Jignesh Shah is a Product Manager at Foodiv — passionate about building intuitive, efficient software solutions for restaurants and food businesses.
January 28, 2026
Food ordering is no longer a temporary shift. It has become a permanent part of how people choose and buy food.
What has changed recently is where those orders happen. More customers now prefer to order directly from restaurant websites or apps instead of relying on third party platforms. Recent industry data shows that over 70 percent of diners choose direct ordering when it is available. The reason is simple. Lower fees, clearer pricing, and a more trustworthy experience.Online
At the same time, digital dining habits continue to grow. Contactless ordering and QR code menus are now common across many restaurants. Customers are comfortable using their phones to view menus, place orders, or pay without waiting for staff.
For delivery and pickup, expectations are even clearer. Speed, accuracy, and control matter more than loyalty to any single app. Customers choose the option that feels fastest, most transparent, and easiest to use.
This shift creates a clear opportunity for restaurants. Direct online ordering helps protect margins, retain customer data, and reduce dependency on commission based platforms.
So what exactly is an online food ordering system, and how does it work for restaurants today? More importantly, why has it become essential rather than optional?
This is the moment for food businesses to take ownership of their digital ordering experience. A dedicated online food ordering system gives restaurants more control, better visibility, and a stronger connection with their customers.
A food ordering system is a digital platform that lets customers place food orders from a restaurant’s own website, app, or even QR code menu.
Customers can view the menu, customize items, choose dine in, pickup, or delivery, and complete payment online without involving a third party marketplace.
Restaurants, cafés, bakeries, cloud kitchens, and bars use these systems to send orders straight into their kitchen workflow rather than through an external marketplace. That simple connection changes how orders are processed, tracked, and fulfilled.
Unlike marketplace platforms that charge commissions ranging from 15 to 30 percent per order, a direct food ordering system allows restaurants to keep the full order value. Industry studies consistently show that commission fees are one of the biggest profit drains for food businesses offering delivery or online pickup. By shifting even a portion of orders to a direct channel, restaurants can significantly improve margins without increasing menu prices.
Online ordering also changes how customers interact with a restaurant. Ordering is no longer limited to peak hours or physical visits. Customers can browse menus at their convenience, place advance orders, and reorder their favorites in just a few taps.
What this really means is simple. An online food ordering system is no longer just about accepting orders online. It is about giving restaurants control over revenue, customer data, and the entire ordering experience.
Instead of depending on external platforms to drive sales, restaurants use online food ordering systems to build a more predictable, profitable, and customer friendly way to sell food.
Explore our detail video and get more information
Why does Your Restaurant need an Online Food Ordering System?
Online food ordering systems come with plenty of advantages for food business owners. In addition, customers nowadays prefer to order food directly from restaurant websites or mobile apps rather than through third-party mobile or websites.
Thus, restaurants can increase their food sales while enjoying the various advantages of online food ordering systems. It’s to avoid manual errors in order taking and deliveries. Look at the reasons for setting up a food ordering system in your restaurant-
Commission-free Orders:
Third-party services like Uber Eats , zomato, swiggy and Deliveroo charge up to 30% commission from restaurants on every order. Setting up your own SaaS online restaurant ordering system like Foodiv saves you from this commission and lets you keep your profits intact.
Receive larger orders:
Customers spend more when ordering online compared to dining in. The reason is that they feel more relaxed and can spend enough time browsing the digital menu.
Customised Menu:
Restaurant owners can customise the menu whenever they need. They can highlight special and high-revenue food items differently to attract customers’ attention. They can also offer contactless food ordering by offering a QR code menu. Customers can scan the QR code to get access to the menu, and they can place orders easily.
Know your customers:
With your online ordering tool system, you can gather and use valuable customer data. Personalised customer information helps business owners to deliver personalised services based on their food and taste choices.
A modern restaurant ordering system follows a simple five-step process.
Customer Browses Menu
Customers visit your restaurant’s website, app, or scan a QR code to view a fully interactive menu complete with photos, detailed descriptions, prices, and special offers.
Places Order & Makes Payment
They customize their order, add special instructions, apply coupon codes, and make secure payments through UPI, digital wallets, cards, or even cash on delivery.
Restaurant Dashboard Notification
The order instantly appears on your restaurant dashboard and integrates seamlessly with your POS or Kitchen Display System (KDS), ensuring no manual entry is needed.
Order Fulfillment & Delivery Dispatch
The kitchen prepares the order while the delivery team, either in-house or connected through integrated logistics partners, handles dispatch.
