Integrating Online Ordering Features in Your Restaurant App in Dubai

The dynamic of the restaurant business in Dubai is constantly evolving, and technology is playing a major role. The population of Dubai is highly dependent on mobile-first solutions, and tech-savvy individuals mostly rely on them.

Thus, looking into the changing customer preferences and habits, integrating the ordering feature into a restaurant app is no longer a luxury but a necessity.

Do you want to take advantage of this advanced feature for the growth of your restaurant business and learn how to implement this? Then this blog is for you.

In this guide, you will explore how restaurants in Dubai can strategically implement online ordering systems and the benefits they can enjoy.

Why Does Online Ordering Matter in Dubai?

Dubai is a melting pot of global cultures, high-tech infrastructure, a tech-savvy consumer base, and a busy lifestyle. According to recent reports, online food ordering in the UAE has grown exponentially, driven by convenience, a mobile-first population, and increasing consumer preference for contactless services.

Apps like Talabat and Deliveroo dominate, but many restaurants are shifting toward in-house ordering platforms to reduce commissions, control the customer experience, and build loyalty.

By integrating online ordering into your app, you:

• Improve operational efficiency
• Own your customer data
• Increase direct sales
• Reduce reliance on third-party aggregators
• Deliver a more personalized user experience
• Let’s break down the process of successful integration

Key Benefits of Integrating Online Ordering Features

Before you get into it, learn how to integrate the online ordering features in your restaurant app. It is crucial to understand the importance of integration. This addition makes things very convenient for the customers, but there is more than that.

Let’s get to know the benefits of integrating online ordering features.

1] Increased Revenue

By offering takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery options through your app, you open up multiple revenue streams.

Restaurant businesses get the chance for upselling and cross-selling options within the app, for example, “Add extra cheese” or “Would you like a dessert?” This can boost average order value.

2] Improved Customer Experience

Customers enjoy the convenience of ordering anytime, anywhere, with a user-friendly interface.

By integrating the online ordering features in the restaurant app, you offer the convenience to valuable customers. Real-time order tracking, estimated delivery times, and order customization enhance satisfaction.

3] Operational Efficiency

Integrating an ordering feature into your restaurant app can bring operational efficiency to you. Orders go directly to your kitchen POS system, minimizing errors and streamlining kitchen operations.

Staff are freed up from taking phone orders, allowing them to focus on food prep and service.

4] Data Ownership and Insights

By integrating an ordering system, your restaurant business will gain full ownership of customer data and insights.

Direct ordering gives you valuable data on customer behavior, preferences, and order history. This data can be used to personalize promotions, send targeted push notifications, and develop loyalty programs.

Steps to Successfully Integrate Online Ordering

Online ordering has become a must-have feature for restaurants in Dubai. This feature in a restaurant app makes the service more convenient and faster. Additionally, this feature will help restaurant businesses to grow, reach more customers, and stay ahead of the competition.

Let’s learn how to develop a restaurant mobile app in Dubai that integrates online ordering features, as explained step-by-step below.

 Step 1: Start With Clear Goals

Before you start building your restaurant app, consider why you want to add online ordering. Do you want more direct orders instead of using platforms like Talabat or Deliveroo? Are you planning to offer delivery, pickup, or both?

Do you need the app to support multiple branches? Or are you trying to collect customer data and offer loyalty rewards? Having clear goals helps you and your developers make the right choices and build a system that works best for your restaurant business.

Step 2: Choose the Right Technology

Next, choose the right technology to build the restaurant app and integrate the ordering feature correctly. You can either build a custom app from scratch or use a ready-made solution that allows some customization.

Whichever you choose, make sure it supports both Arabic and English languages, offers a simple design, and connects to your existing systems, like your POS (Point of Sale). POS works as a channel between the customer's orders and the kitchen staff. The app should also support secure payment options and real-time order tracking.

Step 3: Focus on User-Friendly Design

Your app should be easy to use. Customers should be able to browse your menu, customize their orders, and check out without any confusion. Use clear categories, good-quality photos, and brief descriptions.

Let customers choose options like spice levels or extra toppings. The cart and checkout process should be simple, showing the total price, VAT, and any delivery charges clearly. Give customers multiple payment options like credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or even cash on delivery. This makes the experience smoother and encourages repeat orders.

Step 4: Integrate Delivery and Payment Options

To handle delivery, you can use your own staff or connect with a local delivery service through an API. Whichever you choose, make sure delivery times are accurate and trackable. Customers in Dubai appreciate knowing when their food will arrive.

For payments, choose a secure gateway that is approved in the UAE. Options like Stripe, Checkout.com, Telr, and Network International are popular choices. Also, supporting local wallets like PayBy or Emirates Digital Wallet can give you an edge, especially with younger customers.

Step 5: Test Everything Before Launch

Before launching the new feature to all customers, test it carefully. Try it out in just one branch or with a limited number of items. Make sure customers can place and pay for orders without issues.

Check that orders reach your kitchen smoothly and deliveries happen on time. Test it on different devices and internet speeds, and in both Arabic and English. Ask a few loyal customers or staff members to try the app and share their thoughts. Fix any problems before launching the app for everyone.

Step 6: Promote Your Online Ordering Feature

Once everything is working well, start promoting your app’s new features. Use social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to let your followers know they can now order directly. Offer first-time discounts, loyalty points, or free delivery to encourage downloads and repeat orders.

Put signs or table cards in your restaurant with QR codes linking to the app. Send SMS or email updates to your regular customers, and consider working with local food bloggers or influencers to spread the word. The more people who know about it, the more likely they’ll use it.

Step 7: Train Your Staff

Make sure your team is ready to support the new ordering system. Train them on how the app works, how to handle incoming orders, and what to do if something goes wrong.

If your staff can answer questions confidently and help customers who might be unsure, it builds trust and improves the customer experience.

Step 8: Track Performance and Keep Improving

After launching, keep track of how the system is working. Use tools to monitor how many people are using the app, which items are popular, how long deliveries take, and whether there are any errors.

Look at customer feedback to see where improvements can be made. Maybe customers are abandoning their carts, or there are too many steps in the checkout process. Use this data to keep updating your app and making it better. To keep the app safe from cyberattacks, keep the app’s security patch updated.

Conclusion

So, it must be clear to you that in the highly competitive restaurant market of Dubai, integrating online ordering into your app is more than a digital upgrade; it’s a strategic business move. This system offers customers convenience, customisation, and speed.

You have learned how you can integrate the ordering feature into your restaurant app and the benefits it brings to your restaurant business.

So, now it's your turn to hire a restaurant app development company in Dubai, integrate the ordering system into your restaurant app, and take control of your ordering channels.