Consider these key factors when creating your food delivery app: 

😀 Features for Client App 
⚙️ Features for Restaurants/Shops App
🍔 Features for Courier App 
💻 Admin Panel for management 
🤖 The technology stack to build a food delivery app
🍽️Cloud Kitchen Features 
📈 Tech Stack to Develop a Food Delivery App
🚀Our Expertise: Mooner

When building your food delivery app, several important factors must be considered. With the fast-paced lifestyle that most people lead today, time is a valuable commodity, and anything that can save time is highly sought after. This creates a solid foundation for food delivery apps to thrive, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a surge in demand for online food delivery services.

However, the food delivery market is highly competitive, and choosing the right niche is crucial for success. Despite this, the number of food delivery app users is expected to continue growing, with the US projected to have 53.9 million users by 2023.

As software developers, we are passionate about helping disruptive start-ups enter the market and introduce new ideas that meet the needs of modern consumers. If you are interested in entering the food delivery app market, we are here to help.

Here are the top things to consider when building your food delivery app:

• User-friendly interface: Make sure your app is easy to navigate and visually appealing to your target audience.
• Payment gateway integration: Integrate a secure payment gateway that supports multiple payment options for a smooth transaction experience.
• Location tracking: Enable location tracking to show available restaurants in the user’s area and provide an estimate of the delivery executive’s arrival time.
• Order management system: Ensure an effective order management system that can handle multiple orders and keep customers informed about the order status.
• Push notifications: Use push notifications to update users about the order status, provide delivery executive details, and offer discounts and promotions.

Benefit from Food Delivery App Development?

Reach a Wider Audience:

Food delivery app development can help you reach a broader audience, including customers who prefer to order food online instead of visiting the restaurant physically. How frequently do consumers use multi-restaurant delivery websites/apps to order food? Grubhub is the top multi-restaurant delivery website/app, used by 37.8% of users, followed closely by UberEATS at 36.0%, and then DoorDash at 19.9%.

There are several choices for developing food delivery apps, which vary based on the type of mobile app for food delivery and the methods of development(imageby Paperpillar)

Moreover, your app can cater to busy people who cannot leave their homes for various reasons. You can expand your customer base and reach new markets by providing a convenient way to order food.

Increased Revenue:

Food delivery app development can help you increase your revenue by tapping into a growing market. With the rising demand for online food delivery, customers are willing to pay extra for convenience. Additionally, the app can help you upsell and cross-sell items, leading to higher order value and increased revenue.

Improved Customer Experience:

Food delivery app development can enhance the customer experience by providing a seamless and convenient way to order food. Customers can browse menus, place orders, and track delivery in real-time, providing a sense of control and transparency. Moreover, push notifications can keep customers updated on their order status and offer exciting deals and discounts.

Competitive Advantage:

Food delivery app development can give you a competitive advantage by differentiating your business from competitors. By offering a user-friendly app with unique features and functionalities, you can stand out in the market and attract more customers. Additionally, a mobile app can improve your brand’s image and create a lasting impression on your customers.

Start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP):

When developing a food delivery app, starting with a minimum viable product (MVP) is crucial. An MVP is a basic version of your app that includes only the essential features. By starting with an MVP, you can test your app’s viability and gather user feedback before investing in more advanced features. Additionally, an MVP can help you save time and money, as you can focus on developing only the necessary features at the initial stage.

😊 Features for Client App

A client app is essential to any food delivery system that allows customers to place orders from their favorite restaurants. A well-designed client app can provide customers with a seamless and convenient experience, increasing engagement and loyalty. This blog will discuss the essential client app features that every food delivery app should have.

Sign Up & Profiles 📝

The first step in using a food delivery app is signing up for an account. The sign-up process should be simple and require minimal information. Additionally, customers should be able to create and manage their profiles, including adding addresses, payment methods, and other preferences. This feature allows customers to save time and place orders quickly without entering the same information repeatedly.

Home Screen 🏠 

The home screen is the first thing customers see when they open the app. It should display a list of restaurants in the area and their ratings, reviews, and other relevant information. Moreover, the home screen can feature trending dishes, promotions, and discounts, driving customer engagement and loyalty.

Searching🔍

Customers should be able to search for restaurants and dishes using keywords, cuisines, and other filters. Additionally, sorting options should be available to display results based on rating, distance, price, and other criteria. This feature makes it easy for customers to find what they want quickly and efficiently.

Menu Screen 📖 

The menu screen should display a list of dishes, along with their images, descriptions, and prices. Customers should be able to add items to their cart and customise their orders, such as choosing the spice level, toppings, and other options. Additionally, the menu screen can display nutritional information and allergy warnings, catering to customers with special dietary requirements.

