Why Restaurant Online Ordering Systems Are Essential for Business Success
A restaurant online ordering system is a digital platform that allows customers to browse your menu, place orders, and pay online for pickup, delivery, or dine-in service directly through your website or mobile app. These systems integrate with your point-of-sale (POS) system to streamline operations, featuring a branded website, real-time menu management, secure payment processing, and automated order routing to your kitchen.
The restaurant industry has undergone a massive digital change. With over 173 million Americans using online meal delivery services in 2024 and nearly 90% of takeout orders placed digitally, having an online ordering system isn't just convenient, it's essential for survival.
From our experience working with restaurant owners over the past three decades, we've seen how the right online ordering system can transform operations. Restaurants using integrated systems report significant improvements in order accuracy, staff efficiency, and profitability. The key is choosing a system that works with your existing operations rather than against them.
However, not all online ordering systems are created equal. Some charge hefty commission fees that can eat into your profits, while others lack the integration capabilities needed for smooth operations. Understanding these differences is crucial for making the right choice for your business.
Why Your Restaurant Needs an Online Ordering System in 2025
A restaurant online ordering system is no longer a luxury, it's the lifeline that keeps your business competitive and profitable. With nearly 90% of takeout orders placed online, relying solely on phone calls and walk-ins means missing out on significant revenue. Restaurants with integrated online ordering see dramatic bottom-line improvements, with some reporting an average 48% revenue increase. Online orders also tend to be larger, as customers have more time to browse your menu without feeling rushed.
Want to see how much more your restaurant could earn with a commission-free system? Get a quick, no-obligation demo of EatOnTheWeb.
The Benefits of Adopting an Online Ordering Platform
Implementing a well-designed platform revolutionizes your entire operation.
- Increased Revenue: Capture more orders and benefit from larger average check sizes. We've seen some of our customers experience a 135% increase in revenue during their first year with an integrated system.
- Improved Customer Convenience: Allow customers to order on their terms, 24/7, from any device. This freedom reduces pressure on your phone lines and meets modern expectations.
- Reduced Order Errors: Digital ordering eliminates miscommunication. Customers select their own items and modifications, leading to higher accuracy and satisfaction.
- Competitive Advantage: In 2025, an efficient online system is expected. It not only levels the playing field but sets you apart as a modern, customer-focused choice.
- Valuable Customer Data: Owning your customer data allows you to build loyalty through targeted marketing and personalized offers, turning new diners into regulars.
Meeting Modern Customer Expectations
Today's diners expect a seamless experience from start to finish.
- 24/7 Ordering Access: Customers can place orders anytime, even for future pickup or delivery.
- Mobile-First Design: A smooth mobile experience prevents lost orders.
- Flexible Payment Options: Accept credit cards, wallets, and loyalty points with ease.
- Real-Time Order Tracking: Keep customers updated automatically, reducing staff calls.
- Personalized Experiences: Use customer data for targeted promos, favorites, and loyalty perks.
Those who accept these modern expectations don't just survive the digital change, they thrive in it. The key is choosing a system that improves your operations rather than complicating them.
Key Features to Compare in a Restaurant Online Ordering System
When you're shopping for a restaurant online ordering system, it's easy to get overwhelmed by flashy features and marketing promises. But here's what really matters: how will this system work in your restaurant on a busy Saturday night? Will it make your life easier or create more headaches?
From working with countless restaurant owners, we've learned that the best systems are the ones you barely notice, they just work. The ideal platform should feel like a natural extension of your restaurant, seamlessly blending into your daily operations rather than disrupting them.
Branded Website and Direct Ordering
Your online ordering platform is your digital storefront. A branded website showcases your unique identity and ensures customers know they're ordering directly from you.
More importantly, direct ordering means you own your customer relationships. You capture valuable data - contact information, preferences, and order history - that is essential for building repeat business. This is a stark contrast to third-party platforms, which keep this data for themselves.
