DiineOut Startup Launched Online Ordering System During MCO For #JOMTAPAU

Date : 26-Mar-2020
Location: Kuala Lumpur

Key Takeaways:
  • Malaysians can now help their favourite local eats survive the current challenges posed by the Movement Control Order (MCO) by supporting the #JomTapau movement.
  • There are two things Malaysians can do to support #JomTapau. First, is to encourage small local F&B businesses to get onto a new integrated Online Ordering System (OSS) in town called app’etite. Second, would be to start ordering food via these eateries listed on the app’etite platform and hence, be part of the growing momentum of #JomTapau.
  • Kicking off shortly after the prime minister announced the extension period of the MCO to 14 April 2020, #JomTapau and app’etite were started by The Other Kitchen, an F&B focused digital marketing agency and DiineOut, a local pioneering online marketplace for unique dining and F&B experiences.
  • Since app’etite kicked off, several partners have come on board such as Lat Tali Lat Cafe, Boon Signature Roasted Pork, Yun Bridge Noodle, Chitose, Ji Le Dim Sum, Xinn Halal Food, Frediani’s Market & Deli in Bangsar and even wine suppliers such as La Cave KL, and casual dining restaurants such as Rare, The Food Company.
Offerings:
  • For zero setup fees, app’etite will create a simple webpage within just 24 hours to list menu items, images, pickup and delivery options to remove the hassle of manually tracking orders and payment from individual customers on individual chat messages.
  • Once orders start coming in, there is a flat rate of RM2 per order for the payment processing fee and a 2% transaction fee. This is extremely affordable when compared to other 3rd party food delivery marketplace apps that are taking a minimum 35% fee.
  • In lieu to the COVID-19 pandermic, the 2% transaction fee is currently waived.
  • For transactions that meet the criteria, DiineOut customers will get a RM20 voucher for any future DiineOut events or products. Vouchers can be collected and redeemed all in one go.

 Spokepersons:
  • Lionel Lau, founder of DiineOut,said,small makan stalls and local home-grown eateries that are so dependent on day-to-day sales for their livelihoods are struggling.

    He added and quoted, "We invite all Malaysians, if you know of any small food business that is struggling and need help to reach a wider audience in our country that exists on the Internet by joining the world of online ordering, please get them to contact us."
  • Albert Wong, founder of The Other Kitchen,said, this service hits the sweet spot between cost and functionality for local small-medium F&B enterprises.
Insights:
  • Since the MCO began, an explosion of small F&B businesses have flooded social media about remaining open for tapau but are asking orders to be done via WhatsApp. It’s chaotic and time-consuming to keep track of multiple individual messages and payment statuses. If they are on app’etite, they can focus on their livelihood’s core - food preparation
  • The service has the potential to help more than 167,000 local F&B businesses to stay afloat. Many are the local owner-operated restaurants and eateries that have been impacted by the MCO that began on 18 March 2020.
Editor's comments:
  • The service should focus on pickup so that delivery costs need not be the reason of hesitation by consumers to adopt the platform.
  • RM2 per order for the payment processing fee is an acid test for industry - nonetheless, the cost should be absorbed by consumers than vendors, following best practice from budget airline.
  • Perhaps it may work better if the entire kopitiam adopts the platform holistically
diineout #jomtapau

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