With 71% of diners preferring to order directly from a restaurant's own app or website, mobile-first convenience is no longer a luxury—it’s a baseline expectation. Yet many restaurants continue to rely on third-party delivery platforms that not only erode margins but also weaken customer relationships.

While third-party apps take 15–30% in commissions, your customers are out there looking for better deals, like loyalty rewards and app-only discounts. If your restaurant doesn't offer those perks, they will likely switch to one that does. Customer convenience takes over food quality!

This article explores why a branded mobile ordering app is becoming a must-have asset for restaurants in 2025. We’ll examine the operational, financial, and branding benefits of owning your digital ordering experience.

The Limitations of Third-Party Platforms

Using third-party delivery platforms might seem like the easiest way to get online orders, but the hidden costs add up quickly. 

1. Eroded Profit Margins

Services like Doordash, Uber Eats, and Gruhub charge a 5-30% commission on each transaction. Over time, those fees can rival your profit margins or payroll costs. (That's money you could reinvest in your team, your kitchen, or your marketing)

It's no surprise, then, that many restaurant owners are asking, "Isn't there a better way?"

Chef Tony Marciante of Maryland did just that:

"I started looking at the fees that we were paying and all that money, and I said, as they say, 'There's got to be a better way.'"

That moment led him to switch to a white-labeled mobile ordering app, which finally allowed him to keep more of his earnings.

2. Loss of Customer Data and Loyalty

Third-party apps keep customer data to themselves. That includes names, emails, order history, and favorite items—exactly the information you need to build loyalty and drive repeat visits.

Why does this matter?

• You can't send personalized offers or reward loyal customers
• You miss out on upselling based on past orders
• You have no direct line to reconnect with lapsed diners.

With a branded mobile ordering app, you gain total control over customer data, leading to smarter marketing, stronger relationships, and enhanced retention.

3. Brand Dilution

On third-party platforms, your restaurant becomes one name in a long list. 

The app's branding, design, and promotions take center stage, not yours. Even your most loyal customers may start associating their loyalty with the delivery app instead of your food, which is the last thing you want. 

The consequences?

• Weak brand recognition
• Higher chance of losing customers to competitors
• No room to run your own loyalty program or targeted promotions

The Value of a Branded Mobile Ordering App

‍1. Direct Revenue Retention

‍‍Owning your own app means eliminating third-party commission fees. Every order placed through your platform is a full-margin transaction.

2. Full Ownership of Customer Experience‍

With your own mobile app, you control:

• Design and branding
• Menu presentation
• Promotional campaigns
• Loyalty programs

3. Integrated Marketing and Communication

Push notifications and real-time updates enable timely communication with your customers. Whether it’s a special offer, seasonal menu item, or operational update, your app becomes the primary restaurant marketing channel.

4. Operational Efficiency‍‍‍

Branded mobile ordering apps can integrate directly with your restaurant POS and inventory systems, optimizing your restaurant operations:

• Real-time order sync
• Automated kitchen routing
• Inventory tracking and menu availability

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Are you also thinking about a mobile ordering app for your restaurant?  

Features to Look For in a Branded Mobile Ordering App 

A great mobile ordering app does more than take orders. It simplifies your team's workflow and makes your customers happy. 

Here's a rundown of the must-have features of a branded mobile ordering app.

1. White-Labeled Mobile App

A white-labeled mobile app ensures that your brand is the focal point of every customer interaction. Your logo, colors, and brand tone define the visual and functional experience. This gives your restaurant a cohesive, professional look while eliminating any association with third-party aggregators.

Your mobile presence becomes a direct extension of your restaurant, reinforcing trust and familiarity across all customer touchpoints. Whether customers are browsing the menu, reordering a favorite item, or receiving a push notification, every element reflects your identity.

Caption: Italiano, a pizza chain powered by RestoLabs' branded mobile app

Restolabs provides fully branded mobile apps for Android and iOS, tailored to the unique personality and design language of each restaurant partner.

tip: If you want to offer white-labeled solutions to other restaurants or expand your tech services, check out RestoLabs' Reseller Program. It's a great way to launch your own branded online ordering platform without building everything from scratch.

2. Seamless POS Integration

POS integration is essential to ensure operational continuity and reduce order errors. A mobile app should connect directly with your kitchen and front-of-house systems, automating the flow from order placement to preparation and delivery.

This integration allows:

• Direct injection of orders into the POS, eliminating manual re-entry
  
• Real-time updates to inventory as orders are placed
  
• Automated order categorization and routing to appropriate stations
  
• Instant customer confirmations, receipts, and ETAs

With RestoLabs, this process is even more streamlined. With features like QR code-based ordering, diners scan, order, and pay without needing a server, and all those orders go straight into your POS system.

3. Personalization and Loyalty Programs

Repeat business is the cornerstone of restaurant growth. Personalization transforms customer interactions from transactional to relational, increasing frequency and ticket size. A high-performing mobile ordering platform should:

• Offer customized promotions based on order history
• Suggest relevant items with AI-driven recommendations
• Allow for 1-click reordering of previous meals

Loyalty programs can also be deeply integrated, offering:

• Points accumulation and redemption
• Exclusive app-only rewards
• Tiered incentives for frequent customers

4. Multi-Location and Delivery Management

For restaurants with multiple outlets, consistency and coordination become vital. Your ordering system should adapt to different branches, while giving central management a clear view of performance.

Look for features like:

• Auto-routing of orders to the nearest eligible kitchen
• GPS-based delivery zone detection with customizable rules per location
• Promo controls based on region, outlet, or user cohort
• Unified data dashboards for oversight of all locations

Restolabs simplifies this with GPS-powered delivery zone mapping and multi-location support within a single management console. With such a feature, you're in complete control, whether it's a seasonal promotion just for your downtown branch or adjusting delivery costs in the suburbs.

Build Your Own Branded Mobile Ordering App with RestoLabs

Restaurants like Wedgewood Pizza have reduced third-party commission costs by up to  35% by switching to a branded mobile ordering app built with Restolabs. But beyond just cost savings, what truly sets Restolabs apart is its ability to deliver a fully branded, end-to-end mobile experience—designed around your restaurant’s identity and optimized for long-term growth.

Available on both Android and iOS, Restolabs offers a cost-effective white-labeled solution with no third-party branding, hidden fees, or compromises—turning one-time customers into loyal regulars through seamless ordering, loyalty tools, and real-time personalization.

What sets RestoLabs apart:

• Fully branded mobile app for Android & iOS: The app mirrors your restaurant's identity and provides a consistent user experience across platforms.
• Push notifications for promotions and order updates: Drive engagement, reduce no-shows with real-time alerts, and instantly send personalized deals, order updates, and loyalty rewards.
• Built-in loyalty and reward programs: Encourage repeat orders with automated perks based on order history.
• Smart reordering and saved payments: Let customers reorder their favorites in a single tap and speed up checkout with autofill and saved payment options.
• Multi-location management from one dashboard: Oversee all your outlets, edit menus, and manage location-specific promotions without toggling between systems.
• Auto-mapped delivery zones: GPS-based mapping automates delivery zone creation and pricing, optimizing delivery efficiency and reducing operational errors.

In a mobile-first dining landscape, restaurants without their own app risk losing both customers and margins. Restolabs equips you with the tools to take control—enhancing loyalty, increasing direct orders, and eliminating aggregator fees.

Ready to own your digital channel and grow on your terms? Schedule a demo with RestoLabs! 

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