With rising operational, labor, and food costs, it’s more important now than ever for restaurant operators to find strategic ways to grow their business. That’s why we recently released results today for a national consumer survey on food delivery ordering habits.
The study identifies two clear areas for growth opportunity; Online ordering and in-house food delivery.
Food delivery is one of the biggest revenue opportunities in the restaurant industry today — and one of the biggest margin threats, depending on how you manage it. Third-party food delivery apps have made it easier than ever for guests to order from your restaurant. But those same apps are charging fees that can range from 15% to 30% per order, quietly eating away at profits that operators work hard to earn.
The good news: a shift is underway. More guests than ever are open to ordering directly from restaurants when the experience is right. And with the right restaurant delivery management software behind you, capturing that business is more achievable than you might think.
This guide breaks down the delivery landscape, what the data says about guest behavior, and how the right technology stack can help you grow delivery revenue without sacrificing your margins.
The State of Food Delivery in 2026
Food delivery apps are now part of everyday life for most restaurant guests.
A HungerRush consumer study found that 66% of guests use food ordering apps on a monthly basis — a number that has held steady as delivery has matured from a novelty into an expectation.
At the same time, 34% of the market doesn’t use third-party food apps at all. That’s a significant pool of potential delivery guests that restaurants with strong direct ordering channels can reach — guests who aren’t being served by DoorDash or Uber Eats and who might order directly from your website or app if you make it easy enough.
The market is large, the demand is real, and the technology to compete effectively is available. The question is how restaurants position themselves to capture delivery revenue on their own terms.
Why Third-Party App Fees Are Eating Your Margins
Third-party delivery apps provide reach and convenience — but at a cost most operators feel acutely. Platform commissions, service fees, and marketing fees stack up quickly, and restaurants often have little visibility into how their brand is represented once a guest checks out.
What’s more, those fees are affecting guest behavior in measurable ways. According to the HungerRush study, 67% of guests are at least sometimes deterred from using third-party apps because of the fees they pass along — and 35% say they are definitely deterred.
67% of restaurant guests are at least sometimes deterred from ordering through third-party delivery apps because of fees — and 35% say they are definitely deterred.
— HungerRush Consumer Delivery Study
That deterrence has a direct impact on order volume. When guests feel nickel-and-dimed by delivery fees, they either don’t order at all — or they look for a better experience somewhere else. For restaurants that offer a direct ordering option with transparent pricing, this is an opening.
The Direct Ordering Opportunity
Here’s the opportunity in plain terms: more than half of your guests are open to ordering directly from you. The HungerRush study found that 56% of consumers say they are likely or somewhat likely to skip the third-party app and order directly from a restaurant — if the experience is good.
56% of guests say they are likely or somewhat likely to order directly from a restaurant instead of a third-party food app, depending on the user experience.”
— HungerRush Consumer Delivery Study
That “depending on the user experience” phrase is doing a lot of work. Guests want to order direct, but they’ve been trained by Uber Eats and DoorDash to expect a frictionless experience: real-time tracking, clear menus, easy reordering, and fast checkout. The restaurants that win direct delivery business are the ones that can match or beat that experience.
The data on loyalty makes this even more compelling. Guests who place orders directly with a restaurant visit 67% more frequently than those who don’t — and they spend up to 20% more per order when they use technology to order versus calling by phone. Capturing direct orders isn’t just about avoiding fees. It’s about building the guest relationships that drive long-term revenue.
What to Look for in Restaurant Delivery Management Software
Not all delivery software is created equal. Restaurants looking to grow their direct delivery channel need a solution that handles more than just routing orders from point A to point B. The right food delivery management software ties together your POS, your online ordering platform, your guest-facing experience, and your back-of-house operations in a way that feels seamless on every side.
Here’s what to look for when evaluating your options:
1. Direct Online Ordering with a Branded Experience
Your guests should be able to order directly from your website or a branded app — not from a third-party marketplace that places your restaurant alongside competitors. Look for software that lets you create a fully branded ordering experience with your menu, your photos, and your pricing. A clean, mobile-first interface is non-negotiable.
2. Real-Time Delivery Tracking for Restaurants
Guests expect to know where their order is. Restaurant delivery tracking capabilities should give your team visibility into dispatch status and arrival estimates, and give guests a live view of their delivery. This reduces inbound calls, improves guest satisfaction, and helps your drivers stay efficient.
3. POS Integration
Your delivery orders should flow directly into your POS — no manual re-entry, no missed tickets, no confusion in the kitchen. A connected system means your staff isn’t context-switching between a tablet and a POS screen during a rush, and your reporting reflects the full picture of your business.
4. Loyalty and Promotions Built In
One of the biggest advantages of direct ordering is that you own the guest relationship. Your food delivery management software should give you tools to reward guests for ordering direct — points, discounts, special offers — and the ability to run targeted promotions that incentivize repeat visits.
