Ordering Food Goes Mobile, According to Super Bowl Snacks Research
With Super Bowl Sunday fast approaching, along with game day snacking on wings, nachos and more, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and its Mobile Marketing Center of Excellence, in partnership with Viggle, today released “Mealtime Goes Mobile: Mobile Screens’ Impact on Ordering Takeout and Delivery,” exclusive research looking at mobile’s impact on ordering food. Hungry consumers are turning to smartphones and tablets to place online orders for pick-up or delivery, with more than two-thirds (69%) of those polled saying they have placed food orders via mobile devices.
Fifty percent of media savvy mobile users are so committed to their favorite destination for fast eats, that they have downloaded at least one restaurant-specific app, such as Chili’s, McDonald’s or Pizza Hut. In addition, 55 percent of those polled have at least one “multi-restaurant” app, with Yelp the most popular at 37 percent, followed by Urbanspoon (24%) and Zagat (9%).
When it comes to the big game itself, 26 percent are already planning to order take-out or delivery to complement their Super Bowl viewing. While the survey didn’t ask about specific Super Bowl mobile dining plans, respondents were clear in their general mobile internet ordering preferences, with pizza taking the top snacking spot at 72 percent, followed by a tie between sandwiches/burgers and Chinese food (31%). Wings (24%) and Mexican food rounded out the list (15%).
“This research highlights the fact that the mobile internet is increasingly becoming a vital tool to help consumers navigate their everyday lives – even when it comes to simple tasks such as ordering a pizza,” said Anna Bager, Vice President and General Manager, Mobile Marketing Center of Excellence, IAB. “Restaurant and fast-food chain marketers should pay close attention to this trend and take advantage of the opportunities that mobile offers, making it a key part of their ad-buying strategy.”
A great number of those surveyed also use their mobile devices to research restaurants for delivery or take-out:
- 44 percent of those surveyed use smartphones or tablets regularly to find restaurant phone numbers
- 39 percent do so to see the menu
- 38 percent use their mobile devices to find a restaurant location
The research also unveiled that financial or other rewards are the most likely path to driving short-term adoption of mobile online ordering. Most respondents (78%) said discounts would make them more likely to order, and nearly two-thirds (64%) said loyalty points would have this impact.
“Restaurant marketers should consider these insights when planning for future mobile campaigns,” said Greg Consiglio, President and COO, Viggle. “Mobile users are clearly looking for benefits to motivate them into transitioning their food ordering experience onto their smartphone or tablet. Dining establishments and fast-food giants continue to leverage new incentive-based platforms for ordering via mobile devices, providing their customers with the easiest possible way to place an order.”
[Source: IAB, January, 2013]
Filed under: Mobile Marketing