Step-by-Step Guide: Building a Deliveroo Clone with Adalo

This comprehensive tutorial walks you through creating a Deliveroo-style food delivery platform using Adalo's no-code platform. While certain advanced features like real-time tracking have limitations, you'll build a complete multi-sided marketplace with restaurants, customers, and delivery drivers matching Deliveroo's core functionality.

Prerequisites and Initial Setup

Step 1: Create Adalo Account and Select Template

1. Visit Adalo.com and sign up
2. Click "Create New App" → "Mobile App"
3. Browse templates and select "Restaurant template"
4. Name your app "DeliverooClone" or your brand name
5. Choose Deliveroo's signature teal (#00CCBC) as primary color
6. Select clean, modern typography matching Deliveroo's design

The Restaurant template includes essential features: sign-in, restaurant browsing, menu, cart, and checkout.

Step 2: Plan Your Deliveroo-Style Architecture

Design three interconnected apps replicating Deliveroo's ecosystem:

1. Customer App: Restaurant discovery, menu browsing, ordering, tracking
2. Restaurant Partner App: Menu management, order processing, analytics
3. Rider App: Delivery assignments, navigation, earnings tracking

Plan separate apps with shared data (via the same Adalo app or a shared backend) for specialized interfaces.

Building Deliveroo's Database Structure

Step 3: Configure Users Collection for Multiple Roles

1. Navigate to Database in left sidebar
2. Select default "Users" collection
3. Add Deliveroo-specific properties:
   
   • Account Type (Text) - Values: "Customer", "Restaurant Partner", "Rider"
   • Phone Number (Text)
   • Profile Photo (Image)
   • Current Location (Location) - For customers and riders
   • Rider License Number (Text) - For delivery partner verification
   • Vehicle Type (Text) - "Bicycle", "Motorbike", "Car", "On Foot"
   • Rider Status (Text) - "Online", "Busy", "Offline"
   • Average Rating (Number) - From customer reviews
   • Total Orders (Number) - Order history counter
4. Create Addresses collection (for saved addresses):  
   
   • Label (Text) — e.g., Home, Office
   • Street (Text)  
   • City (Text)  
   • State/Region (Text)
   • Postal Code (Text)  
   • Location (Location)  
   • Is Default (True/False) 
5. Relationships:  
   
   • In Addresses: add Owner → Users (Many to One)

User collection guide

Step 4: Create Restaurant Partners Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Restaurant Partners"
3. Add Deliveroo restaurant properties:
   
   • Business Name (Text)
   • Cuisine Type (Text) - "Italian", "Chinese", "Indian", etc.
   • Description (Text - Multiline)
   • Hero Image (Image) - Main restaurant photo
   • Logo (Image)
   • Business Address (Location)
   • Contact Phone (Text)
   • Business Email (Email)
   • Delivery Radius (Number) - In kilometers
   • Delivery Fee (Number)
   • Minimum Order Value (Number)
   • Average Preparation Time (Number) - In minutes
   • Restaurant Rating (Number)
   • Total Reviews (Number)
   • Is Open (True/False) - Real-time availability
   • Opening Hours (Text) - JSON format for weekly schedule
   • Stripe Connect Account ID (Text) - For marketplace payments
   • Commission Rate (Number) - Platform fee percentage
   • Featured Status (True/False) - For promoted listings

Step 5: Build Menu Categories System

1. Add collection "Menu Categories"
2. Configure Deliveroo-style categorization:
   
   • Category Name (Text) - "Starters", "Mains", "Desserts", "Drinks"
   • Category Description (Text)
   • Category Image (Image) - Optional visual
   • Display Order (Number) - For sorting
   • Is Available (True/False) - Enable/disable categories
   • Special Badges (Text) - "Popular", "New", "Spicy"