Real-Time Tracking & Updates
Customers receive live notifications on order preparation, pickup, and estimated delivery time, providing a smooth and transparent experience.
This workflow reduces manual errors, minimizes staff workload, and delivers a seamless experience for both restaurant staff and customers.
If you want to understand how restaurants manage online food orders efficiently, there are detailed breakdowns available that explain takeaway, curbside pickup, and delivery management in depth.
Types of Online Food Ordering Solutions
Different businesses have different needs. Here are the main types:
Restaurant Website Ordering
A branded online ordering website with a custom domain, digital menu, and payment integration.
Mobile Ordering Apps
Native iOS and Android apps for regular customers who want an app-based experience.
QR Code Contactless Ordering
Dine-in customers scan a QR code to order directly from their table without waiting for staff.
Cloud Kitchen Platforms
Multi-brand delivery-only kitchens that manage multiple concepts from a single platform.
Marketplace Aggregators
Third-party platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, and Uber Eats (but with high commissions and limited data access).
For businesses operating multiple delivery brands, a cloud kitchen-focused food ordering system can handle multiple menus and concepts in one place.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Food Ordering System
How can you know which food ordering software best suits your restaurant business? You can consider these factors when choosing an ordering system.
The cost that suits your budget
If you can afford to pay up to a 30% fee for apps like UberEats and Swiggy, you can enjoy delivering food to hundreds of UberEats and Swiggy lovers. You can also create a customized food ordering system. But, if you don’t want to spend a fortune, you can go for a SaaS-based food ordering app.
Compatible with Devices
The food ordering system should be compatible with different platforms like iOS and Android. The app should also give a native experience across all devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. It extends a better customer experience.
Customization Options
The online food ordering system should allow customizations to make it personalized for your restaurant brand. You may want to offer some unique features to your customers to stand out.
User-Friendly Designs
The food delivery app should be user-friendly to let them easily search for their favorite dishes, check the prices, and place an order. An attractive menu lures users into ordering more than they desire.
Multiple Payment Options
Your food ordering system should support multiple payment modes to let users pay at their convenience. For instance, digital wallets, credit/debit cards, and cash on delivery.
How do I set up my Restaurant’s Online Ordering System With Foodiv?
Foodiv- the SaaS based online ordering system enables restaurant owners to establish their online food delivery business. The platform does not require any upfront cost or huge investment. All you have to pay is a minimal monthly subscription fee to enjoy the various perks of the food-ordering software.
All you have to do is share your food business requirements with us, and we will take care of the configuration, integrations, and account creation. We ensure that the software is compatible with your current workflows. With Foodiv, it’s super easy to update your digital menu and manage orders and promotions with the choice of customizations anytime.
Have a look at the Benefits of the Foodiv Restaurant Ordering System:
QR-Based Menu
Easy & Quick Setup
Interactive UI & UX
Contactless Ordering
Multiple Payment Modes
Multi-language
Insightful Analytics
Emerging Trends in Food Ordering for 2026
Technology is shaping the future of food delivery and dine-in experiences.
AI-powered personalization recommends dishes based on previous orders.
Blockchain-based loyalty programs make reward points more transparent and secure.
Voice ordering integrates with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant for hands-free convenience.
Drone and autonomous deliveries are emerging as faster last-mile solutions.
Sustainable menus highlight the environmental impact of meals for eco-conscious customers.
Restaurants adopting these innovations are seeing up to 50% higher customer retention rates compared to those using traditional methods.
Restaurants adopting these trends are seeing 25–50% higher retention rates than competitors.
How to Choose the Best Online Food Ordering Platform?
When selecting a platform, make sure it:
Supports commission-free ordering
Works for multi-outlet restaurants and cloud kitchens
Integrates with POS, payments, and delivery partners
Includes loyalty, marketing automation, and coupons
Has real-time dashboards & reporting
Offers fast onboarding without coding
💡 Example:
Foodiv is a commission-free platform that helps restaurants launch a fully branded ordering website and mobile app in just 24 hours. It integrates payments, QR menus, loyalty programs, and delivery—all in one place.
Conclusion
Are you ready to set up your own ordering system? We can make it easier for you to move or optimize your business online so you can serve more customers.
You’ll get an easy menu and store management, mobile ordering, multiple payment methods, online discounts, and offers to delight your customers with an on-demand food ordering system. So, get your restaurant business running efficiently and selling more in minutes with our SaaS-based online food ordering software at an affordable price.
Interested in Upgrading your Restaurant to an Online Food Ordering System?
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