Running a successful restaurant or cafe entails many costs, but getting customers without losing too much of your profit margin in a food delivery platform is what a restaurant owner in Egypt has to consider before picking the right one or ones. Choosing the right online food delivery platform for your restaurant in Egypt involves considering various factors, including market reach, fees, customer service, and the specific features each platform offers. Both elmenus and Talabat are leading players in the Egyptian market, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Below, I’ll delve into a comprehensive comparison of elmenus and Talabat to help you decide which platform might be better suited for your restaurant’s needs.
Market Presence and Reach
elmenus: elmenus is a local startup that began in Egypt in 2011 and has rapidly grown to become one of the country’s leading food ordering and delivery platforms. Its strength lies in its deep understanding of the Egyptian market and customer preferences. This local insight can be advantageous for restaurants targeting a domestic audience.
Talabat: Talabat, on the other hand, while founded in 2004, is a part of the global giant Delivery Hero and has a substantial presence across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, particularly UAE. This wider regional reach could benefit restaurants looking to attract not just local but also international customers who are familiar with the Talabat brand.
Platform Features and User Experience
elmenus: elmenus is known for its user-friendly interface and personalized recommendations, which are based on users’ past orders, search behavior, and preferences. For restaurants, this means your offerings can be more effectively matched with potential customers who are likely to be interested in them. Additionally, elmenus allows customers to search for food not just by restaurant, but also by dish, giving you an opportunity to highlight specific menu items.
Talabat: Talabat offers a robust set of features for both customers and restaurants, including real-time tracking of orders, a wide range of payment options, and promotional tools for restaurants to reach more customers. Its platform is designed to handle a high volume of orders efficiently, which can be particularly beneficial for restaurants with a large order throughput.
Fees and Costs
Both elmenus and Talabat charge restaurants fees for listing and commissions on orders. These fees can vary based on several factors, such as your restaurant’s size, location, and agreement terms with the platform. Typically, commission rates can range anywhere from 10% to 30% of the order value. For Talabat specifically, they charge 15-25% of the order amount as a commission fee from the restaurant. It’s crucial to negotiate the best possible terms for your restaurant and to consider how these costs will impact your pricing and profitability.
Customer Service and Support
elmenus: Being a local company, elmenus tends to offer more personalized customer service and support. Restaurants can benefit from dedicated account managers who understand the local market nuances and can provide tailored advice and assistance.
Talabat: As part of a larger international group, Talabat has the advantage of leveraging global best practices in customer service and technology support. However, some local restaurants might find its support less personalized compared to elmenus.
Marketing and Promotional Opportunities
elmenus: elmenus provides various marketing tools and opportunities for restaurants to promote their brand and menu items. This includes featured listings, targeted advertising based on user preferences, and promotional campaigns. Such tools can be very effective in increasing your restaurant’s visibility and attracting more customers.
Talabat: Talabat offers a wide range of marketing and promotional tools as well, including the ability to offer discounts and deals through the platform, participation in platform-wide promotional events, and featured placement. Given its larger user base, partnering with Talabat for promotions can potentially reach a broader audience.
Integration and Logistics
Both platforms offer integration solutions that can help streamline your restaurant’s operations, from order management to delivery logistics. Talabat, with its extensive experience and resources, might offer more advanced logistic solutions, which can be a significant advantage for restaurants that do not have their own delivery system. elmenus, while smaller, offers competitive logistics support tailored to the local market, which could be more suited to smaller establishments or those with specific local needs.
Final Considerations
Choosing between elmenus and Talabat for your restaurant in Egypt should be based on a careful evaluation of how each platform aligns with your business goals, target market, and operational capabilities. Here are a few final considerations:
- Market Fit: If your restaurant is aiming primarily at the local Egyptian market, elmenus might offer more targeted reach and tailored customer engagement. For broader regional exposure, Talabat could be the better choice.
- Cost vs. Benefit: Assess the cost implications of partnering with each platform and weigh them against the potential benefits in terms of increased orders and visibility.
- Operational Compatibility: Consider which platform offers integration and support services that best fit your restaurant’s operational workflow and logistics needs.
- Promotional Opportunities: Evaluate the marketing and promotional tools each platform offers and how they can help you reach your target audience more effectively.
Ultimately, the decision may not necessarily be about choosing one platform over the other, but rather about how to strategically use both platforms to maximize your restaurant’s online presence and order volume. Many restaurants find success by listing on multiple delivery platforms, thereby maximizing their reach and tapping into the unique customer base each platform offers.
