Contactless Delivery: The New Normal for Restaurants & Food Tech Cos

Popular food aggregator apps such as Zomato and Swiggy are promising ‘contactless delivery’ to their customers and big fast food brands such as Dominos India and McDonald’s are revamping their processes to focus on hygiene.

- Charu Lamba

Hundreds of restaurants had to close their dining rooms to slow the spread of COVID19. With self-isolation becoming important and dine-in and takeaway, no longer an option, restaurant business has been badly impacted. Delivering food online is the only option left to stay afloat.

Popular food aggregator apps such as Zomato and Swiggy are promising ‘contactless delivery’ to their customers and big fast food brands such as Dominos India and McDonald’s are revamping their processes to focus on hygiene.

What is Contactless Delivery?

The pace at which hygiene protocols are being adopted indicates how unpredictable the survival of foodservice players has become. Thermal guns to check temperatures of kitchen staff and riders, use of protective gears, maintaining distance within the kitchen and a thorough scrub down of chairs, tables, doorknobs, and countertops has become a norm. Apart from this, contactless delivery - where an order is left at the consumer’s doorstep or designated drop-off point - is the new normal.

Some restaurants and delivery services have implemented contactless delivery to further prevent spreading Coronavirus between delivery drivers and customers. Further, the service also helps these operators to lure customers on growing hygiene awareness.

Contactless Food Delivery by Delivery Aggregators

Food delivery aggregators like Zomato and Swiggy are providing contactless deliveries only to those who have opted for a prepaid order and not cash on delivery.

Customers check on the ‘No Contact’ option at the time of ordering the food on the app. The delivery partner leaves the food outside the door and call the customer to confirm the pickup.