If you want to develop a food ordering application, it is advisable to incorporate registration functionality and personal profile features.(Image by Freshness mobile app)

Dish Screen 🍔 

The dish screen should provide detailed information about each dish, including ingredients, cooking methods, and serving sizes. Customers should be able to view images and reviews of the dish, helping them make informed decisions. Moreover, the dish screen can offer complementary dishes and drink suggestions, increasing the order value.

Check-Out Screen 💳

The check-out screen should display the total order amount and applicable taxes, delivery fees, and other charges. Customers should be able to review their orders and make changes before proceeding to payment. Moreover, the check-out screen should offer multiple payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, and other popular payment methods.

The checkout stage plays a crucial role in on-demand food delivery apps as it is where customers review their orders and complete payment. (Image credit:illiyinstudio)

Payment Gateway 🌐 

Payment gateway integration is a crucial feature of any food delivery app. The payment process should be secure and straightforward, requiring minimal steps. Moreover, customers should receive an instant confirmation of their payment and order.

Delivery Tracking 🚚 

Delivery tracking is an essential feature that allows customers to track their orders in real time. Customers should be able to view the delivery executive’s location and the estimated arrival time. Additionally, customers should receive push notifications with updates on their order status and delivery.

⚙️ Features for Restaurants/Shops App

A restaurant or shop app is a crucial component of a food delivery system that allows businesses to manage their menus, orders, and other essential tasks efficiently. A well-designed restaurant or shop app can help businesses streamline their operations and provide a seamless experience for customers. This blog will discuss the essential restaurant or shop app features that every food delivery app should have.

Menu Management

Menu management is a critical feature that allows businesses to manage their menus effectively. Restaurants and shops should be able to add, delete, and modify dishes, along with their descriptions, images, and prices. Moreover, businesses should be able to organise their menus by categories, such as appetisers, entrees, and desserts, making it easier for customers to find what they want.

Order Screen

The order screen is where businesses receive and manage their orders. Businesses should be able to view the details of each order, including the customer’s name, address, and payment method. Additionally, businesses should be able to accept, reject, or modify orders depending on their availability and capacity. This feature helps businesses manage their orders efficiently and provide timely delivery to their customers.

Analytics

Analytics is a crucial feature that allows businesses to track their performance and make informed decisions. Restaurants and shops should be able to view key metrics, such as sales, revenue, and order volume, in real time. Moreover, businesses should be able to analyse their data by date range, menu category, and other filters, helping them identify trends and opportunities. This feature helps businesses optimise their operations and improve their profitability.

🍔 Features for Courier App 

• User-friendly registration and login process for couriers.
• The ability for couriers to set their availability for deliveries and see available delivery requests.
• In-app communication between couriers and customers, including notifications and updates on delivery status.
• GPS tracking for both couriers and customers to monitor the delivery process.
• The ability for couriers to easily accept or reject delivery requests based on their location and availability.
• Integration with various payment methods, including tips and bonuses for excellent service.
• Real-time updates on the delivery status and estimated delivery times for customers.
• Integration with a customer rating system to help ensure high-quality service.
• Access to a courier support team for assistance with any issues that arise during delivery.
• The ability for couriers to view their earnings and transaction history within the app.
• Reporting and analytics features for businesses to track courier performance and optimise operations.

During your food delivery app development discussions with the company, remember to mention if you require a mobile app for couriers. (image by UberEats)

💻Admin Panel for management
An admin panel is a crucial component of a food delivery system that allows businesses to manage their operations effectively. A well-designed admin panel can help businesses streamline processes, track performance, and provide excellent customer service. This blog will discuss the essential admin panel features that every food delivery app should have.

Restaurant Management

Restaurant management is a critical feature allowing businesses to manage their partners effectively. Admins should be able to add, delete, and modify restaurants, along with their menus, images, and other details. Moreover, admins should be able to set commission rates, manage payments, and track performance metrics for each restaurant. This feature helps businesses establish and maintain healthy partnerships with their restaurant partners.

Courier Management

Courier management is another critical feature that allows businesses to manage their courier partners effectively. Admins should be able to add, delete, and modify courier partners, along with their profiles, images, and other details. Moreover, admins should be able to assign orders to couriers, track their location, and provide real-time updates to customers. This feature helps businesses ensure the timely and efficient delivery of orders.

