Feedback on my restaurant ordering app idea

[Rad28]

Hi all,
I just joined this forum because I am interested in starting my business. At the moment I am just in the brainstorming stage of my idea. Basically it is an app where restaurants sign up, which allows the customers to order their food, which go straight to the kitchen, and pay their bill using the app rather than using a waiter. This would allow the waiter to focus more on serving the customer and reduce any likely errors in taking orders. It would provide convenience for customers to order any time they want especially in busier restaurants where they don't have to wait for a waiter to serve them. Also, everytime they would like to order anything new, like another drink, they can just use the app rather than call the waiter. I would think this would be more attractive to the younger generation who are more comfortable with doing daily tasks on mobile apps. I would say that this app would be a similar style to justeat or deliveroo, but rather than take away it would be used in the restaurant.

Can you guys give me opinions on the idea and if you think there is a market for this? Would restaurants be interested?

If there is a market, how would I go about funding this project? Is crowdfunding an option?

 

[Darren_Ssc]

Bit like 'spoons app then, yeah?

 

[Rad28]

Bit like 'spoons app then, yeah?

Kind of, but spoons app is just exclusively for their restaurant. This app would include all restaurants interested to sign up, similar to how justeat and deliveroo have many restaurants using their service, and the revenue would come through commission.

Would you think restaurants would be willing to sign up for an app like this?

 

[sminter1st]

As said above, 'Spoons do it already. Also I would say most places it wouldn't work, because often the front of house is working with the kitchen to get timings right, eg they might slow down or speed up order taking to help with an overwhelmed kitchen etc...if a load of orders swamp the kitchen at the same time it won't work well, and you can't keep updated when items run out very easily. Waiters can also provide advice as a plus to the customer, or upsell as a plus to the business, and it's the personal touch which people often enjoy when eating out.

 

[Rad28]

As said above, 'Spoons do it already. Also I would say most places it wouldn't work, because often the front of house is working with the kitchen to get timings right, eg they might slow down or speed up order taking to help with an overwhelmed kitchen etc...if a load of orders swamp the kitchen at the same time it won't work well, and you can't keep updated when items run out very easily. Waiters can also provide advice as a plus to the customer, or upsell as a plus to the business, and it's the personal touch which people often enjoy when eating out.

I think the load of orders to the kitchen can be easily taken into account in the app, which would provide the customer with an approximate waiting time. In terms of things running out, yes that can be an issue unless there is an option for the waiter app to update any menu items not available.

Yes people will definitely prefer having a waiter and this is not removing the need for the waiter, it would be there as an option for customers who prefer to use this app rather than the waiter which is mostly aimed at younger people to

 

[Darren_Ssc]

Kind of, but spoons app is just exclusively for their restaurant. This app would include all restaurants interested to sign up, similar to how justeat and deliveroo have many restaurants using their service, and the revenue would come through commission.

Would you think restaurants would be willing to sign up for an app like this?

In principal, yes but how you execute it is what matters. As someone has already pointed out, there are reasons why such an app works well for 'spoons but can't be directly copied over to the restaurant industry so easily.

If you could find unlimited funding and a team of people with the skills needed, maybe?

 

[Rad28]

In principal, yes but how you execute it is what matters. As someone has already pointed out, there are reasons why such an app works well for 'spoons but can't be directly copied over to the restaurant industry so easily.

If you could find unlimited funding and a team of people with the skills needed, maybe?

I am trying to find ways for funding but all I can see is crowdfunding. Is this a suitable funding option for this type of product?

 

[sminter1st]

It might work for fast food Burger King type places, but most restaurants where half the experience is the service I doubt would want it. Having worked front of house for 20 years and owning a restaurant for 10+, things like waiters acknowledging regulars, interacting with kids, upselling items etc are priceless. Also when you take the order is when you can analyse your table, work out if they're customers that want to be left alone, to be entertained, need help understanding the menu, are celebrating an event, are likely to complain and need more attention. If you take that interaction out, you're losing a lot from the experience.

I would say crowdfunding works when you spot a gap in the market and people experiencing that gap then want to contribute to fund it... I would think very few restaurants would recognise a gap here, and those large, very busy ones that might would be commissioning an app directly designed for their own business model as Wetherspoons did.

 

[Rad28]

It might work for fast food Burger King type places, but most restaurants where half the experience is the service I doubt would want it. Having worked front of house for 20 years and owning a restaurant for 10+, things like waiters acknowledging regulars, interacting with kids, upselling items etc are priceless. Also when you take the order is when you can analyse your table, work out if they're customers that want to be left alone, to be entertained, need help understanding the menu, are celebrating an event, are likely to complain and need more attention. If you take that interaction out, you're losing a lot from the experience.

I would say crowdfunding works when you spot a gap in the market and people experiencing that gap then want to contribute to fund it... I would think very few restaurants would recognise a gap here, and those large, very busy ones that might would be commissioning an app directly designed for their own business model as Wetherspoons did.

Ok thanks for your feedback. Do you have any idea if the Spoons app is a success? I think I read somewhere that their sales increased by 15% percent after introducing the app. If it is a success, what do you think the reason is for that?

 

[Darren_Ssc]

I am trying to find ways for funding but all I can see is crowdfunding. Is this a suitable funding option for this type of product?

The kind of funding you'd need is way beyond the scope of crowdfunding. Think more ycombinator or whatever the uk equivalent is.

 

[fisicx]

Ok thanks for your feedback. Do you have any idea if the Spoons app is a success? I think I read somewhere that their sales increased by 15% percent after introducing the app. If it is a success, what do you think the reason is for that?

It’s because spoons is the equivalent of a fast food restaurant.

Building the app won’t be too expensive. £10k - £20k will probably do it. What’s going to cost a very large wodge is marketing. It always does.

I know I wouldn’t be interested. I go to a restaurant to enjoy myself. The service is part of this.

 

[Mark T Jones]

I fear your big mistake is classifying 'restaurants' as your target market - it's far too broad.

This type of app would appeal to a clear segment (or segments) of the restaurant market.

what you need to do is identify your segment(s), see what is already available to them and what you can offer that isn't included which will create clear benefits to them

 

[Rad28]

I fear your big mistake is classifying 'restaurants' as your target market - it's far too broad.

This type of app would appeal to a clear segment (or segments) of the restaurant market.

what you need to do is identify your segment(s), see what is already available to them and what you can offer that isn't included which will create clear benefits to them

Thanks for your feedback. What kind of segments are your referring to?

 

[AstEver]

What kind of segments are your referring to?

identify your segment(s)

 

[ethical PR]

Thanks for your feedback. What kind of segments are your referring to?

that's what you need to identify based on your knowledge of the sector and market research you carry out.

If you want to know whether the concept works you need to ask restaurants who are your target market not a general business forum.

 

[Mitch3473]

Nothing short of a glorified vending machine.

 

[mattk]

Thanks for your feedback. What kind of segments are your referring to?

I can only see this appealing to small, independent pubs. As others have said, restaurants thrive on personal service, so an app to order won't really be appealing.

Large chain pubs will have either considered this and dismissed it or be working on something in the pipeline having seen what Wetherspoon's have launched.

Therefore, you're left with small independents.

I'm still not sure that you've got a solution looking for a problem. In my experience most pubs get your to order at the bar, so they don't have staff just aimlessly walking around.

Have you pitched your idea to any business owners to see if it is viable?

As for funding, how much do you need? A simple app and a method to print orders in the kitchen. Sounds like something you can cobble together in a weekend.