Online delivery isn’t just a trend—it’s the future of the food and beverage industry. In fact, according to Statista, the global online food delivery market is projected to surpass $1.4 trillion by 2025. That’s a staggering figure, and it shows just how much consumer behavior has shifted toward convenience, speed, and digital-first dining.
For restaurants, this shift presents both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, online delivery opens doors to new revenue streams and wider customer reach. On the other hand, it requires adapting to new technologies, rethinking operations, and competing in an increasingly crowded space.
So how can restaurants keep up? Let’s explore the rise of online delivery, the challenges it brings, and practical strategies to help you thrive.
Why Online Delivery is on the Rise
Shifting Consumer Behavior
Today’s diners expect convenience. Whether they’re busy professionals, students, or families, more people now prefer ordering food online instead of dining in. For many, browsing menus, customizing orders, and paying—all from their phone—has become second nature.
Millennials and Gen Z, in particular, are driving this demand. These digital natives value speed and ease, and they’re willing to pay for the comfort of having their favorite meals delivered.
Technological Advancements
Online delivery wouldn’t have grown so quickly without technology. Third-party apps like GrabFood, Foodpanda, and Uber Eats have made ordering seamless. Integrated payment systems allow for quick checkouts, while GPS tracking reassures customers that their orders are on the way.
Restaurants that adopt these tools gain access to a wider market and increase their visibility.
Pandemic Acceleration
COVID-19 changed everything. When dine-in options were restricted, online delivery became the lifeline for restaurants and the go-to option for customers. Even as restrictions were lifted, the habit stuck. People realized the convenience of online ordering—and they don’t want to give it up.
The Challenges Restaurants Face with Online Delivery
While online delivery opens doors, it also comes with hurdles.
High Commission Fees
Third-party delivery apps often charge commissions as high as 20–35% per order. For small cafés and independent restaurants, this can eat up profits quickly. While these platforms offer exposure, the costs make long-term reliance difficult.
Maintaining Food Quality
Not all dishes travel well. A perfectly plated dine-in dish may arrive soggy or cold after a 30-minute ride. Ensuring consistent quality during delivery requires menu adjustments, better packaging, and tighter operational control.
Customer Loyalty & Brand Visibility
When customers order through third-party apps, they interact with the platform—not the restaurant. This weakens brand identity and customer loyalty. Worse, your restaurant is listed side by side with competitors, making it easy for diners to switch with a single tap.
👉 Want to learn more about building a webshop? Read more here.
How Restaurants Can Adapt to Online Delivery
The good news? Restaurants can take control and turn online delivery into a sustainable growth channel.
Build a Direct-to-Customer Channel
Relying solely on third-party apps is risky. Instead, consider creating your own restaurant webshop where customers can order directly. This way, you avoid high commissions, strengthen your branding, and collect valuable customer data.
Direct channels also allow for more personalized marketing—think email campaigns, SMS reminders, and loyalty programs.
Optimize Your Menu for Delivery
Not every menu item needs to be delivery-friendly. Instead, focus on dishes that:
- Travel well without losing quality
- Have good profit margins
- Are popular among your target customers
Some restaurants even create a “delivery-only” menu, streamlining operations while ensuring customer satisfaction.
Leverage Marketing & Social Media
Delivery-friendly restaurants are also marketing-savvy. Use Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to showcase delivery meals, announce promotions, and encourage user-generated content. Pair this with loyalty programs to reward repeat customers.
Why a Webshop is the Future of Online Delivery
Benefits of Having a Restaurant Webshop
A webshop isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s becoming essential for restaurants that want long-term control in the online delivery era. While third-party platforms offer reach, they also come with heavy commissions, limited flexibility, and very little customer data. By running your own webshop, you keep the benefits in-house while still meeting customers where they are.
Here’s why having your own restaurant webshop matters:
Lower Fees: Keep More of Your Revenue
Instead of losing 20–35% of each order to a third-party delivery app, your webshop allows you to keep the majority of the sale. This can add up to thousands in savings each month—money that can be reinvested into better packaging, higher-quality ingredients, or staff training. The more orders you drive through your own platform, the more financially sustainable your business becomes.
Customer Data: Know Who Your Best Customers Are
Third-party apps rarely share customer insights with restaurants, leaving you in the dark about who’s ordering and how often. With a webshop, you gain access to valuable data such as order history, peak ordering times, and popular menu items. This data helps you refine your offerings, personalize promotions, and even plan inventory more accurately. In other words, you make smarter business decisions because you actually know your customers.
