The Benefits of Using Multiple Delivery Partners for Direct Orders

Many restaurants now use multiple third-party delivery apps to meet demand, boost brand awareness, and attract new guests. And yet, when it comes to delivery orders placed directly on the restaurant’s website or app, brands often rely on a single delivery service provider (DSP).

This can create challenges, including vulnerability to service disruptions and limited coverage, resulting in unhappy guests and lost revenue.

Keep scrolling to learn the advantages of leveraging multiple DSPs for direct delivery.

6 benefits of using multiple delivery partners for direct orders

Considering that in 2023, 40% of consumers opted to order directly from a restaurant website whereas 13% expressed a preference for third-party apps or websites, brands need a reliable direct delivery program.

In 2023, 40% of consumers opted to order directly from a restaurant website

Restaurants with a multiple-DSP strategy for orders placed directly on their website or app gain access to a broader range of delivery services that add flexibility and resilience, leading to more competitive pricing. 

Here’s how restaurants can benefit from using more than one DSP for direct delivery orders.

1. Resilience and continuity

Seamless order fulfillment is essential for retaining delivery guests. With multiple DSPs, you can mitigate the risk of service disruptions and salvage orders that would otherwise be lost during one provider’s downtime. 

2. Expanded coverage and reach

Multiple DSPs increase your delivery radius, including potentially hard-to-reach rural locations. This broader coverage enhances accessibility for guests and expands your brand’s market reach.

3. Opportunity to rescue orders

If a DSP cancels a delivery, that guest relationship is on the line. An unhappy guest is more likely to leave a negative review, tell their friends, and stop returning to your restaurant altogether. With more than one DSP at your disposal, you can rescue that order before it’s too late.

4. Flexibility

You can adjust your DSP mix at any time based on performance metrics and changing market conditions. Continuous testing enables you to prioritize the fastest, most reliable, and most cost-effective DSPs.

A multiple-DSP strategy also gives you the option to add a catering-specific, white-glove delivery partner, like DeliverThat, if you decide to capitalize on the catering boom.

5. More DSP competition 

A multiple-DSP strategy incentivizes competition, encourages continuous innovation, and drives improvement in service quality and affordability among all DSPs. 

6. Better guest experience

With multiple DSPs, you can ensure your guests get the convenience and speed of delivery they desire—no matter what time they order or where they live.

How to grow your restaurant’s delivery program

Delivery guests not only demand convenience and fast service—they expect the same quality of food, hospitality, and reliability your restaurant provides on-premise.

Olo’s Dispatch solution makes it easy to meet those expectations and scale your direct delivery program using more than one DSP. Dispatch enables you to offer direct delivery from your restaurant’s website or app—without compromising on the guest experience, commission fees, data, or managing a courier fleet—by automatically pairing third-party couriers with orders.

Request a demo of Dispatch to discover how your restaurant can effortlessly tap into a nationwide network of DSPs to satisfy the increasing demand for direct delivery, attract new guests, and streamline operations. 

Direct delivery is one of many ways to maximize profit, collect essential guest data, and stay competitive in the restaurant industry today. Download our Direct Ordering ebook to find out why leading brands prioritize their first-party ordering channels and how to empower more guests to order directly from your restaurant.

Already using Dispatch? Visit the Help Center to see how easy it is to enable another DSP in the Olo Dashboard.

Photo by South_agency at iStock