The Dining Disruptors

The journey of table reservation apps is a narrative of how digital technology is enabling hotels to reach out to new consumers, boosting both footfalls and revenues

- Nisha Shukla

Are you among those who wonder why we need a separate app to reserve tables at restaurants? Or, how do make payments using these apps? Or even, do they have a subscription service?

Table reservation apps are a sign that the digital era has matured significantly, impacting our buying behavior. You don’t just shop online or book cabs now; you also can book a table at the restaurant of your choice, and, in the bargain, land some great deals.

Over the past decade, the restaurant industry in India has witnessed immense growth. Food delivery apps such as Zomato and Swiggy have brought the dining experience right at our doorstep. Stretching the technology driving dining experiences are reservation apps such as Dineout, EazyDiner, Clickable, and Table Grabber, who are encouraging people to step out of homes and dine in a restaurant, without going through the hassle of wondering if a table will be available when you arrive.

But what they offer is beyond just a reservation. These intuitive platforms provide real-time status on the availability of seats, rating and reviews, exclusive deals and discounts to diners at the best restaurants in their city. The buzzing foodservice market offers terrific opportunities for players.

The change makers

Eating at specialty restaurants is emerging as a key trend amongst Millennials. Approximately 440 million millennials, who account for 34% of the total population, are changing the dynamics of the business. Armed with twice the amount of spending power on food and entertainment than the previous generations, millennials account for 54% of all online transactions. Eating at a popular restaurant is a habit with millennials; almost 79% are likely to pay four times for a good dining experience and 49% spend more on eating out than they save for the future. These statistics define how big the table reservation market is in India.