The restaurant technology landscape has evolved dramatically over the past few years, with online ordering transforming from a luxury into a business necessity. According to recent data, the online food delivery market is projected to reach $187 billion globally by 2027, growing at an annual rate of 9.7%. As a restaurant owner or entrepreneur looking to enter this thriving space, one of the most crucial decisions you’ll face is choosing between multi-vendor and single-vendor restaurant platforms.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the key differences, benefits, and considerations for each model to help you make an informed decision aligned with your business goals.
|
Feature |
Multi-Vendor Platform |
Single-Vendor Platform |
|
Control |
Shared; the platform owner dictates many aspects. |
Full; you have complete control over branding and operations. |
|
Branding |
Can be diluted; customer loyalty might be to the platform. |
Strong and consistent; reinforces your unique brand identity. |
|
Customer Reach |
Potentially wider initial reach due to existing user base. |
Dependent on your marketing efforts. |
|
Marketing Efforts |
Lower individual burden; the platform often handles broad marketing. |
Primarily, your responsibility. |
|
Cost |
Commission-based; can involve listing fees. |
Initial setup and maintenance costs. |
|
Data Ownership |
A shared platform often owns customer data. |
Full ownership of your customer data. |
|
Customization |
Limited by platform features. |
High degree of customisation to match your brand. |
What is a Single-Vendor Restaurant Platform?
Think of this as your restaurant’s dedicated corner of the internet. A single-vendor platform is designed specifically for your brand. It showcases your menu, your ambience, and your story and manages orders exclusively for your establishment. It’s like having your own personalised website and ordering system rolled into one. Explore Deonde Ressto
Rather than sharing space with competitors, a single-vendor platform allows restaurants to showcase their unique offerings through a branded app or website that customers use to place orders directly with the establishment.
Key Characteristics of Single-Vendor Platforms:
- Brand Control: Complete ownership of the customer experience from browsing to delivery
- Direct Relationship: No middleman between you and your customers
- Data Ownership: Full access to valuable customer data and ordering patterns
- Cost Structure: Typically subscription-based rather than commission-based
Real-World Examples
- Domino’s Pizza – Has its own app and delivery system, offering seamless ordering and customer loyalty rewards.
- Starbucks – Allows app ordering, digital payments, and a rich loyalty program experience via its branded platform.
- Chowman – A popular Indian Chinese cuisine brand that operates through its own branded app and website, offering home delivery, loyalty programs, and a personalised customer experience.
What is a Multi-Vendor Restaurant Platform?
A multi-restaurant delivery app, also known as a restaurant aggregator platform, is a marketplace that hosts multiple food service providers on a single platform. These platforms connect consumers with various restaurants through one interface, allowing customers to browse options from different establishments and place orders through a unified checkout process. Explore Deonde Express
Companies like DoorDash, Uber Eats, Zomato, and Swiggy operate on this model, providing customers with a wide selection of dining options through a single application. For restaurant owners, joining these platforms means instant access to an established customer base, though it comes with significant commission costs.
Key Characteristics of Multi-Vendor Platforms:
- Wide Reach: Access to an existing customer base
- Simplified Marketing: The platform handles much of the customer acquisition
- Competitive Environment: Your restaurant appears alongside competitors
- Commission Structure: Typically charges 15-35% per order
- Shared Standards: Must adhere to the platform’s service standards and policies
Real-World Examples
- Zomato – Connects customers with thousands of restaurants, featuring menus, ratings, delivery, and dine-in options.
- Uber Eats – A global multi-vendor food delivery marketplace that offers restaurant listings, grocery, and cloud kitchen integration.
- DoorDash – U.S.-based delivery giant, expanding beyond food to convenience, groceries, and alcohol delivery services.
Multi-Vendor vs Single-Vendor Restaurant Platforms: A Detailed Comparison
When evaluating which model aligns best with your business goals, consider these critical factors:
1. Cost Structure
Single-Vendor Platform: Typically operates on a monthly subscription or one-time license fee basis, making costs predictable regardless of sales volume. While initial setup costs may be higher, there are no ongoing commission fees eating into your profit margins.
Multi-Vendor Platform: Uses a commission-based model where you pay a percentage (15-35%) of each order value. Popular services like Swiggy and Zomato operate on this revenue model, which can significantly impact profitability as your sales grow.
2. Brand Control
Single-Vendor Platform: Provides complete control over your restaurant’s digital presence, allowing for customized branding, personalised customer interactions, and a unique digital experience that aligns with your restaurant’s identity.