Analytics

Analytics is a crucial feature that allows businesses to track their performance and make informed decisions. Admins should be able to view key metrics, such as sales, revenue, and order volume, in real time. Moreover, admins should be able to analyse their data by date range, restaurant partner, courier partner, and other filters, helping them identify trends and opportunities. This feature helps businesses optimise their operations and improve their profitability.

🍽️Cloud Kitchen Features
Menu Management:

• Easy management of menu items and prices
• Ability to update and change menu items in real-time
• Integration with inventory management to ensure accurate availability of menu items

Order Management:

• Streamlined order management system for efficient processing
• Ability to track orders in real-time
• Integration with delivery tracking to provide accurate delivery times to customers

Kitchen Management:

• Efficient kitchen management tools to ensure timely and accurate food preparation
• Integration with inventory management to ensure that ingredients are available for menu items
• Ability to manage kitchen staff and shift scheduling

Customer Management:

• Integration with customer relationship management (CRM) tools for effective customer engagement
• Ability to track customer orders and preferences to provide personalised service
• Integration with customer feedback and reviews for continuous improvement

Delivery Management:

• Integration with third-party delivery services for seamless delivery to customers
• Real-time tracking of delivery status for both customers and restaurant staff
• Integration with payment and tipping systems to ensure smooth transactions

Reporting and Analytics:

• Access to real-time data and analytics to track restaurant performance and identify areas for improvement
• Integration with financial reporting tools to manage revenue and expenses
• Ability to monitor and analyse customer feedback and reviews

📈 Tech Stack to Develop a Food Delivery App

Developing a food delivery app requires a solid tech stack. Fortunately, various API/SDK options can save you from building features and infrastructure from scratch. Consider the following options:

• Payment Gateway Integration: stripe and stripe connect
• Social Media sign-up: Twitter or Instagram SDKs
• Communication features: Consider integrating Twilio Conversation API for in-app messaging and chat functionality between customers and delivery drivers.
• Navigation and mapping: Google’s Places API or CoreLocation Framework (for iOS), Google Maps API or MapKit
• Map live tracking: For real-time tracking of delivery drivers, consider using WebSockets to provide customers with up-to-date information on the status of their orders.
• Notifications: For push notifications to customers, consider using Firebase. This can help keep customers updated on their order status and provide other relevant information.
• Token withdrawal: If you plan on using cryptocurrency for payment or rewards, consider how you will allow users to withdraw those funds in their local currency and into their bank accounts. We use the Referral system (MLN).
• Radius-based search: If you want to enable users to search for restaurants or delivery options within a specific radius, consider using MongoDB to enable location-based searching.
• Driver matching: For more efficient matching of drivers and passengers, consider using WebSockets to enable real-time communication and tracking.

There are also advanced tech solutions like AI for order recommendations, dynamic menus, and software to track food stock. However, these modifications can be costly. These tech tools can enhance your app’s functionality and save development time.

🚀 Our Expertise: Mooner

We had the opportunity to collaborate on a highly scalable food delivery project at SpyreSync, called Mooner. They aimed to add diversity to food ordering by creating an app with Tinder-like swiping mechanics that allowed customers to discover new dishes. The app includes a beautiful UI/UX,  detailed descriptions, dynamic menus and sophisticated dashboard. To develop the Proof-of-Concept within 10 weeks, we used React Native for its efficiency and high performance. We integrated GraphCMS for the ordering flow and implemented Slack integration to notify users about their orders being ready. Firebase Cloud Messaging and Cloud Functions for Firebase were utilised for in-app push notifications. The whole platform was deployed on AWS infrastructure for high scalability and security. Our tech stack enabled us to provide a unique and efficient app to streamline the food ordering process.

Conclusion 

Food delivery apps are becoming increasingly popular in today’s fast-paced world, and for a good reason. They offer convenience and ease of use, making it possible for busy people to get their favourite meals delivered right to their doorstep. As a business owner in this industry, it is crucial to understand what sets you apart from your competitors.

To create a successful food delivery app, choose a business model that aligns with your goals and values. Next, you can contact a development company to build your app from scratch or opt for out-of-the-box solutions to save time and money. Once your app is built, testing it with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and gathering user feedback is important.

Using the feedback collected, you can create a development plan that includes all of the desired features for your app. If you did not build an MVP, you can still develop and launch your app with a focus on user needs and preferences. After launching your app, it’s important to implement efficient technical maintenance, updating, and technical debt-covering methods to ensure that your app stays up-to-date and runs smoothly in the future.

By following these steps, you can create a well-functioning food delivery app that meets the needs of your target audience. Remember to always stay aware of your competitors and what sets you apart from them and to continuously improve and evolve your app to stay ahead in this competitive industry.