Online ordering has become an important part of restaurant operations. Customers expect a convenient way to place takeout and delivery orders. At the same time, restaurants need systems that support sales growth without creating extra work for staff.
For restaurant owners and operators, online ordering can support customer convenience, revenue growth, and day-to-day efficiency. The right system can reduce phone interruptions and improve order accuracy. It can also encourage higher ticket sizes and help connect digital orders with the rest of the restaurant’s operations.
Online ordering also fits into a broader automation strategy. When orders, payments, sales data, POS reporting, and accounting processes work together, restaurants can spend less time re-entering information. That gives staff and managers more time to focus on customers, service, and business decisions.
What is online ordering for restaurants?
Online ordering for restaurants allows customers to place food and beverage orders digitally. Orders may come through a restaurant’s website, mobile app, branded ordering page, or third-party marketplace. Depending on the system, customers may be able to choose pickup, delivery, curbside pickup, or scheduled ordering.
Some online ordering platforms operate separately from the restaurant’s POS system. Others integrate directly with the POS. When systems are connected, online orders can flow into the same platform staff already use for in-person sales.
For many restaurants, online ordering is no longer limited to delivery-focused businesses. Quick-service restaurants, full-service restaurants, cafes, bakeries, bars, and food trucks may all use online ordering. The goal is often the same: make ordering easier while capturing more off-premise sales.
What are the benefits of online ordering for restaurants?
Online ordering can help restaurants increase sales, improve efficiency, and create a more convenient experience for customers. It can also help operators manage takeout and delivery orders with fewer manual steps.
Some of the benefits of online ordering for restaurants include:
- More ways for customers to place orders
- Fewer phone interruptions for staff
- Less manual order entry
- More accurate modifiers and special instructions
- A more convenient takeout and delivery experience
- Better visibility into digital order volume
- More opportunities to promote add-ons, specials, and repeat orders
- More control over the restaurant’s digital customer experience
These benefits can be especially valuable for restaurants that want to grow off-premise sales while keeping operations organized during busy service periods.
Why online ordering matters for restaurant revenue
Online ordering can help restaurants create more opportunities for customers to buy. Instead of calling during business hours or waiting for staff to answer the phone, guests can place orders when it is convenient for them.
That convenience can support revenue growth in a few ways. Customers can browse the menu, review modifiers, add items to their order, and complete payment without needing a staff member to walk them through the process. Restaurants can also highlight specials, add-ons, sides, beverages, desserts, and other higher-margin items during the ordering experience.
Online ordering may also make repeat orders easier. If customers have a simple experience the first time, they may be more likely to order again directly from the restaurant.
Direct online ordering can give restaurants more control than relying only on third-party marketplaces. With direct online ordering, restaurants can send customers to their own website or branded ordering page, which can help support brand recognition, customer relationships, and long-term loyalty.
How online ordering can improve operational efficiency
Online ordering can help reduce some of the manual work that slows down restaurant teams, especially during lunch rushes, dinner service, and other high-volume periods.
Phone orders can take staff away from customers in the restaurant. They also create opportunities for misheard menu items, missed modifiers, or payment delays. With online ordering, customers enter their own selections, which can help improve accuracy and reduce back-and-forth communication.
When online ordering connects with the POS, staff may not need to manually re-enter orders from a separate tablet or system. This can help reduce duplicate work and make it easier for kitchen and front-of-house teams to manage order flow.
Operational benefits may include:
- Fewer phone interruptions
- Less manual order entry
- More accurate modifiers and special instructions
- Better visibility into takeout and delivery volume
- Simpler reporting across in-person and digital orders
- A smoother experience for staff and customers
These efficiencies can become even more valuable as restaurants add more sales channels. If a restaurant accepts orders in person, online, by phone, and through delivery partners, connected systems can help keep those orders more organized.
Haga que sus impuestos sobre las ventas no le impongan tanto con DAVO.
Key features to look for in an online ordering system
The best online ordering system for a restaurant depends on its service model, menu, sales channels, and internal processes. However, there are several features that many operators may want to look for.
POS integration
A system that integrates with the restaurant’s POS can help online orders flow into the same place as in-person orders. This can reduce manual entry, simplify reporting, and help staff manage orders more efficiently.
POS integration is especially important for restaurants that want online orders to connect with kitchen workflows, sales reporting, payments, and other back-office processes.