Multi-Vendor Platform: Offers limited branding opportunities within the constraints of the marketplace interface, making it challenging to differentiate your restaurant from competitors. This is why many established restaurants are investing in their own delivery apps in 2025.
3. Customer Data Access
Single-Vendor Platform: Gives you full ownership of valuable customer data, enabling detailed restaurant analytics and insights that can drive marketing strategies, menu optimization, and personalized offerings.
Multi-Vendor Platform: Restricts access to comprehensive customer data, as the platform owns the customer relationship. This limitation can become a make-or-break factor for food delivery outlets looking to build long-term customer relationships.
4. Market Reach
Single-Vendor Platform: Requires independent marketing efforts to attract customers to your platform, which may be challenging for new establishments with limited marketing budgets. Our guide on marketing strategies for food delivery apps offers valuable insights for restaurant owners taking this approach.
Multi-Vendor Platform: Provides immediate access to an established customer base, eliminating the need to build an audience from scratch. This is why many restaurants need an online ordering system through existing marketplaces like Zomato and Swiggy.
Which Model Is Right for Your Restaurant Business?
The best choice depends on your business objectives, resources, and growth strategy:
Consider a Single-Vendor Restaurant System if:
- You have an established customer base or strong local presence
- Brand identity and customer experience are central to your value proposition
- You want to avoid high commission fees on every order
- Building direct, long-term customer relationships is a priority
- You have the resources to market your own ordering platform
According to industry insights, more restaurants are choosing in-house online ordering systems for these top 5 reasons to choose an in-house online ordering system: complete control, higher profit margins, direct customer relationships, better data insights, and reduced dependency on third parties.
Consider a Multi-Vendor Restaurant Platform if:
- You’re a new establishment looking to gain visibility quickly
- You lack marketing resources to drive traffic to a proprietary platform
- Your operations can accommodate the higher cost structure
- You want to expand your customer base rapidly
- You need a turnkey solution with minimal technical setup
When selecting a multi-restaurant ordering system, factors to consider include commission rates, integration capabilities with your existing POS systems, and the platform’s user base in your target market.
Latest Trends in Online Restaurant Platforms
The restaurant technology landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with several emerging trends shaping the future of food ordering:
AI-Powered Personalization: Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the food industry with automation and enhancing restaurant ordering through personalized recommendations. Systems like Ressto are leading this transformation with AI-driven menu suggestions based on order history.
Integrated Loyalty Programs: Restaurant loyalty programs are becoming increasingly sophisticated in 2025, with both platform types incorporating gamified loyalty features to encourage repeat purchases.
Cloud Kitchen Integration: Cloud kitchens (also known as ghost kitchens) continue to gain popularity as delivery-only business models, changing the fundamental economics of food delivery platforms. The major difference from traditional dine-in restaurants is the significantly lower overhead costs and focus on delivery optimization.
Route Optimization Technology: Advanced delivery route optimization is becoming standard in food delivery applications, reducing delivery times and improving operational efficiency.
Hybrid Approaches: Getting the Best of Both Worlds
Many successful restaurants implement a hybrid strategy:
1. Maintain presence on popular multi-vendor platforms for discovery and new customer acquisition
2. Develop a single-vendor platform for loyal customers and higher-margin orders
3. Offer exclusive promotions or menu items on the single-vendor platform to encourage direct ordering
4. Gradually transition customers from multi-vendor to direct ordering channels
With Saas-based solutions like Deonde, restaurants can implement this hybrid approach more easily than ever before. The subscription-based model allows businesses to maintain both presence types without the massive development costs that would have been required in the past.
Final Thoughts: Making Your Decision
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when choosing between multi-vendor and single-vendor restaurant platforms. Your decision should guide your business model, growth ambitions, technical capabilities, and financial constraints.
Understanding the fundamental differences between SaaS solutions vs custom development is crucial for making an informed choice that aligns with your long-term business goals. While multi-vendor platforms offer immediate visibility and simplified operations, single-vendor solutions provide greater control, higher margins, and stronger customer relationships.
For established restaurants with loyal customers, transitioning to a proprietary platform may deliver better long-term value. For new entrants, starting with a multi-vendor marketplace might provide the visibility needed to build brand awareness before eventually developing your own platform.
Whatever path you choose, the online ordering landscape will continue to evolve, making flexibility and adaptability key ingredients for long-term success in the digital food delivery ecosystem. Stay updated with the latest food delivery trends to keep your business competitive in this rapidly changing industry.
Want to explore which restaurant platform is right for your specific business needs? Contact our team today for a personalised consultation and discover how our restaurant management solutions can help you thrive in the competitive food delivery market.
