Alexa, Order Us a Pizza!
Food orders via smart speakers are expected to increase.
Feb 20, 2020
ALEXANDRIA, Va.—While 74.2 million Americans use smart speakers every month and 62% of speaker owners made purchases through voice commerce, only 7.9% of people use smart speakers for food and beverage orders, according to StreetFightingMag.com.
But consumers may be ready to start. Shopping via at-home smart speakers is projected to increase this year and reach $40 million in revenue by 2022, meaning foodservice providers need to prepare in advance to be compatible with connected consumer devices. As NACS Daily has reported, smart speaker ordering is now available from Denny’s and Dunkin’ and is coming to some fuel retailers this year. In order to keep up, experts recommend that businesses of all sizes optimize their tech stacks and diversify their strategies.
Technology has changed the way people shop. Today, mobile payments account for more than $93 billion transactions in the U.S., a number expected to double by 2023. As voice ordering gains ground, industry players must consider investments and partnerships needed to integrate virtual voice-ordering assistants into their ordering apps and optimize menus for digital-first experiences.
Today’s consumer base is mobile-first, especially when it comes to dining. From 2015 to 2018, the percentage of guests who ordered food from smartphones or mobile apps more than tripled—from 11% to 39%. By the end of 2020, mobile orders are expected to make up nearly 11% of all QSR sales.
To best serve mobile customers, restaurants must ensure that their mobile apps are optimized before implementing virtual voice-ordering tech. They must prepare to accommodate the more advanced technology, and a good first step is investing in their own digital technology, whether through online, kiosk or mobile ordering apps.
As voice ordering technology advances, restaurants will need to be strategic about partnering with the right platforms and optimizing their mobile experiences. Ideally, this will ultimately increase their revenue through the addition of text and pictures, especially as technology evolves to become far more conversational and predictive about consumer habits.
Home meal replacement Device integration E-commerce
