Fast growing e-catering and demand behind it
Posted on: 21/Jul/2016 4:14:57 PM
Online meal booking is gaining popularity and the total number of customers for this online booking is continually increasing. There are over 8000 such customers so far. These commuters love the idea of getting freshly prepared food delivered to them. During the first month of launch of e-catering services, there were hardly 3 meals booked during the first month, January 2015. With increase in popularity, there are a number of orders being placed, reaching above 8000.
Speaking about this, a senior Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) official stated that their department could hardly manage 15 transactions in one day. This has now increased to over 400. Some of the popular brands that commuters prefer are KFC, Ratna Café, Dominos, etc.
Customers can opt for e-catering services through IRCTC mobile app or their website. They can also reach them at toll-free number 1232. They need not depend on food offered in the train or at station.
Commuters prefer this option mainly for the idea of getting fresh food delivered to them. An IT professional from Chennai stated that he used to buy food on trains. The food offerings were so dry and tasted poor. It was very clear that those were prepared long hours ago. The launch of e-booking food has made it a lot easier for me, he said.
He added that the main challenge faced by IRCTC is to coordinate vendors when the train arrives at the station. There are a few stations where trains halt for only a few minutes. If there are too many bookings by passengers, a few passengers might not get the deliveries and they call back complaining about it.
IRCTC officials state that they are continuously taking efforts to better customer experience, despite limitations. Sourcing food is yet another challenge we face. We need to ensure the quality of food received such that it meets the standards.
