Satisfying taste buds is not just about food anymore—it’s about convenience, a mosaic of cuisines (and vendors) at fingertips. Rising from a charming, age-old setting of tiffin services to the faster-than-the-fast, tech-driven system—food delivery in India has seen a dramatic evolution over the years. Let’s read in this section to uncover the remarkable journey of food delivery in India from dabbas to tech.
Back in Time of The Dabbawalas
Long before you learned to swipe, scroll or tap your way through unlimited food options, the lunch revolution was a part of the daily routine in Mumbai. It’s the early 1900s; Thousands of office-goers would wait for their homemade meals to get delivered every day.
Enter the dabbawalas—on their bicycles or via train, donning a colour-coded outfit. They were the human delivery app back in that time, ensuring the meals reach the destinations hot and on time, every single day. The most interesting thing about the dabbawala system was the simplicity of it. The lunchboxes would be picked up from homes, segregated based on a sophisticated code, and delivered, even across the sprawling swathes of Mumbai.
All without any mobile app/software in sight.
It’s safe to say that the traditional lunch-box delivery system was the original delivery app of India, long before technology was even a thing. And the most amazing part of this: The failure rate of these food delivery services was typically ZERO.
The Takeout System
Food delivery services had begun to pick up the pace in spruced up ways as we reached the latter half of the 20th century. The telephone—which is now a fancy showpiece—emerged as a staple for the food ordering processes, during the 90s and early 2000s. The days when people would step out or wait solely for their tiffins had passed; All they had to do was call their desired local restaurant and order the meal, which would soon get delivered to their doorstep.
The highlight of this evolution was the variety of food, which was practically endless—ranging from aromatic Indian curries to sizzling Chinese delights. Another highlight was the sense of power and leverage that restaurant owners gained by offering food delivery services. This would allow them to reach more customers, after all.
This system wasn’t exactly smooth; If anything, it was chaotic, thanks to the busy phone lines. Nevertheless, it did turn out to be a game-changer for both the businesses and the foodies.
The Rise of a Trendy Flavour: The Internet
With the arrival of the Internet, entered a fresh, big wave of innovation in the market—across various industries. All of a sudden, the food delivery service was not only a matter of making phone calls; it was also about easy-peasy clicks on the phone screens. In just a few taps, people could go to a variety of menus, personalise their orders, and get meals right at their doorstep—all within some time. There were a lot of good things flowing in with this evolution:
- Food delivery system was faster than ever.
- The entire process—from exploring options to receiving the food—became more hassle-free.
- Food options only multiplied with time
- The process became a go-to in major cities across India.
That’s not all.
During this period, one more major change came to the surface: it was the rise of niche food delivery services.
This period also saw the rise of niche delivery services catering to specific food preferences. Whether it was a hearty biryani or a healthy salad, online ordering platforms made sure foodies everywhere could indulge their cravings without ever leaving home. The entire process became fun and convenient, revolutionizing how India approached takeout. And let’s be real—who doesn’t love the excitement of knowing their favorite dish is just a tap away?
Food Frenzy, Digitised
The digitisation of the food delivery system is where things began to change for real! Smartphones were already becoming a part of everyone’s daily lives—and just in time, food delivery came into the scene, making everything between ordering food and tracking your delivery accessible. Craving desserts? Cool, make just a few swipes on the screen and you could order your favourites.
While this transformation redefined convenience of getting desired foods, the ‘hero’ aspects of online food delivery services were:
- The option to track the food order in real time
- Exclusive deals and discounts
- Variety of food options (even diet foods)
- Reviews and recommendations
- User interface
And just like that, online food ordering became a common practice across the country.
Post-Pandemic Picture of Food Delivery System
The phase during COVID was a time that tested the resilience of food delivery services in India. With lockdown going on and restaurants shutting their doors for dine-in services, food delivery in India was no longer a luxury; it was rather a necessity. People stuck within the walls of their houses sought out online food ordering for both comfort and essentials. From orders for groceries to meals to even medicines—there was a surge in delivery demand during this period.
How did these food delivery services go through, given the safety protocols—and a massive risk that had everyone dreading the virus?
Everything was carried out in adherence to the rules, with the best hygiene standards and a then-newly-introduced concept for online food services called ‘contactless delivery’.
What’s Next? The Future of Food Delivery
With new trends rising every now and then in online food delivery in India, it’s natural to expect more revolutionary changes in the future. The potential for drones, robotics and other such tech stuff is already in talks—and are expected to drive more efficiency than now. Artificial intelligence is also budding as a key component in personalisation of food recommendations, simplifying the process of browsing preferred foods for customers.
And cloud kitchens are entering the market with a good-looking future. The restaurants that don’t have space or simply don’t plan to have a physical outlet for dine-in operate solely for food delivery services. This new concept is building a whole new model in food delivery in India.
Wrapping Up…
Somewhere between the traditional dabbawala system to online ordering—the food delivery in India has uncovered the potential to deliver exceptional services to the customers. While great delights and delivery services have been the picture for years now—the technology just changed the way customers think of ordering food. Now, we are yet to see how the revolutionary trends like AI and drones contribute to the convenience.