Branded ordering experience
Direct online ordering should feel like part of the restaurant’s brand. A branded ordering page can help restaurants keep customers on their own website and create a more consistent experience from menu browsing through checkout.
A branded experience can also help customers feel confident that they are ordering directly from the restaurant, not from an unrelated third-party site.
Menu management
Restaurants should be able to update menu items, prices, descriptions, modifiers, availability, and specials without unnecessary complexity. Easy menu management is especially important for restaurants that change offerings often.
Operators may want to look for menu tools that allow them to adjust online ordering hours, item availability, prep times, order limits, and pricing as needed.
Pickup and delivery options
Restaurants may want a system that supports pickup, scheduled ordering, curbside pickup, in-house delivery, or third-party delivery integration. The right setup depends on how the restaurant wants to manage fulfillment.
Some restaurants may use their own delivery team. Others may prefer a delivery integration that gives them access to outside drivers while still allowing customers to order directly from the restaurant.
Payment processing
Online ordering should make payment simple for customers and manageable for the restaurant. Operators should understand how payments are processed, when funds are deposited, and what fees may apply.
Restaurants should also confirm whether customers can pay online, tip online, use gift cards, or pay through other approved payment methods.
Customer data and reporting
Online ordering can provide helpful information about customer behavior, popular menu items, order volume, and sales trends. Reporting can help restaurant owners make more informed decisions about staffing, inventory, promotions, and menu planning.
When online ordering data connects with POS reporting, restaurants may have a clearer view of total sales across dine-in, takeout, delivery, and digital channels.
Herramientas de marketing
Some platforms include features such as promo codes, loyalty tools, email capture, reorder options, or customer profiles. These tools can help restaurants encourage repeat orders and build stronger customer relationships.
Marketing tools can also help restaurants promote slow periods, seasonal menu items, limited-time offers, or high-margin add-ons.
Direct online ordering vs. third-party marketplaces
Many restaurants use a mix of direct online ordering and third-party delivery apps or marketplaces. Each option can play a role, but they are not the same.
Third-party marketplaces can help restaurants reach customers who are browsing delivery options. However, they may also involve commission fees, less control over the customer relationship, and a more limited branded experience.
Direct online ordering allows customers to order from the restaurant’s own website or ordering page. This can help restaurants keep more control over branding, customer data, menu presentation, and the overall ordering experience.
For many operators, the goal is not necessarily choosing one channel for every situation. Instead, the right approach may involve understanding where orders are coming from, what each channel costs, and how each platform supports the restaurant’s long-term goals.
Online ordering with TouchBistro
TouchBistro Online Ordering is one example of a POS-integrated online ordering solution built for restaurants. Restaurants can use it to accept orders directly through their website and manage online ordering alongside their POS.
With TouchBistro Online Ordering, restaurants can support immediate and scheduled orders, manage online menus, receive order notifications through the TouchBistro POS, and offer customers online payment options. Restaurants can also offer delivery through their own delivery fleet or use TouchBistro’s integration with DoorDash Drive.
For restaurants comparing online ordering platforms, this type of setup highlights the value of connected systems. When ordering, payments, menu management, delivery workflows, and reporting are connected, operators can reduce manual work and create a smoother experience for both customers and staff.
How much does online ordering for restaurants cost?
Online ordering pricing can vary depending on the platform, features, integrations, order volume, and payment setup. Restaurants should review pricing carefully so they understand both upfront and ongoing costs. Common pricing structures may include:
- Monthly software fees
- Set-up or onboarding fees
- Payment processing fees
- Per-order fees
- Commission fees
- Delivery fees
- Add-on fees for features such as loyalty, marketing, or advanced reporting
Some systems charge a flat monthly fee. Others charge per transaction or take a percentage of each order. Some platforms use custom pricing based on the restaurant’s needs.
For example, TouchBistro’s POS pricing starts at $69 per month, while Online Ordering is listed as an add-on with quote-based pricing. That is why restaurant operators should compare the total cost of the full system, not only the starting price of the POS.
When comparing platforms, restaurant operators should look beyond the base price. A lower monthly cost may not be the most affordable option if the platform charges high per-order or commission fees. A higher monthly cost may be worthwhile if it reduces manual work, improves order accuracy, or helps the restaurant drive more direct orders.
