In the digital era we are living in, food delivery and ordering platforms play an important role in restaurant growth. Third-party apps like UberEats have changed the way we prefer ordering our food. However, behind the ease and the trend it has a cost that restaurants have to encounter.
A new solution is almost here – WhatsEat, this helps restaurants to manage orders through WhatsApp. This platform helps to cut down any cost that restaurants are paying to third party Apps. This also helps to regain control and become more independent.
But how does WhatsEat compare to market giant like UberEats in terms of costs. This is the real question and this blog will answer and help you figure out which platform is best for your restaurant’s growth and profitability.
Understanding the Platforms
UberEats
UberEats is a third-party application that helps in customer interface to delivery logistics. Restaurants get listed on the app, and UberEat is responsible for all of the process from payment to orders and even delivery. They also handle customer support.
WhatsEat
WhatsEat is a tool that restaurants can handle directly without any third party interference. It helps restaurants manage order directly WhatsApp. It also display menu, place and track orders, this process cut out the middle party.
Commission-Based Model vs. Direct Ordering
The most important difference between the two platforms is commission vs. direct ordering
UberEats, charge commission on every order that is placed from their App. This reduce the overall profit for restaurant, as Uber charge commission on total value of the order. The commission is dependent on number of orders, you have to pay on each order. This adds up to the cost for the restaurant owners.
WhatsEat doesn’t work on any commission model. This platform works on a subscription-based model or offers API integration services. The restaurant is able to keep the full value of each sale, leading to a more profit in case of more sales.
Operational Costs and Flexibility
With UberEats there is no monthly subscription cost because of commission model. This creates a high variable cost dependent to your sales. The cost grows as the business and sales grow.
WhatsEat offers fixed cost model. Whether you receive hundred or three thousand orders, your platform cost doesn’t change. This ensures predictable costs and restaurants can have greater control on their variable costs.
Whereas, WhatsEat comes with flexibility to integrate the service into your current business setup. There are no limitations that are involved with any third party App.
Customer Relationship and Data Ownership
One of the major costs of third-party platforms like UberEats is restaurants don’t have access to customer data. There is no chance to market the previous customers again, as the data is property of UberEats. There is no chance of community building or offering loyalty programs.
WhatsEat helps to create long-term relationships. You are able to get access to full contact information of the customers placing order, this can help you send promotional messages or loyalty programs messages in the future. This is great benefit to help grown organically.
Branding and User Experience
With UberEats, your restaurant is one among all others listed on their App. The customer experience is as per the UberEats interface. While it is very easy, but you don’t have control that how you want to show your brand to customers.
On other hand with WhatsEat, the entire ordering process is within your WhatsApp Business Account. Restaurants can tailor messages as per their own brand and tone. This personal touch results in greater customer satisfaction.
Marketing and Promotions
UberEats does offer exposure and there might not be need for marketing at your end. But this has price. In order to be featured in the listings you have to pay some amount.
With WhatsEat, the case is different. The marketing is in your hands. You can run your own promotions through WhatsApp, social media marketing and create loyalty programs for your customers. The cost saving and entire marketing approach is in your hands, but proactive marketing is required.
Setup and Training
UberEats offers minimal setup and there is no training required. But there is no flexibility as you have to follow their system and interface.
WhatsEat requires some sort of initial training, but once it’s done, the system is super easy to use for the restaurant staff. You can set up order responses as per your own required wordings.
Though the learning time might be required in the start, the long-term control and independence makes it worth it.
Delivery Logistics
UberEats convenient if you don’t have your own riders as UberEats provide delivery service as well. However, this ease comes at the cost of high commissions, and you don’t have much say at the time required to deliver and how you want your food to b delivered to the customers.
WhatsEat doesn’t offer delivery. So it offers flexibility to deliver yourself or rely on logistic service. It is possible to control the cost and also ensure delivery is done timely, maintain delivery quality, and offer a good experience for your customers.
Profitability and Long-Term Growth
When comparing both platforms in terms of profits, WhatsEat clearly offers more profitability. This is because there are no commissions, and long term growth is possible. Through WhatsEats your own brand is being prompted not nay third party App.
UberEats can bring sales from the start but the cost cannot be ignored. The dependency is on third part App and less on your own brand.
Building Customer Loyalty
Restaurants who want to focus on branding need to directly communicate with the customers to ensure they are satisfied. Ubereast just offer one spot in the list of several restaurants.
WhatsEat can build a good relation with cutomers. Once a customer interacts with you on WhatsApp, you can send them deals, offers and keep reminding them of new dishes in the menu.
The Verdict
WhatsEat can be great tool to rely for orders as it is more profitable, brand control, direct customer engagement and less cost in terms of commission.
UberEats might be a good tool for secondary channel, but for short term. It might lead to relying on it as your primary ordering method may lead to less profits.
Conclusion
In a world where businesses aim for high profits and the competition, it is important to look at the cost of each order. UberEats may help visibility instantly and logistics, but it does so at the expense of control, customer data, and long-term profitability.
WhatsEat allows restaurants to take charge of their ordering systems, build direct customer engagement, and keep more profits due to less variable costs. It gives more control in the hands of business owners and offers more long term growth.