Financially, the difference is huge. Third-party platforms charge commission fees of 15-30% per order. With direct ordering, that money stays in your pocket. By controlling the customer experience, you can showcase your menu your way and run promotions without competing against other restaurants on a crowded marketplace.
Seamless Integration with Your POS System
Without seamless POS integration, you're forced to manage separate workflows, leading to chaos and errors. True integration means online orders flow directly into your POS and Kitchen Display System (KDS) just like any other order, no extra tablets or manual re-entry required.
This direct connection eliminates bottlenecks and mistakes that frustrate staff and customers. It also ensures your menu is always accurate; a single update in your POS instantly reflects on your online menu, preventing orders for out-of-stock items. Your kitchen workflow becomes effortless as orders appear on the KDS with all modifications clearly displayed. Finally, centralized reporting gives you a complete picture of your business, allowing you to track sales and make data-driven decisions.
Marketing and Customer Loyalty Tools
Your restaurant online ordering system should double as your most powerful marketing tool. Owning your customer data is the key. Your system should include flexible promotional tools to easily create discounts and specials. Integrated gift cards can further boost revenue and attract new customers. With these features, you can keep your restaurant top-of-mind and turn every order into a relationship-building opportunity.
Order Fulfillment and Management
A flexible system should support the fulfillment options your customers demand. Key features include:
- Curbside Pickup: Allow customers to notify you upon arrival for a smooth and convenient handoff.
- In-House Delivery: If you manage your own drivers, look for tools to set delivery zones, fees, and order minimums to ensure profitability.
- QR Code Payments: Let guests scan a receipt QR to pay from their phone with PayByLink, reducing time at the table.
- Order Scheduling: Allow customers to place orders in advance for a specific pickup or delivery time, helping you manage kitchen workflow during peak hours.
When these features are integrated into your POS, managing multiple fulfillment options becomes simple and efficient.
Understanding the Costs: Commission-Free vs. Fee-Based Models
The cost structure of a restaurant online ordering system dramatically affects your profitability. While some platforms seem free, they often charge per-order commissions of up to 30% that eat into your revenue. From our experience, a transparent, flat-fee model is far more cost-effective, allowing you to keep the profits you earn. This predictable cost structure provides stability, unlike commission-based models that penalize you for having a successful month.
Breaking Down the Different Fee Structures
When evaluating online ordering systems, it's crucial to understand all the potential costs involved.
- Monthly Software Fees: A predictable flat fee for using the platform.
- Per-Order Commission Fees: A percentage (5-30%) taken from every single order. These fees, common on "free" platforms, grow with your sales and severely cut into profits.
- Payment Processing Rates: A standard fee (e.g., 2.5%-3.5% + transaction fee) for every credit card payment. We partner with our preferred partner, Xplor Pay, to offer transparent, competitive rates.
- Setup Fees: Some providers charge for initial account and menu configuration.
- Hidden Costs: Always read the fine print for extra charges related to support, features, or specific order types.
The Financial Advantage of a Commission-Free Restaurant Online Ordering System
Choosing a commission-free system with a flat monthly fee offers a clear financial advantage that grows with your business. You can forecast expenses accurately and maximize profits without being penalized for success.
The table below illustrates how quickly commission fees erode your profits compared to a stable flat-fee model.
| Online Order Volume (Monthly) |
Average Order Value |
Total Online Sales |
15% Commission Fee |
Flat Monthly Fee (EatOnTheWeb: $50) |
Net Profit (Commission-based) |
Net Profit (Flat-fee, $0 setup) |
| 100 |
$30 |
$3,000 |
$450 |
$50 |
$2,550 |
$2,950 |
| 500 |
$30 |
$15,000 |
$2,250 |
$50 |
$12,750 |
$14,950 |
| 1,000 |
$30 |
$30,000 |
$4,500 |
$50 |
$25,500 |
$29,950 |
| 2,000 |
$30 |
$60,000 |
$9,000 |
$50 |
$51,000 |
$59,950 |
Every month you wait, you're leaving money on the table. Compare online ordering systems here and calculate your savings with BPA's flat-fee model.
