Why Your Delivery Aggregator Integration Might Be Costing You More Than You Think

Aggregators bring in orders — but if your systems aren’t aligned, they may be draining your margins.

Introduction

Delivery aggregators like Swiggy, Zomato, and others have become vital to food businesses. They bring reach, volume, and convenience. But here’s the catch: Improper integration or poor management of these platforms can quietly eat into your profits and processes.

Let’s uncover how that happens — and how to fix it.

1. High Commission, Hidden Losses

The problem: Aggregators often charge 18–30% per order. Many restaurants absorb this without adjusting pricing or portioning.

The hidden cost:

• Shrinking margins on every online sale

• Unsustainable pricing vs dine-in

Fix it:

• Adjust menu pricing for delivery platforms

• Rework combos to maintain perceived value with better margins

• Track profitability per platform regularly

2. Manual Order Entry = Staff Errors

The problem: If you still enter aggregator orders manually into your POS, you’re risking:

• Missed or delayed orders

• Wrong items sent

• Order theft or manipulations

Fix it:

• Use middleware or POS that integrates with Swiggy/Zomato directly

• Sync menu updates across all platforms

• Route orders directly to KDS or kitchen printer

3. Inventory Misalignment

The problem: Orders flow through aggregators, but inventory systems aren’t updated in real time.

The impact:

• Inaccurate food cost reporting

• Stockouts or excess holding

• Inability to track true dish-wise margins

Fix it:

• Integrate POS with inventory tools

• Use auto-depletion from sales data

• Run variance reports weekly

4. Platform Dependency without Customer Data

The problem: Aggregators own the customer relationship — not you.

The loss:

• No data on repeat orders, preferences, or complaints

• No ability to remarket or build loyalty

Fix it:

• Use direct ordering platforms alongside aggregators

• Incentivise customers to reorder directly (combo deals, loyalty points)

• Capture feedback and contact info via packaging or follow-up

5. Poor Operational Sync

The problem: Menu mismatches, outdated timings, or non-synced offers between POS and aggregators.

The result:

• Refunds

• Bad reviews

• Staff frustration

Fix it:

• Appoint a daily aggregator checker (or automate updates)

• Use a unified menu management platform

• Conduct monthly audits of aggregator listings

Conclusion

Aggregators can help you grow — but if they’re not tightly integrated with your systems, they become a profit leak instead of a growth channel. Don’t just plug into platforms. Integrate, monitor, and optimise them like any other core business function.

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Revenue without margin is just busy work. Make your aggregator integration work for your bottom line.