The Power of Partnership: You Can't Do It All

Trying to be an expert in every field - from marketing to accounting, from customer service to product development - spreads your time and energy thin, potentially compromising your product's quality.

As an SME owner, the temptation to handle every aspect of your business can be overwhelming. You might feel that you need help to do the job as well as you can or that outsourcing tasks is an unnecessary expense. However, this 'do-it-all' approach often leads to burnout, reduced efficiency, and stunted business growth. 

Trying to be an expert in every field - from marketing to accounting, from customer service to product development - spreads your time and energy thin, potentially compromising the quality of your core offerings. Imagine the relief you'll feel when you can focus on what you do best, knowing that the other aspects of your business are in capable hands.

This principle applies particularly well to the food industry, where the divide between running a food business and managing food delivery is especially pronounced. Running a food business is fundamentally different from managing a food delivery service. While a food business focuses on creating delicious dishes, perfecting recipes, and crafting memorable dining experiences, a food delivery business is all about logistics - route optimization, real-time tracking, and maintaining food quality during transit.

Trying to handle both aspects can lead to significant challenges. It splits your focus, drains resources, and forces you to become an expert in two very different fields. Every minute spent worrying about deliveries is time not spent improving your food or customer experience. Investing in delivery infrastructure means less money for quality ingredients or kitchen upgrades. Moreover, customers expect delivery perfection, which is only possible with specialized expertise.

However, there's a solution that involves something other than stretching yourself thin: collaboration. By partnering with delivery experts, you can create a win-win situation that allows your business to thrive. This approach lets you focus on your strengths - making incredible food - while leveraging the expertise of dedicated delivery services.

Collaboration offers numerous benefits. It expands your reach, allowing your creations to be enjoyed in parts of town you never dreamed of serving. Professional delivery services have the technology, training, and systems to ensure your food arrives in top condition. It's also cost-effective, as setting up your delivery system can be expensive. Many delivery services offer valuable data about customer preferences and ordering patterns, which you can use to refine your menu and marketing strategies.

To make collaboration work, choose delivery partners that align with your brand values and customer base. This is your chance to be in control and make decisions that will benefit your business. Negotiate terms that work for your business model and set clear expectations about order processing and pickup procedures. Work with your partners to ensure quality control and set up a system to get customer feedback on the delivery experience. This empowerment will give you the confidence to focus on your core business, knowing that your delivery needs are being met.

When you nail this collaboration approach, you'll find yourself with more time and resources to innovate and grow your core business. Your food quality can improve because you're fully focused on the kitchen, and customer satisfaction can increase thanks to professional delivery. The sense of achievement you'll feel when you see your business thriving and your customers happy will be a source of pride and motivation.

Letting go of any part of your business can feel daunting, but trying to do everything yourself might be holding you back. By collaborating with delivery services, you can create a more focused, profitable, and less stressful business. Consider reaching out to delivery services in your area to explore your options. 

Remember, you started this business because you love food, not because you love navigating traffic with a car full of takeout. Smart collaboration could be the key to taking your food business to the next level.

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Regards,

Ayo Bankole Akintujoye

Convener & Co-Founder