TLDR
As a restaurant owner, you know that offering delivery is no longer just a nice add-on - it's a must for meeting customer demand and driving revenue. Yet building your delivery fleet takes a major investment. That's where DoorDash Drive comes in. By integrating DoorDash's white-label fulfillment platform into your iOS app built with React Native, you can start offering delivery in days without the hassle of hiring drivers or buying vehicles.
In this article, we'll walk through the process to embed DoorDash delivery services right into your custom mobile ordering app. We'll show you how to partner with DoorDash, connect to their APIs, receive real-time delivery updates, and handle support - all from within your branded app experience. Customers will love the convenience of ordering their favorite meals straight from your app. And you'll attract new business without breaking the bank.
The Benefits of Offering Delivery in Your React Native iOS App
By integrating DoorDash Drive delivery into your iOS app, you'll provide customers with fast, affordable delivery from the restaurants and merchants they love.
Offering delivery through DoorDash Drive expands your potential customer base by meeting customers where they are. Customers who prefer delivery over visiting your physical location can now order from you, increasing your sales and revenue.
Operational Efficiency
DoorDash manages the entire delivery process, from driver assignment to delivery tracking and support. They handle delivery logistics so you can focus on your business.
Cost Savings
There are no upfront costs to enable delivery through DoorDash Drive. You only pay delivery fees based on the number of deliveries completed, so you can keep costs low as you scale up your delivery offerings.
Setting up and Managing DoorDash Delivery
To offer DoorDash Drive delivery in your React Native app:
- Sign up for a DoorDash Drive account and enable the API in your account settings. This connects your app to DoorDash for scheduling and tracking deliveries.
- Call the DoorDash Drive API from your React Native app to schedule a delivery by providing details like the delivery address, contents, and fees.
- Track delivery statuses through webhooks from DoorDash Drive. Your app will receive updates as the driver is assigned, en route, arriving, and completing the delivery.
- Make any changes to delivery details or cancel deliveries through the Drive API and web dashboard. Provide additional delivery instructions or cancel a delivery if needed.
By integrating DoorDash Drive delivery into your mobile ordering app, you gain access to DoorDash's vast delivery network and operations expertise. Customers get the delivery options they want, and you get an affordable solution to scale your business.
How to Partner With DoorDash for Delivery
To offer delivery through DoorDash Drive in your app, you'll need to set up an official partnership.
The first step is creating an account with DoorDash Drive and signing their merchant agreement. This establishes your partnership and provides API access so you can integrate delivery into your app.
Call the API to Schedule Deliveries
With access set up, you can call DoorDash Drive's API directly from your React Native app to schedule deliveries. Provide details like the delivery address, contents, and any associated fees. DoorDash will handle assigning a driver and completing the delivery.
Track Delivery Status
As the delivery is in progress, get updates through webhooks from DoorDash Drive. Your app will receive notifications as the driver is assigned, en route, arriving, and completing the delivery. This allows you to update the customer on the delivery's status and estimated arrival time.
Manage the Delivery Process
If any issues come up or changes need to be made, you can manage the delivery through the Drive API and web dashboard. For example, you may need to cancel a delivery or provide the driver additional instructions to help ensure a smooth delivery experience for your customers.
By partnering with DoorDash Drive, you can provide affordable delivery fulfillment in your app without the costs and hassles of hiring in-house delivery staff. Your customers will appreciate the added convenience and your business will benefit from the increased orders and operational efficiency. A win-win for all!
Explore our help center for a complete guide on setting up delivery fees within the app.
Integrating the DoorDash API Into Your React Native App
Sign Up for a DoorDash Merchant Account
To utilize DoorDash Drive delivery services within your app, you'll need to sign up for a DoorDash merchant account. This will provide you with an API access token to authenticate requests to the DoorDash Drive API. You can sign up on DoorDash's website by providing details about your business.
Make Requests to the DoorDash Drive API
The DoorDash Drive API allows you to schedule deliveries, track driver status, and manage any issues with your deliveries. To schedule a delivery from your React Native app, make a POST request to https://api.doordash.com/v2/merchant/deliveries with details like the delivery address, contents, and fees.
Handle Webhook Updates
DoorDash will send webhook events to your app as the delivery status changes. Your app will receive updates when a driver is assigned, arrives at the pickup location, is en route, arrives at the drop-off location, and completes the delivery. Handle these webhooks to update the delivery status within your app and take any needed actions.
Manage Delivery Issues
Occasionally, you may need to cancel a delivery or provide additional delivery instructions. You can do this through the DoorDash Drive API and merchant dashboard. Call the appropriate API endpoints to cancel a delivery or update the delivery details and instructions.
By integrating DoorDash Drive into your React Native app, you'll be able to provide affordable and convenient delivery for your customers. Focus on creating a great mobile ordering experience while DoorDash handles the fulfillment. Your customers will appreciate being able to get deliveries from your business right to their door.
FAQs About Building DoorDash Delivery Into a React Native iOS App
How do I get set up to build an iOS app in React Native?
To get started, you'll need to install Xcode, Watchman, and the React Native CLI. Then, run react-native init to create your first React Native app. You'll also need to register as an Apple Developer to deploy your app to the App Store.
How do I accept payments in my React Native iOS app?
The best solution is to integrate with the Square API. Square provides SDKs to generate payment tokens from credit cards in your app. You can customize the payment form to match your app's design. To start, sign up for a Square developer account and register your iOS app.
How do I get my React Native iOS app into the App Store?
Once your app is built and tested, follow these steps to deploy it to the App Store:
- Archive your project in Xcode to package it for upload.
- Add an App Store Connect certificate to link your Xcode project to your Apple Developer account.
- Generate an App ID to identify your app for services like Apple Pay.
- Upload your build to App Store Connect and submit it for review.
- After 1-2 days of review, your app will be released on the App Store! You can then release updates by repeating the build, upload, and review steps.
Congratulations, you now have your mobile app in the App Store built using the power of React Native! Your customers will surely appreciate how easy it is to get their daily dose of caffeine and treats on the go.
Final Thoughts
React Native's flexibility makes it a great choice for building a mobile ordering app that incorporates DoorDash delivery. By following the steps outlined here, you can provide your customers with seamless ordering and delivery experiences directly within your branded app. Leveraging DoorDash's API and webhook integration empowers you to track orders end-to-end, while still maintaining control over your menu, pricing, and relationships with customers.
Partnering with a third-party delivery service through an integrated React Native app allows you to meet this demand in a cost-effective, scalable way. Focus on delighting your loyal customers, while technology handles the rest. With the right tools, you can have delicious meals delivered from your kitchen to your customers' doors in no time.