Food Delivery Service Applications in Highly Urbanized Cities: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The increasing use of food delivery services, driven by apps and websites, has significantly changed how food is ordered and delivered in highly urbanized cities across various countries. These services make it easy to obtain food from a variety of sources such as restaurants, fast-food chains, local cafes, and grocery stores. However, they also face issues such as late deliveries, poor food quality, and problems with payment and delivery staff. This study aims to review existing research on food delivery apps and websites to identify new areas for future research that could address these issues. Utilizing Google Scholar and adhering to established review guidelines, including the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA 2020) and the Content, Context, and Process (CCP) Framework, the study analyzed 174 relevant studies, with a focused examination of 30 of them. The results identified five content-related, two context-related, and four process-related aspects relevant to food delivery service applications. The scoping reviews of this literature recommend future studies on the features, functionalities, and designs of these applications, as well as the efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity of their services. The study concludes by suggesting that future research should aim to improve the design and functions of food delivery apps and websites, making them more efficient and effective. It also recommends exploring different operational models for these services, which could enhance food delivery in urban environments.