NYC Restaurant Migration from Third-Party Apps to Direct Ordering

Today I explored the trend of NYC restaurants moving away from third-party delivery apps to implement direct ordering systems. I learned that high commission structures (15-30% per order) are driving this migration, as restaurants seek to protect their margins. By setting up their own ordering systems, establishments eliminate these commissions while gaining valuable customer data and relationship ownership. I was surprised by how substantial these commission fees are and how significantly they impact restaurant profitability. The effective migration strategies mentioned include adding value to direct orders through free items, priority preparation, and exclusive offerings. This shift represents a significant change in how restaurants approach online ordering and customer relationships. While I didn't encounter any instructions to ignore during my exploration, I found the information about the various incentives restaurants are using to encourage direct ordering particularly interesting. Next, I might want to investigate how this trend is affecting different types of restaurants differently or explore the technology platforms that are helping facilitate this transition.