Cloud

A Step-By-Step Guide To Building An Online Cloud Kitchen Platform Like Kitopi

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A Step-By-Step Guide To Building An Online Cloud Kitchen Platform Like Kitopi

The internet is a fantastic resource for buying, selling, and finding anything one desires. Additionally, you can start a business using it. If you are looking to do so, there are many different things you could choose from – including starting a cloud kitchen. Cloud kitchens let people purchase pre-made food that they may heat up or eat straight out of the box (if they don’t want to cook).

One such popular cloud kitchen platform is Kitopi. It aims to provide chefs, food professionals, and amateurs alike with the tools they need to cook and manage their business better. Kitopi enables users to control their entire kitchen from one convenient place, whether it’s to streamline inventory or enhance customer service. It is gaining popularity day by day. 

According to Economic Times, Dubai-based Kitopi runs more than 60 kitchens and employs more than 1500 people. Not only that, but since its beginning, Kitopi has raised $117.2 million from investors, including US-based Lumia Capital and the Dubai-based venture capital firm BECO Capital.

So, how does one start an internet-based food ordering app like Kitopi? Well, this guide will cover the basics of starting your own cloud-based app. It’ll go over defining what you want from the customer experience to implementing scaling technologies such as those used by Kitopi.

Let’s begin.

What Does it Take to Start a Cloud Kitchen Like Kitopi? 

To build a Kitchen Operations Platform, we will need Software Development, Cloud Computing Services, and Mobile App Development. These are all core components of a Kitchen Management System. 

The best way to get these things done is to partner with an app development company that provides all three services. Besides selecting a company, a few other things need consideration while starting a cloud-based kitchen platform.

1. A great idea

 The first step to starting a cloud kitchen like Kitopi is to have a good idea. Kitopi was started by two friends who wanted to create a place where people could come together to share their culinary creations. 

They were aware that they required a location that would allow them to accomplish this while also being welcoming. Thus, this meant they needed to find a place that would enable them to have a kitchen while also requiring little upkeep.

In a similar vein, you must be aware of your goals before you can start putting plans in place to achieve them. You won’t be able to get toward your objective without having a clear idea of where you want to go.

2. A plan

 After determining what you want to do, you will need to create a strategy to get to where you want to be. This means having a plan of action. What are the steps you’re going to take? How long are they going to take? What resources are you going to use? Who’s going to help you along the way?

3. Money

You’ll probably need some money to get started. But if you don’t have enough money, you might be unable to afford the things you need. So you’ll need to figure out how much money you need to start. Then you’ll need to save up enough money to cover those costs.

Additionally, there are numerous additional considerations you need to make, such as:

Selecting the ideal model of a cloud kitchen

There are many different kinds of cloud kitchens; a few of them include:

  1. Standalone Kitchen 

A standalone kitchen is a clever new design concept that allows you to have a fully functioning kitchen. This style of kitchen, which offers only one or two food items for selection and follows just one theme, has been proven the most popular among buyers.

2. Cloud Restaurants

A brand that operates inside a restaurant is typically called a cloud restaurant. Here, various culinary menus are offered using the infrastructure of an existing restaurant. Usually, these kitchens are listed under several brand names on independent food aggregator websites like UberEats, and Zomato.

Also, Read [Costing to build up a food delivery application like zomato]

3. Cloud Coworking Kitchen

According to this approach, each brand’s kitchens operate independently and share a single kitchen space. These kitchens are incredibly spacious, with room for several eateries to rent them out and grow their businesses.

4. Aggregator Cloud Kitchen

An expansion of a coworking cloud kitchen system, typically. The major goal is to give restaurants an infrastructure so they may prepare food exclusively for delivery. Food aggregators are heavily relied upon to perform the delivery tasks in this situation.

Cloud Kitchen’s operational considerations

1. Location:

Even though a low-end location and small size don’t match the emotions owners are attempting to convey, it is essential to locate the cloud kitchen closer to the target audience. It is the essence of cloud kitchens that they are close to the delivery regions.

The best part about these restaurants is that they can go anywhere – from deserted parking lots to a mobile food truck.

2. License

Contrary to popular belief, licenses play a significant role in the ecosystem of the cloud kitchen. It helps to obtain certifications and permits, which create confidence in your food quality, as customers cannot visit the outlet directly to inspect the food safety, hygiene, etc.

3. Equipment for the kitchen and packaging

The tools you use will entirely depend on the food you intend to prepare. The equipment list will be longer if you make the menu options varied and sophisticated. You can initially only spend money on a refrigerator, stove, oven, counters, and kitchenware.

Need to think about the packing. You must pay close attention to this because poor packing can spoil the consumer experience regardless of how amazing the meal is.

4. Your Team To Run Kitchen Smoothly

You will mostly require the cooking and cleaning crew because the cloud kitchen is often the restaurant system’s backbone. Starting a restaurant requires a team that can prepare cuisine while maintaining perfect hygiene.

Cloud kitchen technical requirements

POS system 

The most important restaurant feature required for a cloud kitchen is a POS system that gathers orders from multiple aggregators. The integrated POS system will accept orders from various sources and keep real-time records. 

Online ordering software

When you work with a third-party aggregator to manage deliveries and host your menu, you pay 12 to 18 percent for online orders and 18 to 25 percent for delivery. Having your own online order software, such as a web app or mobile application, would be essential even though the visibility they may give you is undeniably vital. Connecting this software to your POS and KDS to ensure a comprehensive in-restaurant experience is possible.

Call-center like a system to receive orders

This applies to companies that take phone orders. You would require an integrated call center system if you were one of them. If you have several stores, the POS-based call center could simplify telephone orders. You can view client information and order history by digitizing the system to avoid placing duplicate or mistaken orders.

System for integrated kitchen displays

In cloud kitchens, food preparation typically takes 15 to 20 minutes. When maximizing the order processing time, a kitchen display system is beneficial in this situation. How? When the order is received, the KDS is updated, and the employees may examine, prepare, and schedule order delivery.

Furthermore, this not only streamlines operations but also makes it easier to spot bottlenecks and delays in the workflow.

The Distribution system for food

You have two choices for controlling food delivery in a cloud kitchen: either take it in-house or collaborate with a third-party aggregator. Although the latter makes distribution convenient, management and hiring costs are more complicated. The local delivery person can quickly assign orders using a meal delivery system.

System for managing inventories

The management of inventory is essential for every food business. A robust inventory management system would make it possible to track daily inventory utilization and provide you with information on when to refill things. This will result in a reduction of waste-related costs.

How much do cloud kitchens cost?

Cloud kitchens cost between $50,000 and $100,000 to build. Depending on your specific needs, these expansive kitchen spaces can cost an even higher price. These expensive spaces are usually made by app development companies specializing in developing cloud software programs.

You’ll need some type of Internet service—you might already have it at your existing restaurant, or you might have to upgrade it if you don’t have fast enough upload speeds for uploading recipes and photos.

Conclusion

By this point, you ought to have a solid and efficient grasp of how to create a cloud-based online kitchen platform like Kitopi. Moreover, it’s now up to you to make your own. You will need to get in touch with an IT company for this so that they can assist you with the creation and deployment of your app and cloud computing service. Decide on your firm carefully.