The Basics of Building a Food Delivery App in 2021

If there’s one thing 2020 has shown us, it’s that society has come to rely on delivery apps. With the Covid-19 pandemic preventing us from going out to eat, food delivery apps have seen a marked increase in popularity. In this article, we’ll talk about the basics of such apps, from how to create food delivery admin panel to features you simply must include. 

When we talk about food delivery apps, we’re looking at two main types: apps that are specific to one single restaurant, and apps that act as an aggregator, bringing together different vendors.

Either of these has its own set of pros and cons. For example, aggregator apps are considered more useful, because the larger offer attracts more users. On the other hand, aggregator apps imply more work, since it will be the app’s task to take care of delivery and moderate user experience.

Core Features

But regardless of which type of food delivery app you’re looking to build, there are some things that should not be missing from your admin panel.

  • User accounts – one of the main things your admin panel needs to be able to do is give access to all user accounts. Remember, you are responsible for a good rapport between the customer and the restaurant. Having a neatly organized file for user accounts allows you to maintain this rapport, as well as to ensure transactions go smoothly.
  • Discounts and deals – a big point of attraction in food delivery apps consists of the various discounts, sales, and deals that the customer can benefit from. Anything from half-price Tuesdays or free delivery Fridays can make the difference between ordering and not ordering. Your admin panel is in control of these deals, as well. 
  • Payments – naturally, the point of delivery apps is to process a transaction more smoothly. From your food delivery app admin panel, you can see and manage incoming payments from your users, and a good panel allows you to do this quickly and smoothly.
  • Location and Courier Management – A huge part of food delivery apps is, of course, the delivery. And in order for that to work as it should, your app needs to have two things: accurate and fast location tracking, and top courier services. From your panel, you’ll be able to see not only where your users/couriers are, but also what the average delivery time and rating are for each courier. Remember, a poor experience reflects badly on you, not on the individual courier! 

Helpful User Features

Meanwhile, you’re also looking to make sure your users have the best possible experience, otherwise you risk them switching apps. To ensure this, your users must benefit from:

  • Tracking and Processing 

When you’re hungry, there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing that little animation that tells you your order is on its way. A good delivery app lets users monitor their order every step of the way.

  • Personalized accounts

People don’t want to spend the next 30 minutes deciding which pizza place is best, or trying to remember where they ordered from last time. The ability to customize their account and “heart” their favorite restaurants makes for a flawless user experience.

  • Tipping and beyond

Normally, we express our appreciation for the service by tipping our waiter, or in this case, our courier. Users appreciate the ability to do this (as well as varied payment options). They also enjoy rating and reviewing a good restaurant or courier, as that is also a form of tipping. So in that regard also, you need to make sure your app is in top shape.