Zomato Introduces ‘Order Scheduling’ Feature, Allowing Users to Pre-Plan Meals Up to Two Days Ahead

Zomato, one of India’s leading food delivery platforms, has recently rolled out an innovative feature called ‘Order Scheduling,’ allowing users to plan and schedule their meals up to two days in advance. This new addition signifies a significant enhancement to Zomato’s service offerings, providing users with greater convenience and flexibility in managing their meal plans. The feature is currently available in several major Indian cities, marking the beginning of what could be a game-changing addition to the food delivery market.

Deepinder Goyal Announces the New Feature on Social Media

The CEO and founder of Zomato, Deepinder Goyal, took to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to officially announce the launch of the ‘Order Scheduling’ feature. In his announcement, Goyal highlighted that this new service is being initially rolled out across 13,000 restaurants in key cities including Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Lucknow, and Jaipur. For now, the scheduling feature is available for orders exceeding ₹1,000, but Goyal assured users that the service would be expanded to include more restaurants and cities in the near future.

Goyal’s social media post read, “These restaurants historically have high quantities of dishes in stock and have shown kitchen-preparation-time consistency. More restaurants and cities are being added. We will soon extend this for all orders.” This statement reflects Zomato’s commitment to ensuring a reliable and consistent user experience, while also expanding the scope of this new feature to a broader audience over time.

How the ‘Order Scheduling’ Feature Works

With the introduction of ‘Order Scheduling,’ Zomato users can now plan their meals ahead of time, scheduling orders up to two days in advance. This feature is particularly useful for those who want to ensure timely delivery for special occasions, busy days, or simply to avoid last-minute meal planning. The process of scheduling an order is seamless and user-friendly, allowing customers to select their preferred time and date for delivery during the checkout process.

Currently, the feature is restricted to orders above ₹1,000, ensuring that participating restaurants can manage the demand effectively. This strategic decision by Zomato ensures that only restaurants with a consistent track record in kitchen preparation and stock management are part of the initial rollout. As the feature gains traction, more restaurants and lower-value orders will be incorporated into the service, making it accessible to a wider range of customers.

Expansion Plans and Future Availability

In his announcement, Deepinder Goyal hinted at ambitious plans to expand the ‘Order Scheduling’ feature beyond its current scope. The company aims to include more cities and a larger number of restaurants, eventually extending the service to all orders regardless of their value. This expansion is expected to take place gradually as Zomato continues to assess the performance and user feedback of the initial rollout.

The decision to introduce this feature shortly after discontinuing its Legends intercity delivery service signals Zomato’s ongoing efforts to innovate and enhance its offerings in the highly competitive food delivery market. By focusing on improving user experience and convenience, Zomato is positioning itself as a leader in the industry, continually adapting to meet the evolving needs of its customers.

A Step Forward in the Competitive Food Delivery Market

The introduction of the ‘Order Scheduling’ feature is a clear indication of Zomato’s commitment to staying ahead in the competitive food delivery landscape. As consumer expectations continue to rise, Zomato’s focus on providing more flexible and user-friendly options is likely to resonate well with its customer base. By offering the ability to schedule orders in advance, Zomato is catering to a growing demand for convenience, allowing users to plan their meals with greater ease and precision.

This feature also comes at a time when Zomato is exploring new ways to enhance its service offerings. Earlier this month, the company unveiled a ‘Group Ordering’ feature designed to simplify the process of ordering food for groups. This feature allows users to create a shared cart, enabling group members to add their preferred items without the need to exchange phones or manually consolidate orders. The combination of ‘Order Scheduling’ and ‘Group Ordering’ represents a significant evolution in Zomato’s service capabilities, offering customers a more streamlined and efficient ordering process.

Conclusion: Zomato’s Commitment to Innovation

Zomato’s introduction of the ‘Order Scheduling’ feature marks a notable milestone in the company’s journey to enhance its user experience. By allowing customers to plan their meals up to two days in advance, Zomato is addressing a key need for convenience and reliability in the food delivery process. As the feature expands to include more restaurants and cities, and eventually becomes available for all orders, it is likely to become a popular choice among Zomato’s user base.

In the highly competitive food delivery industry, continuous innovation is crucial to staying ahead. Zomato’s focus on introducing new features like ‘Order Scheduling’ and ‘Group Ordering’ demonstrates its commitment to providing a superior service that meets the diverse needs of its customers. As Zomato continues to evolve and adapt to market demands, it is well-positioned to maintain its leadership in the Indian food delivery market.