Delivery has risen in popularity as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. With shelter-in-place measures forcing everyone indoors, making people scared to go to the grocery store and forbidding dine-in services at restaurants across the world, many have increased how often they order in. Most restaurants previously placed their focus on dine-in services and didn’t pay as much attention to delivery. Now, though, that’s the only revenue stream they have coming in.
Whether you’re new to online ordering services or just shifting focus for the first time, a third party app can massively help your business. Because these apps already have an audience and make it easy to find your restaurant, you don’t have to spend money and time promoting your name. The brand recognition comes with the territory. On top of cutting startup costs and providing you with a built-in customer base, certain third party platforms have particular appeal to restaurants because of partnership benefits Many currently offer additional perks to help restaurants contend with the growing concerns over COVID-19.
Here are some third party delivery platforms helping out the community, restaurants and customers alike:
1. Postmates
Postmates published an alert reminding everyone to wash their hands and protect themselves from the potential spread of disease. Aside from this notice, like many platforms they decided to implement a non-contact delivery option. Rather than knocking and handing over an order like usual, workers can now drop off food at the door and let the customer know via text or call that their order has arrived. By giving them the option to eliminate face-to-face contact, delivery workers and customers both avoid the potential spread of infection and abide by the six foot social distancing guideline without compromising service.
In case someone does fall ill, the app has also created the Postmates Fleet Relief Fund to give workers access to preventative care, testing, medical expenses and check-ups. This ensures the continued wellness and safety of delivery drivers. Drivers can also receive extra assistance from the Fund if they get sick, which covers two weeks’ worth of lost income. To protect their customers, Postmates will also put workers’ accounts on hold if they test positive for COVID-19, a suspension that lasts until the incubation period ends and they make a full, confirmed recovery.
Postmates has further implemented a Small Business Relief Pilot, currently tested in the San Francisco Bay Area. Small businesses there have waived commission fees so they can deliver to customers at no cost to the business. Postmates is currently looking to expand this program to other areas, too.
2. Grubhub
Grubhub has deferred commission fees for independent restaurants affected by this crisis. CEO Matt Mahoney said, “Delaying our revenue will increase the restaurant’s cash flow, allowing them to pay their employees and weather this difficult situation.” Grubhub has set aside up to $100 million for this endeavor, and restaurants will have as long as four weeks to repay the fees after the suspension gets lifted.
They also implemented a Smart Promotions feature. For every dollar that restaurants invest in growth, Grubhub will match it. This aims to double the effectiveness of promotion to help restaurants garner business at a time when they need it most.
Like many other apps, Grubhub also introduced a no-contact delivery option to reduce exposure. Customers also now have the option to round up their change at checkout and donate to the Grubhub Community Relief Fund. The proceeds will go to charities that help restaurants and drivers who need it.
3. uber eats
Uber Eats waived delivery fees for all of their customers, which encourages them to order from merchants on the app. They further provide free meals to first responders and healthcare workers, demonstrating their appreciation for their work in this extremely difficult time and giving back to them as they help everyone in the community.
The platform also provides assistance to their workers during this crisis. They’ve also implemented a “leave at the door” delivery option. To further prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases, Uber is giving disinfectant to their workers; as they struggle to meet the demand for sanitation, the company will prioritize those in major cities first in the hopes of curbing the disease in the worst-affected and highest-populated areas.
When workers do get sick or exposed, Uber Eats suspends the driver’s account and provides them with two weeks of financial assistance to avoid people coming to work sick due to financial concerns and a lack of options.
They published a safety guide on their website that breaks down how drivers, delivery workers, customers and restaurants can each stay healthy. Along with this, the webpage also provides additional resources so people can support drivers and restaurants during this time.
4. door dash
DoorDash put a twist on contactless delivery by implementing it, not only as an option, but as the default. Customers have to deliberately opt in to face-to-face delivery now, and even still drivers can change over to contactless at any time by simply confirming it with the customer via call or text. This puts power into the workers’ hands and lets them control their own health and safety. Although this, like many of the measures that third party apps have started using, was invented to combat the spread of COVID-19, this feature has the potential to last long after mandatory self-isolation measures lift. People will likely show a lot more caution toward contact and the spread of all diseases in the future.
If a worker does contract COVID-19 or have to quarantine by law, DoorDash will provide them two weeks’ pay to make up for the lost wages. They also give supplies to workers in areas affected by the disease, such as hand sanitizer, gloves and wipesall highly coveted items in short supply at the grocery store.
Furthermore, DoorDash aims to assist affected restaurants by earning them a projected $200 million in additional sales this year. For merchants new to the app, DoorDash now offers a 30-day reprieve from commission fees when they sign up. Unlike Grubhub, this is not a deferral but a complete waiver; they never have to pay back those fees. This will greatly help restaurants improve sales and attract customers without worrying about owing a future debt. DoorDash also works with restaurants to help them improve their food prep protocols to ensure that their workers, merchants and customers all stay as safe as possible.
They have additional benefits for restaurants already on the app. Current partners pay no commission on pick-up orders anymore, and certain eligible merchants will notice a lower commission fee on delivery as well. DoorDash also announced that they aim to add “more than 100,000 independent restaurant partners to DashPass our subscription program which offers $0 delivery for consumers for free.” This is huge for restaurants, as DashPass provenly generates a lot more sales than the regular app.
DoorDash also owns Caviar, another delivery service; by lowering commissions for DashPass merchants and attracting more customers to the platform, Caviar could afford to waive its delivery fee for everyone as well.
DoorDash further set aside $20 million for merchant marketing to help generate more sales. They’re doing everything they can to support their drivers and help local restaurants stay open, too.
With quarantines still going strong and people growing more scared to leave the house, delivery apps are a great way to keep your restaurant running despite the closure of dine-in services. These four platforms, along with many others, sacrifice profit in this time of widespread need to help the community and merchant partners that keep them in business.
Many service providers like eatOS integrate with third party apps like these to keep your restaurant running efficiently. Subscribe with us to learn more about keeping the community safe and healthy.