As order volume grows, a commission-free model can recover thousands per month versus 15-30% marketplace commissions. EatOnTheWeb uses a flat $50/month and no per-order commissions, with a $0 setup (limited-time offer) so more of your revenue stays with you. (Standard card processing rates still apply.)
- Significant Long-Term Savings: Commission costs don't scale with your success, so savings compound and can be reinvested into operations and staff.
- Predictable Monthly Expenses: A flat fee keeps budgets steady, no surprise bills after record months.
- Higher Profit Margins: Every dollar not paid in commissions goes to your bottom line, giving you more control over pricing and promotions.
Choosing the right restaurant online ordering system should always come down to good information. That's why we've created a clear side-by-side comparison of popular platforms so you can see how EatOnTheWeb stacks up on pricing and functionality before making your decision. Compare restaurant online ordering systems here.
Why Not Just Use DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats?
Marketplaces can help with discovery, but they come with trade-offs that most restaurants feel every month.
The Downsides of Relying on Marketplaces
- High commissions: 15-30%+ per order can erase margins on your most popular items.
- You don't own the customer: Marketplaces keep the data. Making loyalty, email/SMS, and remarketing harder.
- Customers are one click from a competitor: The app's job is to drive orders—anywhere on the marketplace, not just to you.
- Limited brand control: Menus, photos, and promos live inside the marketplace UI. Your brand blends in.
- Fees scale with success: Record month? Record commission bill.
The Advantages of a Dedicated, Direct Online Ordering Site
- Keep your profits: Flat monthly fee, no per-order commissions.
- Own the relationship: Capture email/phone, favorites, and order history to drive repeat business.
- Protect your brand: Your URL, your menu, your photos, your promos—no competing offers on the same page.
- Bigger ticket sizes: Purpose-built upsells, modifiers, and bundles raise AOV without extra labor.
- SEO + remarketing: Your site earns search visibility; you can build audiences and retarget (where applicable).
Best of Both Worlds: A Smart Strategy
Use marketplaces for top-of-funnel discovery (new diners find you there), then encourage repeat orders to your direct site with loyalty, bounce-back offers, and better promos. You'll reduce commission exposure over time while keeping the discovery benefits. (Always follow each platform's current terms.)
| Factor |
Direct (Your Site) |
Marketplaces (DoorDash/Grubhub/UberEats) |
| Per-order cost |
Flat monthly fee (no commissions) |
15-30% + commission per order |
| Customer Data |
You own it (loyalty, marketing) |
Marketplace owns it |
| Brand Control |
Full control of UX, photos, promos |
Limited; your brand competes on a marketplace |
| Discovery |
SEO, social, email, maps |
Built-in demand in the app |
| AOV growth |
Strong (upsells, bundles, add-ons) |
Mixed; upsells serve marketplace goals |
| Long-term margins |
Predictable, higher |
Compressed as volume grows |
Bottom line: Marketplaces can introduce you to new customers, but a commission-free, dedicated ordering site is where you build profitable, repeat business.
Ready to keep more from every order? See how EatOnTheWeb works and start shifting repeat orders to your direct channel.
Choosing the Right System: Local vs. Web-Based Solutions
The technology behind your restaurant online ordering system is a critical, often overlooked decision. Many systems are entirely web-based, meaning an internet outage can shut down your entire operation, both online and in-person.
A locally-installed system provides the rock-solid reliability your restaurant needs, ensuring you're always open for business. The best solutions pair this local stability with key cloud features like remote reporting, giving you the best of both worlds without risking your uptime.
The Reliability of Local, On-Premise Systems
During a busy service, reliability is everything. A local, on-premise system ensures your restaurant keeps running even if the internet goes down.
- Unaffected by Internet Outages: Your core operations - taking orders, processing payments, and kitchen workflow - continue without interruption, preventing lost sales.
- Faster Performance: With no reliance on remote servers for core functions, order entry and payment processing are instant, improving the speed of service.
