The Future of the Restaurant Industry Post COVID-19

The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted just about every industry under the sun and necessitated a radical change in how they used to function. 

With social distancing and other non-pharmaceutical interventions or measures intended to prevent the spread of covid-19 becoming the new normal, the food industry has also witnessed many changes. Many more advances await this multi-billion industry. 

As the general fear of covid-19 increases, many behavioral changes can be seen in the customers, who seem to have embraced the concept of “...not going out unless absolutely necessary”! 

So what does this mean for the future of local takeout restaurants, mom and pop pizza shops, deli and sandwich shops, food trucks and snack bars, bakery and coffee shops, and other food businesses? What does the future of restaurants look like post-covid-19, once life starts to get back on track? And what changes are the food businesses likely to make to boost their sales, along with keeping their customers and employees safe? 

Continue reading to learn about the three core changes that will likely take place in the food industry in the coming times. 

1: The “Work From Home” culture will impact restaurants.  

Considering most companies have asked their employees to work remotely to ensure their safety during the covid-19 pandemic, the “work from home” culture has been adopted by most. And given how convenient and cost-effective this new work culture is, it seems like it is here to stay! And if it did, it would significantly influence the number of orders for your restaurant business. 

The demand for breakfast and lunch on weekdays would be less. Plus, there would be fewer coffee orders. This does not mean that the industry is up for a bleak future, full of losses, as people will not entirely give up having delicious restaurant-cooked dishes. Restaurants can expect an increase in dinner orders. 

2: Online ordering will proliferate. 

Since the launch of many food ordering apps, people are inclined towards home deliveries due to the sheer comfort and convenience it offers. Online food ordering has skyrocketed in popularity even more as people have been locked down for almost a year now. This easy ordering method has also tripled the takeout sales, which is a positive sign for the restaurant industry. The use of smartphones for ordering will also result in higher margins and seamless transactions, translating to more profit for the industry. 

3: Restaurants will have to come up with no-touch solutions.

The contagiousness of covid-19 has made safety the paramount concern for everyone around the world. To avoid the spreading of infection, restaurants will have to adhere to a “hands free” culture. They will have to come up with no contact methods to prevent touching the most frequently touched areas, like doors, taps, flushes, and menus. 

The final word

All restaurant owners have a long distance to cover to make their restaurants be perceived as COVID-free zones to get more people walking in through the front door. But even if the footfall is less, the food industry will succeed due to online ordering. If you are looking for a reliable yet straightforward cloud-based custom online ordering and print solution, trust EatBeat.com. Contact us to learn more.