The global pandemic has compelled eateries worldwide to change how they conduct business. For many food businesses, online ordering and roadside pickup have been godsends. Also, it doesn’t appear that this will change even when companies welcome customers inside.
Here, we discuss the benefits of employing WooCommerce, an eCommerce tool, for your online food business.
Top Benefits of WooCommerce for Your Restaurant
1. WooCommerce is Seamless for Setup a Restaurant
WordPress is a free platform for building websites. WooCommerce is a free eCommerce tool or plugin that you must install on your WordPress website to accept payments. The only expenses you will need to bear are:
- Hosting a website.
- Payment processing fees (usually a small percentage of sales).
- Any plugins you may require to run your business.
The WooCommerce Restaurant Ordering Plugin will probably be the only plugin you need to buy.
2. Payment Integration Options are Limitless
WooCommerce offers various third-party payment integration choices and several built-in methods like PayPal. It is advisable to integrate your WooCommerce restaurant website with a payment processor that accepts both online and in-person payments if you plan to offer both in-person and online purchasing. Payment processors provide payment terminals in WooCommerce for both in-person and online payments.
3. Creating Product Categories is Easy
It is easy for a restaurant website to create different product categories with WooCommerce per your menu. With product categories, it becomes easy for you to remain organized and for customers to navigate through the menu. Just take a look at your menu layout and logically group your products into categories (i.e., pasta, appetizers, mains, sandwiches, etc.).
To create product categories, follow the below path:
- Products > Categories > Add New in WP’s sidebar menu.
4. Inserting Menu Items is Simple
Through WooCommerce, it is easy to choose a category from your previous product categories. All you need now is to put in your product’s title, description, and price tag. You can include a photo and an inventory level to prevent customers from ordering food after you’ve run out. Your chances of getting orders will increase with the product data you provide.
Simple and variable food products are the two different kinds offered by WooCommerce. Simple products with variations are referred to as variable products. For instance, if your menu item is “Pizza,” your variations may be the various pizza flavors you can offer. Prices for variations can change as well.
Various plugin choices are available for more complex product types if your menu is more intricate. In order for your customers to create their pizza on your website, you can buy “WooCommerce Composite Products” if you’d like to have individual toppings for your pizza.
5. Integrate Online Ordering System
It’s crucial to have an online ordering mechanism on your website if you provide delivery or takeout. People order food while moving around and juggling many tasks so frequently that they can choose a rival if they have to call you. Through WooCommerce, you can simplify things for your clients and provide them with the foods and services they want.
6. Delivery Setup is Easy
Create shipping zones. Choose the area to which you can deliver goods, or input the zip code range where free delivery is available in the Shipping part of your WooCommerce settings. You can also include delivery choices, such as the option for customers to pick up their item rather than have it delivered.
7. Simply Connect to the POS System
It’s simple to run your new online business after setting up your WooCommerce online restaurant. WooCommerce immediately sends you an email notification when you receive an online food order. Your online orders will, however, appear in your activity view in real time if your POS connects with WooCommerce. You can integrate POS systems from anywhere because different mobile-friendly plugins are available. Whether you are running your business from home or have an actual restaurant site, it doesn’t matter.
8. Integration Of Contact Information
Your location and contact info (phone, email, and social media connections) should be obvious and easy to find with WooCommerce. In this digital age, it’s essential to have a good location since clients should be able to locate you quickly.
Additionally, your business’s location may significantly impact a website visitor’s decision to become a client. Your restaurant’s business phone number, email ID, and social media links should be there on your WooCommerce restaurant site so that potential consumers may contact you directly with any inquiries and learn more about the atmosphere of your restaurant.
9. Calendar for Events
Adding entertainment and special events can make your restaurant stand out from the competition. Include an events calendar on your website to maximize those additional marketing chances. You’ll do a lot to attract new customers by letting people know that your institution provides something extra. The events calendar not only entices customers to come, but it also aids them in choosing the best times to eat out.
Wrap Up
Just take a glance at these plugins to see their significant advantages. Encourage offline restaurant visits; this will raise the likelihood that online meal delivery orders will be placed.
Developers put a strong emphasis on transparency and simplicity. This is critical to encouraging a “hungry” visitor. These WooCommerce restaurant menu plugins raise the level of information perception convenience while creating a restaurant or cafe menu page. You will have an added benefit over less capable rivals.