DoorDash launches its Commerce Platform, offering restaurant partners a range of tools, including mobile apps, AI phone ordering, and customer support, to drive sales and enhance operations.
DoorDash Launches Comprehensive Commerce Platform to Help Restaurants Boost Sales
Introduction
DoorDash, one of the leading food delivery services in the U.S., has launched a new initiative to empower restaurant partners with advanced technological solutions. The DoorDash Commerce Platform was introduced with a suite of tools designed to help restaurants meet their evolving business needs. With options like custom branded mobile apps, AI-driven phone ordering systems, and enhanced customer support solutions, this platform is set to provide restaurants with more control over their sales channels and customer engagement.
The Commerce Platform: Custom Solutions for Restaurants
The new DoorDash Commerce Platform allows restaurant partners to select from five products to tailor their business operations and meet specific needs. This flexibility offers restaurants the opportunity to improve efficiency and customer experience across various ordering platforms, whether online, by phone, or in-store.
Among the platform’s standout features is the Online Ordering Mobile Apps tool, enabling restaurants to create their own branded mobile applications. This product is a significant addition for restaurants aiming to enhance their digital presence and streamline customer interactions. By offering the ability to build custom apps, DoorDash is giving restaurants a powerful tool to capture more online orders directly, thereby boosting customer engagement and potentially driving additional sales.
New Additions: Phone Ordering and Customer Support Solutions
The platform also introduces two other important products—Phone Ordering and Customer Support Solutions. Phone Ordering is an artificial intelligence (AI) system that automates phone orders, ensuring smooth and accurate transactions without requiring additional staff. With a high volume of orders happening outside regular business hours or peak times, AI phone ordering can help restaurants manage incoming orders more efficiently and reduce the chance of human error.
Customer Support Solutions, another new addition, provides restaurants with a dedicated platform to handle customer inquiries, ensuring swift resolution of issues and maintaining customer satisfaction. This dedicated support platform can help restaurant partners manage customer relations effectively, leading to better service and improved loyalty.
Updated Products for Modern Business Needs
Along with the new offerings, DoorDash has revamped several existing products to align with the Commerce Platform’s goals. The Online Ordering feature, formerly known as Storefront, allows restaurants to offer direct online ordering without the need for a third-party intermediary, giving them more control over the ordering process and customer data.
Drive on Demand, previously called Drive, enables restaurants to offer delivery services through DoorDash without listing on the main DoorDash app, giving them the option to maintain their branding while benefiting from DoorDash’s delivery network.
Additionally, Tableside Order and Pay, formerly Bbot, is a useful tool for dine-in restaurants that want to allow customers to order and pay directly from their tables, enhancing the in-restaurant experience.
Dive Insight: Empowering Restaurants with Technology
The launch of DoorDash’s Commerce Platform reflects the company’s continued effort to support restaurants in their quest to drive sales and enhance customer experiences. With the food delivery landscape rapidly evolving, restaurants are increasingly looking for ways to differentiate themselves, attract new customers, and retain existing ones. The new platform provides tools that can help restaurants build their digital presence and leverage mobile technology—especially important as 60% of U.S. consumers order takeout or delivery once a week.
One of the platform’s most significant advantages is the ability for restaurants to create their own mobile apps. With 90% of consumers spending their time on mobile phones using apps, having a dedicated app can significantly boost customer engagement. Mobile apps also tend to have higher conversion rates compared to websites, making them an essential tool for restaurants looking to increase order volumes and improve customer loyalty.
In addition to the Commerce Platform, DoorDash updated its Business Manager app, which first launched in 2021. The app now offers quick access to payouts, sales tracking, and marketing campaign management. This allows restaurant partners to monitor their business performance in real-time and make data-driven decisions to optimize operations.
Driving Off-Peak Sales with Discounts and Automation
DoorDash has been consistently rolling out features that help restaurants increase sales, particularly during off-peak hours. In July, DoorDash introduced discounting tools, allowing restaurants to offer targeted discounts to attract customers during slower times of the day. These discounts can be customized based on specific timeframes and help restaurants manage their traffic flow more efficiently.
Another recent addition, automated phone ordering, introduced in August 2023, has been instrumental in helping restaurants handle phone orders more effectively. By automating the process, restaurants can reduce the time spent on taking orders manually and focus on delivering quality service to customers. This feature has been especially helpful for restaurants dealing with staff shortages or high call volumes during peak hours.
Conclusion
DoorDash’s Commerce Platform is a major step forward in helping restaurant partners navigate the ever-changing food service landscape. By offering customizable tools such as branded mobile apps, AI phone ordering, and enhanced customer support, DoorDash is empowering restaurants to take control of their digital presence, streamline operations, and boost sales.
With the ability to create direct customer channels, manage off-peak discounts, and integrate automated ordering systems, restaurants can now better serve their customers while optimizing business performance. As DoorDash continues to refine and expand its offerings, restaurant partners stand to benefit from a comprehensive and flexible platform designed to meet their evolving needs in the fast-paced world of food service.