5. Reporting and Delivery Analytics
You can’t improve what you can’t measure. Look for a system that gives you order volume, delivery times, driver performance, and guest retention data in one place. The best food delivery management systems surface these insights in real time so managers can make adjustments on the fly, not just after a slow week.
How Loyalty Drives Direct Orders
Loyalty programs are one of the most effective tools restaurants have for pulling guests out of third-party apps and into a direct ordering relationship. When guests know they’re earning points every time they order directly from your restaurant — and that those points unlock real rewards — they have a concrete reason to skip DoorDash and go straight to your site.
Effective restaurant loyalty programs that are connected to your delivery platform can target guests with timely promotions: a free delivery offer to win back a guest who hasn’t ordered in 30 days, a double-points weekend to drive volume during a slow period, or a birthday reward that brings a lapsed guest back in. None of that is possible when your guests are ordering through a third-party platform that keeps the guest data for themselves.
Restaurants that build loyalty into their direct ordering experience consistently see higher average order values, better guest retention, and lower marketing costs over time. It’s one of the highest-return investments in the delivery space.
The Technology Stack That Makes It Work
Growing your delivery business and protecting your margins isn’t about eliminating third-party apps entirely — it’s about building a direct channel strong enough to stand on its own. The restaurants doing this successfully share a common thread: they’ve invested in technology that connects every piece of the delivery experience.
HungerRush gives restaurants everything they need to run direct delivery with confidence: a connected POS, branded online ordering, real-time delivery tracking, built-in loyalty and promotions, and the reporting tools to understand what’s working. It’s one system, not five — which means less complexity for your team and a better experience for your guests.
Restaurants with an online ordering system can boost their takeout profits by as much as 30% compared to those without. That number reflects what happens when you give guests a frictionless way to order direct, reward them for doing it, and keep more of every dollar they spend.
Restaurants with an online ordering system can boost their takeout profits by as much as 30% compared to those without.”
— Industry Research, cited in HungerRush Consumer Delivery Study
“It’s never been more critical for restaurants of all sizes to find the right tech solutions to grow their business. The current quick service and fast casual dining landscape faces many challenges,” says Bill Mitchell, Executive Chairman for HungerRush. “Based on our expertise and this study’s findings, we believe there is a lot of continued growth potential in food delivery. That’s why we advise restaurants to choose tech that gives customers multiple ordering options for both in-house, online ordering and third-party food ordering apps. Focusing on the customer experience is the number one way I’ve seen restaurants win in the past and how they’ll keep winning in the future.”
– Bill Mitchell, CEO of HungerRush
Frequently Asked Questions
What is restaurant delivery management software?
Restaurant delivery management software helps operators handle the full lifecycle of a delivery order: accepting the order, routing it to the kitchen, dispatching a driver, tracking delivery in real time, and capturing guest data for loyalty and marketing. The best systems connect directly with your POS so that delivery orders flow into your operations without manual entry or extra steps for your staff.
How can restaurants reduce third-party delivery fees?
The most effective way to reduce third-party delivery fees is to build a strong direct ordering channel. That means a branded online ordering page on your website, a loyalty program that gives guests a reason to skip the apps, and promotions that make ordering direct feel like the better deal. Over time, shifting even a portion of your delivery volume to direct orders can have a meaningful impact on your bottom line.
What is the difference between in-house delivery and third-party delivery?
Third-party delivery uses a platform’s own driver network (DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc.) to fulfill orders placed through their app. In-house delivery means using your own drivers to fulfill orders placed directly through your restaurant’s website or app. In-house delivery typically carries lower fees and lets you control the guest experience end-to-end — but requires a delivery management system to coordinate dispatch and tracking efficiently.
How does loyalty increase delivery revenue?
Loyalty programs tied to direct ordering create a direct financial incentive for guests to bypass third-party apps. When guests earn points for ordering direct — and can redeem those points for discounts, free items, or exclusive deals — they have a concrete reason to choose your channel over a competitor’s platform. Studies show that guests in loyalty programs order more frequently and spend more per visit than those who aren’t enrolled.
Does HungerRush support food delivery management?
Yes. HungerRush offers an integrated delivery management solution that connects your POS, online ordering, driver dispatch, real-time delivery tracking, and guest loyalty tools in one system. It’s designed for restaurant operators who want to grow their direct delivery channel, reduce dependence on third-party apps, and deliver a consistent guest experience from order to door.
What should I look for in food delivery management software?
Look for a system that integrates with your POS, offers a branded ordering experience for guests, includes real-time delivery tracking, supports loyalty and promotions, and gives you reporting tools to measure performance. Avoid standalone tools that don’t connect to the rest of your restaurant technology — the more siloed your delivery system, the harder it is to manage efficiently and the more gaps guests will notice.
