Enhancing the restaurant delivery platform: 12 Must-Have Capabilities for the Year Ahead

In the dynamic landscape of on-demand food delivery, customers demand quick service, accuracy, personalization, and an seamless experience.

As international growth for online food ordering accelerates—estimated to hit over 466B USD by 2027—startups must lead the pack by upgrading their ordering platforms with the necessary mix of features, intuitive UI, and modern tools.

Whether you're developing a custom UberEats-style app or starting your own white-label food delivery platform, understanding what fuels user engagement and operational efficiency is essential.

1. Smooth Onboarding and Account Creation

First impressions matter. A clean sign-up process sets the tone for a smooth experience. Allow users to register using Google/Facebook login, and offer bonus customizations like favorite cuisines to personalize future suggestions.

2. Live Delivery Tracking with GPS

Modern customers need transparency. By building in real-time GPS tracking, you increase engagement. Allow users to monitor:
- Live courier position
- ETA
- Stage-by-stage tracking

3. Advanced Search and Filter Functions

An intelligent search system is vital as your ecosystem expands. Use segmentation like:
- Cuisine
- Health filter
- Speed filter
- Budget

Pair it with smart top delivery app features suggestions for a personalized user experience.

4. Smart In-App Payments

To streamline checkout, integrate:
- Cards
- UPI
- Coupons

Ensure compliance with encryption. Digital-only payment is a must.

5. Loyalty Programs & Referral Bonuses

User retention is more cost-effective than features your food app must have new acquisition. Add:
- Point-based rewards
- Membership clubs
- Refer-and-earn

This can increase customer lifetime value.

6. Delivery Partner App + Route Optimization}

Drivers need a streamlined app to manage delivery agent tracking tasks:
- Turn-by-turn directions
- Wallet
- Order details

Optimized routes save time.

7. Admin and Restaurant Dashboards

Give control to your partners and team with:
- Inventory tools
- Reports
- Conflict resolution

Restaurants should effortlessly add discounts.

8. Multi-Platform Support

Your app should work seamlessly on:
- Apple devices
- Google Play
- Browser platforms

Use Flutter for cost savings.

9. Push Notifications & Engagement Triggers

Keep users informed with:
- Live delivery
- Coupons
- Abandoned cart nudges

Apps with strong mobile alerts enjoy better loyalty.

10. AI-Powered Personalization

Use AI to:
- Recommend dishes
- Study behavior
- Create upsells

This can increase average basket size.

11. Reviews & Ratings

Let customers rate their experience with:
- Star ratings
- Written reviews
- Complaint escalation

Positive reviews build reputation.

12. Scalability & Cloud-Based Architecture

Use serverless solutions for:
- Data management
- Performance scaling
- User traffic

This future-proofs your app for multi-city rollout.

Summary

The online food market is about more than just getting mealsit’s about delivering experiences.

By including these 12 key features, your app can excel in the modern landscape.

Looking for a faster launch? **Oyelabs’ UberEats clone** provides a ready-made solution to help you dominate locally.