Commentary: Ordering in festive feasts can be stressful so why do people still turn to food delivery apps?

While some restaurants have learnt from past years and have steadied their supply chains, delivery platforms still struggle to match an overzealous demand for their services with delivery drivers sometimes.

The reality is that many platforms and restaurants are equipped to handle a regular volume of orders for dinner and lunches, but less so for the surge during large festive feasts, especially if half the nation turns celebrates the festival during the same days.

Yet, with all these incidents and risks, why do people still turn to food deliveries during festive seasons?

HOUSE PARTIES HAVE  BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE

The phenomenon of turning to outsourced food services when hosting parties at home dates back beyond the proliferation of food delivery apps. For special occasions like birthdays, festivities and celebrations, people would engage caterers

For casual gatherings, many turn to fast-food outlets like 4Fingers, which can churn large quantities of food out quickly.

Hence, it is not surprising people look to delivery for their festive ordering. Empowered by delivery apps and the digitalisation movement, people now have a wider variety of choices to select from.

Yet there is one clear difference from the past: Not all options are equipped to accept large orders, which comes with risks churning out food from satellite kitchens and working with new partners for the first time. Delays and failures in fulfillment may cause distress, frustration and potentially a loss of trust.