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by b112 347 days ago
And yet, why do you need software?

In the 80s, I delivered pizza with no software. The place had a normal cash register, for pickups.

People would call, order, and we'd write it down. They it'd go on a wire with a clothes pin, until made. Then it went with the driver.

Each delivery was written down before leaving with it.

This worked for decades for everyone in the industry, flawlessly, perfectly, without issue.

Why is software required? Any given reasons are an unneccessary complication.

And here's the thing. Even in Palo Alto I order from companies still doing it this way.

The above system, paperwork wise .. again, is perfect. It's been done forever. It is faster and far less expensive than any unified payment and order system.

Seems to me, they're the smart ones.

2 comments

as long as you've got enough order volume to keep a delivery driver consistently busy, that works fine and the apps are unnecessary. for a pizza restaurant, or anybody else focused on delivery orders, the apps aren't necessary

the utility of the apps is to distribute the load from multiple restaurants across a shared pool of delivery drivers, so a restaurant who otherwise wouldn't be able to offer delivery can tap into that labour pool for infrequent delivery orders. food delivery apps have greatly expanded the number of places that offer delivery. most restaurants simply didn't offer it before the apps.

Once you have multiple restaurants, you leave the mom and pop shop scenario, and move into realms of more sensible optimization.

But there are so many independents. And they make very good food. And they still do it without apps, and do very well.

Everyone hates calling and apps give customers a list of restaurants with menus to browse. Restaurants also do all of their in-restaurant management with software (why not paper? ask them idk) which I assume has some integration with the app.

I can imagine some type of open protocol that lets them self-host an order service though, or at least an open solution that’s hosted by many providers and many separate apps. That would be nice for everyone

I remember when McDonald's didn't have kiosks. Human interaction with a fast food worker is vastly overrated. Both sides hated it.
Maybe we should all make the world a better place, suck it up, and just call?

Maybe making the world a better place, means human interaction and less automation.

Say what you will but customers pay to not suck it up
There's no reason this software has to be expensive. I'd rather fix the software in this case.

And phones in particular suck when you involve real-world connection quality and accents.

That would make my own world worse