With the world constantly changing, businesses must adapt to stay relevant, no matter the industry. This being said, there is perhaps no better time to shift your business to the online world, especially if you’re a part of the restaurant and cafe scene. There is no question that the world is going through some very unprecedented and weird times, and a time that very few of us saw coming. Nevertheless, this is no time to back down and shut-up-shop. In this post, we will highlight food Singapore food delivery platforms you can set up to expand your business reach.
With a few changes to your usual business operations, you can still have orders flowing through the doors, or drive-thru. More people than usual are staying home immersed in technology; more businesses are going remote; and now is the perfect time to shift your menu to the world-wide-web so it is more easily accessible to potential customers. The most suitable online platform will depend on the location of your business; from Oddle and Food Panda to Deliveroo and GrabFood, there are plenty to choose from!
Oddle
Oddle Singapore is perfect if you have little to no experience in the online marketplace. Simply make an account on their website, enter in your menu and away you go! It automatically enhances images and other content so it is optimised for different screens, i.e., laptop, tablet or phone.
Oddle takes care of the backend of your business (order management, analytics & marketing, payment and delivery), meaning you can focus on what matters most, customers. With over 3,000 brands on the platform, there will never be a dull moment when choosing a meal. In fact, Jeff, the co-founder of J3 Juice, says that Oddle has increased sales and turnover 2 fold since joining!
Foodpanda
While the Government urges people to stay indoors, getting to the shops safely can be a difficult task. Foodpanda Singapore is one of the most popular online menu platforms in the country and it is easy to see why. With food and grocery delivery, it really is the place to be as a business right now.
Simply click on the ‘Partner with us’ link and follow the prompts. Food Panda’s main clientele are constantly on the search for the latest and greatest restaurants, so now is a great time to get set up! Similarly, for those looking to make a grocery delivery app, understanding the dynamics of digital platforms like Food Panda can provide valuable insights into customer preferences and market trends. They also support grocery delivery, which means if you own a grocery store, or even a restaurant that is able to provide the essential groceries to customers, setting up an online account with Food Panda and displaying your menu online will see your revenue increase dramatically. Especially during times that we are seeing today.
Before signing your restaurant up to FoodPanda, ensure you have the following documentation handy:
- Restaurant License / ACRA Certification
- Photo of your menu
- Average cost of a meal per person
- Address and other essential details
- Cuisine and eatery type (restaurant, cafe, market)
Coming in with a 10-12% fee per order, Food Panda has the lowest on offer. However, the catch is a more limited offering of restaurants, meaning more limited clientele.
Deliveroo
Like Food Panda, Deliveroo is a well-known and popular food delivery service in Singapore. They are offering new restaurants 30% extra on every takeaway meal. Getting set up is as easy as Sign up, Set up and Sell. Simply send Deliveroo a copy of your menu and a few details about your restaurant, such as opening hours and cuisine, and away you go.
Within a matter of hours, you may see your sales increase. And, with the option of using their driver/rider network, or your own service, delivery and customer reach has never been more flexible.
Get started by sending Deliveroo:
- Delivery method preference
- Name and other essential details, including website (if applicable)
- How many orders on average you take per week
- Cuisine
Restauranteurs must keep in mind that Deliveroo will charge between 10-20% commission on all orders. Fees are even higher if they are affiliated with more than one food delivery service.
GrabFood & GrabMart
GrabFood is an off-shoot of the tech giant, Grab. First introduced in 2012 in Malaysia, Grab’s goal is to connect businesses and other merchants with consumers. As a restaurant or eatery, it is very simple to sign up to the GrabFood platform and get your menu cooking on the interweb. Once you have applied in the office, you will receive an email outlining training and other essential requirements as well. Staff are working extra hard to accommodate partner restaurant requests, so as a business owner, you can be reassured that GrabFood is there for you.
There is also an option for merchants who sell essential groceries, such as supermarkets and convenience stores, to get online through GrabMart.
There are two sign up methods; 3-day and 10-day. The 3-day process is completed as an accelerated pathway and is an on-the-spot sign up in the Singapore office. This is recommended if you can find an appointment, especially during these times. The 10-day process is done exclusively online, but you will have to wait an extra week to start taking orders online.
Nevertheless, you’ll need the following documents to sign up:
- ACRA or NRIC certification
- Copy of Singapore Food Agency License (has to have been valid for 2 months prior)
- Menu
- Optional certificates, such as Halal, Kosher, Liquor, etc.
The fee for GrabFood and GrabMart is a rather high 30% of the total order, despite if it is pick up or delivery.
WhyQ
A relatively new player to the food delivery scene in Singapore is WhyQ. With one of the lowest delivery fees of the lot, they also offer the chance to include different dishes from the same food court in the one order, unlike their competition. Low fees means it is bound to attract more hungry clients.
If you own an eatery in a food court, this app may be perfect. WhyQ customers generally will choose a few dishes from around the market, including some savoury dishes and also some dessert ones, before checking out.
As WhyQ is a service for Hawkers, there is minimal information needed:
- Name, contact details and address
- Hawker center name
- Stall name and unit number
- Items sold/ menu
Support the local hawker community with WhyQ!
Shopify
You can set up your own delivery platform on Shopify and save on most of the fees you would be paying through third-party services. This does, however, mean that you will have to not only have some knowledge of how to set up your own online menu, but also the time to be able to sit down and actually make it look presentable.
In saying that, a small chunk of your time could pay off in the end when you aren’t paying some hefty service fees that you would otherwise be paying. Doing it yourself will also allow you to keep some, if not all staff in jobs, meaning it is a win-win for everyone.
If you don’t have the time or knowledge to set up your own online menu, you could either pay a freelancer to help you out, or simply sign up to another platform, such as the ones mentioned above, who although charge higher fees, will do all the backend work for you.
The Choice Is Yours
There are many food delivery platforms to choose from nowadays. What is important right now is getting your menu online. There is no question that COVID-19 has stalled in-store sales for now, so this is all the more reason to get online, become affiliated with a food delivery platform. Ultimately selling your delicious food through the perhaps quicker, easier and stress-free way method of online!
Now, although some platforms require less information than others, it is always best practice to stay on top of legal documentation and certifications. This will also help reassure customers that your food is reliable. Just because Deliveroo does not require as thorough documentation as GrabFood or FoodPanda, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is the platform you should use. If you have any experience at all with websites and creating minimalistic content, then a Shopify online menu could be the best option.
Nevertheless, always providing sufficient documentation shows the platform and your customers that you are playing by the rules, not to mention it is a great selling point as well.