- Improved Data Security: Storing data on-site gives you greater control and reduces exposure to external threats compared to cloud-only platforms.
- Full Data Ownership: Your customer and sales data belong to you. You have unrestricted access to it at all times, without relying on a third-party provider's policies.
Leveraging Remote Access for Modern Convenience
Local stability doesn't mean sacrificing modern convenience. Our "just the right amount of cloud" approach gives you the flexibility you need.
- Remote Sales Monitoring: Securely access real-time sales data and analytics from anywhere, on any device. Check on service while you're away from the restaurant.
- Off-Site Reporting: Generate detailed reports on sales trends, item popularity, and other key metrics without being on-premise, empowering you to make informed decisions on the go.
- Managerial Oversight: Monitor key performance indicators and track goals remotely, providing invaluable peace of mind.
At BPA POS, we pair the unshakeable foundation of a local POS with secure, cloud-based functionalities like our StoreView reporting system. This gives you the reliability you need with the convenience you want, no compromises.
Frequently Asked Questions about Restaurant Online Ordering Systems
Getting a restaurant online ordering system up and running might seem complex, but it doesn't have to be. Over the years, we've helped countless restaurant owners steer this transition, and we've noticed the same questions come up time and again. Let's address the most common concerns so you can move forward with confidence.
How does a restaurant online ordering system work?
A restaurant online ordering system works by letting customers place orders online and automatically sending them into your POS and kitchen workflow.
An integrated system streamlines the entire process. Customer places an order on your EatOnTheWeb site; the order appears in BPA POS and routes to your kitchen printers or monitors automatically, no manual entry.
The kitchen prepares the order. You can notify customers when orders are ready using BPA's SMS notifications and email confirmations. This eliminates errors and keeps customers informed.
Why is owning my customer data so important?
Owning your customer data is important because it allows you to build direct relationships, run loyalty programs, and increase repeat business.
When customers order through third-party apps, those companies keep your customer data. Owning this data is crucial for building direct relationships. It allows you to run targeted marketing campaigns, create effective loyalty programs, and gather feedback to encourage repeat business. You can turn one-time visitors into lifelong fans without paying commissions to a middleman.
How can I ensure a smooth online ordering process?
You can ensure a smooth online ordering process by using an integrated system that syncs with your POS, offers clear menus, and keeps customers updated automatically.
A smooth process relies on seamless integration. A system like our EatOnTheWeb platform, which syncs directly with your BPA POS, ensures online orders flow into your kitchen just like in-person ones. This eliminates extra work for your staff. Key elements for a great customer experience include:
- A user-friendly menu with clear descriptions and photos.
- Clear fulfillment options (pickup, delivery, etc.) with accurate time estimates.
- Automated customer notifications to keep them updated on their order status.
This combination creates a professional, frictionless experience that builds trust and encourages repeat business.
Choosing the Best Restaurant Online Ordering System for Your Business
Selecting the right restaurant online ordering system is a critical decision for your future. It's about taking control of your profits, brand, and customer relationships. By choosing a commission-free, flat-fee model with seamless POS integration and a branded website, you invest in sustainable growth and keep the money you earn.
Reliability should never be negotiable. A locally-installed system like ours ensures your restaurant keeps running even when the internet fails, offering stability for core operations with modern conveniences like remote reporting. From our three decades of experience, we know that control over your operations, data, and customer relationships is the key to success. An integrated system from BPA POS creates a seamless workflow that empowers your business to thrive.
We've been helping restaurant owners build stronger, more profitable businesses for almost four decades. Our solutions, from POS to online ordering and payment processing with our partner Xplor Pay, are designed to work together flawlessly so you can focus on creating amazing food and experiences.
Stop losing profits to third-party fees. With BPA's EatOnTheWeb, you keep every dollar you earn, own your customer data, and run your restaurant on a reliable system trusted since 1987. Learn more about our restaurant solutions, call us, or request your custom quote today.
