A TECH innovator has created cutting-edge software which helps food delivery providers better predict when their customers are most likely to place an order.

As part of a new trial, TUBR has been working with restaurants and pop-ups across Yorkshire helping them to use machine learning and AI as the secret new ingredient within their business structure.

Explaining how the tie-up works, the company’s co-founder Dash Tabor, said: “One of the biggest problems small to medium sized businesses face nowadays is how to best process and use the data they hold on their customers.

“Businesses in the food delivery sector, in particular, possess a massive amount of really valuable data. We’ve been working with a number of them in recent months and helped them use the information from thousands of orders to better predict how their future sales and demand might look.”

Using the tech TUBR has developed, those involved in the trial are able to predict the flow of customer orders and the estimated levels of pick-ups vs delivery orders. Businesses are also able to better predict demand up to seven days in advance for certain dishes and items helping them save money on supplies and ingredients’ ordering.

Dash continued: “This kind of insight enables businesses we work with to make sure they have the right number of delivery staff. It also helps reduce food waste by ensuring they have the right amount of stock. It allows providers to reduce food costs by bulk buying where possible. And it shortens the order to serve time to speed up customer experience.
“The foodservice delivery market in the United Kingdom was valued at approximately £10.5bn in 2021,” Ms Tabor points out.
“In 2024, the market is forecast to grow to as much as £14.6bn. The businesses who can get the best processes in place will be the most likely to benefit from this increased demand.”

The scheme is the latest innovative trial TUBR has been involved in. Earlier this year the Sheffield-based firm announced it was working with football clubs to help them better predict the time fans were most likely to head to refreshment stalls during games.
Dash added: “Our machine learning platform gives you businesses the power to make informed actions. Unlike other prediction engines we use a physic-based methodology to anticipate consistently changing trends. Our machine learning as a service can make predictions in real-time, 7, 14, and 21 days into the future allowing businesses to effectively manage their assets while reducing costs and improving customer experience.”