How to choose the best online ordering system for your restaurant
Before choosing an online ordering system, restaurant owners should consider how the platform will fit into daily operations. A few practical questions can help narrow the options:
- Does the system integrate with the restaurant’s POS?
- Can staff manage the menu easily?
- Does the platform support pickup, delivery, or scheduled orders?
- How are payments processed?
- What fees apply to each order?
- Can the restaurant access customer data?
- Does the system support promotions or repeat orders?
- How easy is the ordering experience for customers?
- What reporting is available?
- What support is available during setup and service issues?
Restaurants should also think about how the system will work during peak hours. An online ordering system should make operations easier, not create another screen for staff to monitor or another set of orders to manually enter.
The right platform should support the way the restaurant already works while helping the business save time, reduce errors, and grow digital orders.
How restaurant order automation can save time
Online ordering is one part of a larger opportunity to automate restaurant operations. When systems are connected, restaurants can reduce repetitive administrative work and improve visibility across the business.
For example, an online order may begin with a customer on the restaurant’s website. From there, the order can flow into the POS, move to the kitchen, process payment, and appear in sales reporting. When those steps are connected, staff have fewer manual tasks to manage.
The same idea applies after the sale. Restaurants need accurate sales data for reporting, reconciliation, accounting, and tax management. When sales data syncs between systems, operators can spend less time tracking down numbers and more time reviewing performance, planning inventory, managing labor, and serving customers.
Automation can also help restaurant owners reduce small, repetitive tasks that add up over time. Connected systems may help with order entry, sales reporting, menu updates, payment tracking, delivery coordination, accounting workflows, and sales tax management.
Automation does not have to replace personal service. For restaurants, it often means giving staff better tools so they can spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time on work that supports the guest experience.
Simplify sales tax management with DAVO
As online ordering grows, restaurants may have more sales channels to manage. In-person sales, takeout orders, delivery orders, and online orders can all affect daily sales tax tracking.
DAVO by Avalara helps restaurants automate sales tax management. DAVO integrates with many restaurant POS systems and uses POS sales data to set aside sales tax daily in a separate account. When sales tax is due, DAVO files and pays it according to the restaurant’s filing schedule.
With DAVO, restaurant operators can reduce manual sales tax work and keep collected sales tax separate from general operating funds. That means less time spent on sales tax tasks and more time focused on running the business.
Learn more about how DAVO works.
Preguntas frecuentes
How do restaurants get customers to use direct online ordering?
Restaurants can encourage direct online ordering by linking to the ordering page from their website, Google Business Profile, social media profiles, email campaigns, QR codes, receipts, and in-store signage. It also helps to remind customers that ordering directly may give them access to the most accurate menu, pricing, and promotions.
Should restaurants offer online ordering for pickup, delivery, or both?
Restaurants should choose online ordering options based on customer demand, staffing, kitchen capacity, and delivery logistics. Pickup may be easier to manage for restaurants with limited staff, while delivery can expand reach if the restaurant has reliable drivers or uses a delivery integration.
How can restaurants prevent online orders from overwhelming the kitchen?
Restaurants can manage online order volume by setting prep times, adjusting order windows, pausing or delaying online orders when available, and updating item availability when the kitchen is backed up. These controls can help operators protect service quality while still accepting digital orders.
What menu items work best for restaurant online ordering?
Menu items that travel well, hold temperature, and require minimal last-minute assembly are often better suited for online ordering. Restaurants may also want to feature popular items, bundles, family meals, and add-ons that are easy for customers to select digitally.
Can small restaurants use online ordering without a large tech budget?
Yes, small restaurants can use online ordering without building a custom app or investing in a large technology stack. Many platforms offer website-based ordering, POS add-ons, or custom packages, so operators can compare costs and choose a setup that fits their order volume and budget.
How often should restaurants review their online ordering setup?
Restaurants should review their online ordering setup regularly, especially when menu prices, hours, staffing, delivery options, or tax rules change. A routine review can help prevent outdated menus, unavailable items, incorrect pricing, and operational issues during busy service periods.
What restaurant operations can be automated beyond online ordering?
Restaurants can automate tasks such as sales reporting, accounting data syncs, inventory tracking, employee scheduling, loyalty programs, email marketing, delivery coordination, and sales tax management. Automating repetitive tasks can help owners and managers spend more time on service, staffing, and growth.
