Do you remember the terror established by COVID-19? Who doesn’t?
The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted lives and industries around the globe, and the food delivery industry is no exception. What was once considered a convenient way of ordering quickly became inconvenient and unsafe.
However, restaurants and food delivery apps quickly adapted to the changing situation and conditions. They embraced the new challenges and emerged victorious at the end of the tunnel.
This blog explores how COVID-19 changed the way you order food and get it delivered.
The Surge of COVID-19
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, food delivery was straightforward. You order your items from a restaurant through an app, and the restaurant and delivery partners deliver them to you.
However, as COVID-19 accelerated, governments started imposing strict hygiene and safety rules. One of those rules was quarantine. People were not allowed to leave their houses or open the shutters to their offices.
The restrictions implied that consumers could not dine out at restaurants, and delivery partners could not leave their homes to deliver orders. In the second wave, however, restrictions were lifted, leading to an increase of 60% in orders during peak lockdown periods.
The Rise of Contactless Deliveries
The restrictions were lifted, but the terror was still in place. Observing this fear, food delivery apps and restaurants started imposing stringent rules and regulations related to sanitation. This gave rise to contactless delivery options.
Contactless delivery means that there is no contact throughout the entire transaction. The food is kept at your doorstep, delivery partners do not ring your bells, you are asked to make payment digitally, and many more changes.
The contactless food delivery process ensured safety and sanitation, leading to a carefree indulgence.
The Rise of Cloud Kitchens
Since dining in was not an option, food delivery became a prominent service, leading to the popularity of cloud kitchens. These kitchens operate without a dine-in space, reducing overhead costs and focusing solely on fulfilling online orders.
Emphasis on Hygiene and Safety
Food delivery apps reassured their consumers about safety against COVID-19 by implementing strict hygiene measures.
These companies conducted daily temperature checks of delivery partners, regular sanitation, sealed packaging and contactless delivery. Restaurants and food delivery platforms also highlighted these measures to build customer trust.
Changing Consumer Demands
All the above changes were made to reassure customers that they were safe. But why was that necessary? Thanks to the fatal pandemic, safety became the first priority. To cater to customers’ requirements and demands, restaurants and apps changed their services and adapted accordingly.
Conclusion
COVID-19 changed almost everything about food delivery. It reshaped how people order food and how platforms deliver it through innovation and adaptation.
The pandemic may have accelerated change, but these transformations are here to stay since we still observe the preference towards contactless delivery and hygienic places. While challenges remain, the industry is set to continue evolving with new technologies and services.