Weather and time factors impact on online food delivery sales: a comparative analysis of three Chinese cities

The online food delivery industry has been rapidly growing with the advancement of mobile internet technology and mobile payments. In this context, understanding the impact of situational effects on online food delivery sales becomes crucial. This study aims to investigate the influence of weather and time factors on online food -delivery sales on a Chinese online food delivery platform over a year. The study also performs a comparative analysis of urban user groups to examine the situational effects of weather and time factors on online food delivery sales. To carry out the study, the research team collected data from platform A, a popular online food delivery platform with a long operation time, abundant user resources, and sufficient data. The meteorological data was obtained from China's Meteorological Data Network, which provides accurate weather data from various stations across the country. The study analyzed food delivery order quantity data and weather factor data from three cities, Beijing, Harbin, and Hangzhou, constituting different stages of evolution in delivering the food online in Chinese cities, and with different climatic conditions, shopping habits, and diets. The meteorological indicators considered for the study include temperature, precipitation, humidity, rainfall, snowfall, and air quality index. The findings of the study suggest that situational effects have significant impacts on online food delivery sales. Specifically, the study found that weather conditions, such as rain, snow, and air quality, and time factors, such as weekends and pre- and post-holiday periods, have a significant influence on online food delivery sales. The comparative analysis of urban user groups also revealed differences in the impact of situational effects on online food delivery sales between the three cities. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the situational effects on online food delivery sales and can assist online food delivery platforms and businesses in making informed decisions to improve their sales and profitability.