5 Things to Look for Before Getting a 3rd Party Delivery Partner for Your Food and Beverage Business

Choosing a third-party delivery partner becomes a pivotal decision if you want to take your F&B business forward with momentum. Selecting the ideal delivery company can be a daunting task, given the wide difference in service standards provided by them.

Your partnership with the third-party delivery partner can potentially increase your F&B business’s profit, efficiency, and overall reputation, not to mention customer reach. If you partner with a reliable company, it will ensure the deliveries are on time, food quality is maintained, and customer satisfaction is guaranteed. Your brand visibility will increase through their platform, and you will not have trouble attracting new customers.

Keeping this in mind, consider these five things when getting a third-party delivery partner.

Quality of Service and Reliability

Every delivery service’s reputation rests on its reliability and service quality. The delivery partner must ensure accurate and timely delivery to your customers. Otherwise, word will get around, which can cast a shadow on the reputation of your F&B business. To avoid this, look at the third-party delivery partner’s track record and the testimonials that previous customers have posted. If they are reasonable, you are good to go. 

When you make the strategic move to choose a delivery partner, you are anticipating the customer demand for food delivery while also sustaining the food quality. Some of the best third-party delivery partners offer curbside handovers to delivery drivers, making deliveries lightning quick. Again, there have been scattered reports of late deliveries, stolen food, and such. This makes it necessary to choose a reputable delivery partner with accountability.

Integration with Technology and Access to Data

We live in a digital world, and there needs to be a smooth integration between the systems of your F&B business and the delivery partner's platform. This allows smooth and highly efficient order management, tracking of deliveries in real-time, and very accurate control of your inventory.  Choose a delivery partner with advanced technology that will streamline your operations. Also, an ideal third-party delivery partner can give you insights for more optimization.

Customer data access is crucial. You must understand customers' preferences and ordering habits to provide better service, like personalized marketing. The best in the business such as Orderem offers delivery management, customer management, content management, and loyalty management. Their app allows real-time order management and delivery tracking. From receiving orders to final delivery, Orderem has covered it. 

Orderem also provides access to relevant customer data while ensuring it stays within regulations. These help you to scale your business with flexibility. Your delivery requirements will change, too. Be it menu changes, opening of new outlets, or demand fluctuation, Orderem assists you in scaling your business at a reasonable pace.  

Orderem integrates POS (point of sale) with your F&B business, making order management simple. Remember that the more integration there is, the better the staff and customer experience.

Flexibility and Scalability

If your F&B business’s delivery needs change over time, Orderem can understand the new requirements and make it work. If you want to offer promotions or open new outlets, Orderem is flexible and scalable enough to handle needs. It can process increased demand volume even during peak hours minus delays. It gives you multiple delivery options like curbside and drive-through. Also, if you plan on expanding, it can operate simultaneously at many locations. 

If the delivery service is rigid, there might be bottlenecks during peak hours. This will make customers reluctant to order from you in the future. With Orderem, you can put that worry at rest as it has a scalable infrastructure that empowers your F&B business to grow without compromising quality. 

Orderem also has a flexible pricing structure that makes it affordable for most, if not all, F&B businesses. This is important because many companies will not be inclined to use full-time delivery services. Others may even decide to negotiate for bulk orders. Orderem has this flexibility of negotiation. 

You have to think ahead when choosing a third-party delivery company. Handling big orders immediately, seamless expansion, adjustment to demand fluctuations, customized optimization of your needs, and pricing flexibility, Orderem has all these angles scoped and covered.

Financial Stability and Cost Structure

Convenience comes at a cost; delivery services will charge you. Hence, it is crucial to fully comprehend the financial outcome before you commit to a third-party delivery company. 

Some typical costs regarding third-party delivery services are commission fees, delivery fees, and marketing fees. Many delivery partners will charge you 15% to 30% commission fees when an order is placed. Delivery fees are generally flat, while some delivery partners base the fees on distance. Additionally, there are marketing fees where the delivery partner will offer you the luxury of premium listing at a cost. 

When it comes to the question of financial stability, if your delivery partner has problems with money, it will generally compromise on quality of service, which has the outcome of longer waiting times, fewer available delivery agents, and, in the worst-case scenario, an out-and-out shutdown. You should always choose a company like Orderem with a solid financial base and a sustainable business model.

Customer Service and Reputation

Your third-party delivery partner’s reputation is directly tied to your business’s reputation and brand image. If a customer were to receive cold food, late deliveries, and a low level of service from delivery agents, they would bypass the delivery partner and blame it all on your F&B business. If you want a seamless customer experience, a third-party delivery partner like Orderem is key. They have excellent customer support and an iron-clad reputation, along with innovative marketing strategies.

Regarding customer trust and perception, customers will not differentiate between a restaurant and a delivery partner. In the case of a bad delivery, the blame will unfortunately fall on your particular F&B joint. This may lead to bad reviews online, less repeat business, and lower ratings, all of which make your business less visible. 

Before you sign on the dotted line, thoroughly inquire about the reputation of the third-party delivery partner. Generally, online reviews from customers are a good indication. Also, check if other F & B businesses rate the delivery party highly. Keep an eye out for complaints regarding stolen food, late deliveries, and drivers with bad behavior.

Again, irrespective of the delivery party’s reputation, issues will arise from time to time. If the delivery partner has an excellent customer support service, it will resolve problems reasonably quickly, reducing business disruptions. 

Conclusion

In today’s times, choosing the right third-party delivery partner is key to success in the long run. Making a wrong choice will cause late deliveries, angry and unhappy customers, and loss of money. On the other hand, a correct decision will increase your sales, improve customer satisfaction by a country mile, and help streamline operations on both sides.

With a careful evaluation of commission and cost structures, reliability and delivery speed, flexibility, scalability, integration of technology, and customer service reputation, you can guarantee that your F&B business stays competitive and forges ahead in this competitive market.