options.
Order history
Order history is a personalized list showcasing users’ previous orders. This feature allows them to revisit and reorder their favorite items quickly.
Estimated delivery time
Users can effectively manage their schedules by observing the arrival time of their food. The service will provide immediate relief from waiting and uncertainty.
Discount system
Offering rewards is a straightforward and impactful approach. Customers can enjoy complimentary delivery services or a free beverage for large orders. By letting users unlock exclusive rewards and receive discounts, you can elevate your users ‘ loyalty with membership perks and promo codes.
Driver Application Features for an App Like Uber Eats
- Registration and profile setup. Similar to customers, your delivery personnel are entitled to profiles for quick and easy identification. Drivers are provided exclusive access to a centralized database, enabling them to track all the latest orders in real time effortlessly.
- Order management. Upon successful registration, drivers gain access to comprehensive information encompassing nearby orders. To initiate accepting offers, drivers must click the ‘go online’ button.
- Status updates. The delivery personnel must consistently update their statuses at each stage of the delivery process, aiming to provide maximum convenience to clients. This practice ensures that customers can be confident that their assigned driver remains well-informed about their order’s progress and the estimated arrival time.
- Delivery history. Proficiently acquiring the skill of note-taking and conscientiously evaluating the distinguished record of completed orders demonstrates a priceless asset in the courier’s repertoire of achievements. By employing this approach, they can judiciously incorporate informative annotations alongside demanding delivery destinations or routes.
- Earnings screen. Drivers should be able to access and evaluate their daily and monthly earnings and review their delivery history. The application must encompass comprehensive information regarding prevailing account balances, recent transactions, exclusive promotional offers, and available cash-out options.
Admin Panel for Restaurants
The admin panel facilitates the seamless transfer of users’ order information to the restaurant staff, enabling effective order management and subsequent handover of dishes to delivery drivers.
Registration and profile creation
The restaurant registration and profile management process is similar to that used for customers and drivers. Additionally, restaurants should be able to include relevant details about their establishment on their profiles. The information may include the name of the restaurant, its location, menu, and other relevant information.
Content management
The primary goal of the restaurant administrator dashboard is to entice customers and boost the establishment’s popularity. Ensuring that restaurant personnel can effortlessly incorporate or modify vital information such as the restaurant’s name, address, operating hours, and other particulars is of utmost importance.
Order management
The staff at the establishment keeps track of incoming orders and ensures they are updated promptly. Real-time order updates are essential, as they help the restaurant know the status of each order from preparation to delivery.
Payments
The best part of any business is getting paid for the services rendered. Our restaurant ensures swift collection of rightful payment once the customer authorizes the delivery.
How to Make an App Like Uber Eats: Development Cost
The cost of your application will depend on the features you want, the delivery methods, and your preferred payment gateway. To create a successful app, consider factors like the development platform, programming language, and frameworks or libraries that align with your business goals. These choices will impact both the app’s performance and the overall cost.
Sure enough, making a fully customized app requires significant financial investments. How to start a business like Uber? First of all, you have to create an advanced app, and carefully navigate all the tech options and business analysis, ensuring easy, convenient, high-quality user experience.