Repeat Orders: Build Loyalty and Community
Customer loyalty is easier to nurture when you control the platform. Through your webshop, you can create loyalty programs, offer special discounts for repeat customers, or launch referral campaigns. For example, “Order five times, get the sixth meal free.” These small incentives not only drive repeat sales but also strengthen the bond between your restaurant and its community—something third-party apps can’t replicate.
Flexibility: Run Promotions on Your Terms
Want to launch a “Buy One, Get One” pizza promo this weekend? Or test out a new combo meal for delivery customers? With a webshop, you’re in charge. Unlike third-party platforms that may restrict what kind of offers you can run, your webshop gives you complete freedom. Seasonal promos, holiday bundles, and limited-time offers can be launched instantly without waiting for approval. This flexibility allows you to adapt quickly to market trends and customer feedback.
Stronger Brand Identity
Your webshop also helps you stand out. Instead of being buried in a long list of restaurants inside a delivery app, your customers interact directly with your brand. From the design of the ordering page to the tone of your promotions, everything reflects your restaurant’s identity. This not only strengthens recognition but also creates a more memorable experience for diners.
How klikit Can Help
Building and managing a webshop doesn’t have to be complicated. Platforms like klikit make it easy for restaurants to launch their own ordering site. With tools tailored for F&B brands, klikit helps restaurants grow online delivery sales without heavy costs or tech barriers.
👉Learn more about how klikit can help you: klikit Solutions.
Trends to Watch in Online Delivery
Online delivery isn’t slowing down anytime soon. In fact, it’s evolving rapidly as consumer expectations rise and technology becomes more sophisticated. For restaurants, staying ahead of these trends can mean the difference between being a leader or falling behind. Here are some of the most important shifts shaping the future:
Cloud Kitchens / Ghost Kitchens
Cloud kitchens—sometimes called ghost kitchens—are delivery-only restaurants without physical dine-in spaces. By eliminating the overhead costs of rent, décor, and front-of-house staff, they allow operators to focus solely on preparing food for online orders.
This model is especially appealing for new entrepreneurs or established brands that want to test new cuisines without opening a traditional restaurant. For example, a pizza restaurant might run a separate ghost kitchen that sells only pasta or wings under a different brand name, all delivered from the same space.
AI-Powered Personalization
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how restaurants engage with customers. Delivery platforms and independent webshops alike are starting to use AI to make ordering more intuitive and personalized. Imagine a webshop that recommends add-ons like, “Would you like fries with your burger?” or suggests popular pairings based on past behavior.
Predictive ordering is also on the horizon. If a customer always orders sushi on Fridays, AI can send them a reminder or a discount right before mealtime. This kind of personalization boosts sales and makes customers feel understood—leading to stronger loyalty.
Subscriptions & Meal Plans
Another trend gaining traction is the rise of subscription-based meal plans. Instead of ordering ad-hoc, customers sign up for weekly or monthly deliveries of their favorite meals. For restaurants, this means predictable, recurring revenue. For customers, it provides convenience and often better value.
Think of it as the “Netflix model” for food. Whether it’s a salad bar offering healthy lunch subscriptions for office workers or a family restaurant delivering weekly dinner bundles, subscriptions lock in loyalty while stabilizing cash flow.
Sustainable Delivery Practices
As customers become more eco-conscious, sustainability in delivery is becoming a key differentiator. Restaurants are experimenting with biodegradable packaging, reusable containers, and partnerships with green logistics providers. Some delivery apps are even adding “eco-friendly” filters so customers can choose brands aligned with their values.
This isn’t just good for the planet—it can also be a competitive advantage in winning younger, socially aware consumers.
👉 Read Deliverect’s The State of the Food Delivery Industry Worldwide in 2025.
Conclusion
Online delivery has reshaped how people dine—and it’s here to stay. While it brings challenges like high fees and operational adjustments, it also creates opportunities for restaurants to reach more customers, boost revenue, and future-proof their business.
The key is balance: leverage third-party apps for visibility, but also build your own webshop to take control of your brand and profits. With platforms like klikit, creating a direct-to-customer channel has never been easier.
Restaurants that embrace online delivery today won’t just keep up—they’ll stay ahead.
