Most US Restaurant-Goers Order Takeout via Mobile
More than a third order via smartphone or tablet monthly
November 18, 2016
Most US internet users order food via a smartphone or tablet and pick it up on-the-go, according to an August 2016 survey from restaurant management software company Toast. Among those who do, it’s typically a monthly occurrence.
Overall, 58% of internet users who dined out said they ordered takeout via mobile at least sometimes. Most of that group said they ordered food on smartphones or tablets once a month. Still, 3% said they did so every day.
Ordering food from a restaurant’s website is even more widespread: 88% of respondents did so at least sometimes, though 31% of the total group did so only “rarely.”
When US internet users did visit restaurants, the impacts of technology upon their dining experiences were clear.
Over 75% said that when visiting a restaurant, being able to make reservations online was at least somewhat important. Over 50% said the same about online or mobile ordering, loyalty and reward programs, and, perhaps surprisingly, free Wi-Fi. Even when dining, US internet users want to be connected to the internet.
Though trendy, fewer than 40% of those surveyed said that a touchscreen ordering kiosk was important to them, however.
A June 2016 survey by Hospitality Technology echoes the importance of online reservations: 75% of US adult internet users surveyed said that the ease of online reservations influenced their restaurant selection. And nearly 70% agreed that free, reliable Wi-Fi would sway them.