Step 6: Create Menu Items with Deliveroo Features

1. Add collection "Menu Items"
2. Include Deliveroo-specific properties:
   
   • Item Name (Text)
   • Item Description (Text - Multiline)
   • Base Price (Number)
   • Item Image (Image)
   • Is Available (True/False) - Real-time stock control
   • Preparation Time (Number) - Individual item timing
   • Nutritional Info (Text) - Calories, allergens
   • Dietary Labels (Text) - "Vegetarian", "Vegan", "Gluten-Free", "Halal"
   • Spice Level (Number 0-3) - Deliveroo's spice system
   • Popular Badge (True/False) - "Most Popular" indicator
   • Customizable (True/False) - Has modification options

Step 7: Design Orders Collection

1. Add collection "Orders"
2. Implement Deliveroo's order structure:
   
   • Order ID (Text) - Auto-generated unique identifier
   • Order Status (Text) - "Placed", "Accepted", "Preparing", "Ready", "Picked Up", "Delivered", "Cancelled"
   • Subtotal (Number) - Items cost
   • Delivery Fee (Number) - Variable by distance/time
   • Service Fee (Number) - Deliveroo's platform fee
   • Total Amount (Number) - Final payment
   • Payment Method (Text) — e.g., “Card”
   • Payment Status (Text) - "Pending", "Paid", "Refunded"
   • Delivery Address (Location) - Customer destination
   • Delivery Instructions (Text - Multiline) - Special notes
   • Estimated Delivery Time (Date & Time)
   • Order Placed At (Date & Time - Automatic)
   • Delivered At (Date & Time)
   • Rider Notes (Text) - Internal communication
   • Customer Rating (Number) - Post-delivery feedback

Step 8: Create Order Items Junction Table

1. Add collection "Order Items"
2. Configure cart functionality:
   
   • Quantity (Number)
   • Unit Price (Number)
   • Line Total (Number) - Quantity × Unit Price
   • Customizations (Text) - JSON for modifications
   • Special Requests (Text) - Customer notes per item

Step 9: Establish Database Relationships

1. In Restaurant Partners:
   
   
   
   • Add "Business Owner" → Users (Many to One)
2. In Menu Categories:
   
   
   
   • Add "Restaurant" → Restaurant Partners (Many to One)
3. In Menu Items:
   
   
   
   • Add "Category" → Menu Categories (Many to One)
   • Add "Restaurant" → Restaurant Partners (Many to One)
4. In Orders:
   
   
   
   • Add "Customer" → Users (Many to One)
   • Add "Restaurant" → Restaurant Partners (Many to One)
   • Add "Rider" → Users (Many to One)
5. In Order Items:
   
   
   
   • Add "Order" → Orders (Many to One)
   • Add "Menu Item" → Menu Items (Many to One)

Database relationships

Building Deliveroo's Customer Experience

Step 10: Create Restaurant Discovery Screen

1. Add screen "Restaurant Discovery"
   
   
2. Implement Deliveroo's browsing interface:
   
   
   
   • Search Bar with cuisine and restaurant name filtering
   • Horizontal Category Scrolling - "Pizza", "Chinese", "Healthy", "Fast Food"
   • Delivery Time Filter - "Under 30 mins", "Under 45 mins"
   • Rating Filter - 4.0+ stars only
   • Free Delivery Badge - Filter by zero delivery fee
3. Add Custom List for restaurants:
   
   
   
   • Data: Restaurant Partners
   • Filter: Is Open = true (use stored Delivery Radius or allowed zones; distance math is not native)
   • Sort: Featured Status (Descending), then Rating
   • Show: Hero image, logo, name, cuisine, rating, delivery time, delivery fee
4. Include Deliveroo-style visual elements:
   
   
   
   • "New" badges for recently added restaurants
   • "Free Delivery" promotional tags
   • Estimated delivery time (combine restaurant prep time + driver estimate; live traffic isn’t native)

Step 11: Build Restaurant Detail Page

1. Add screen "Restaurant Detail"
   
   
2. Replicate Deliveroo's restaurant layout:
   
   
   
   • Hero Section: Large restaurant image, name, rating, delivery info
   • Restaurant Info Strip: Cuisine type, delivery fee, minimum order
   • Menu Categories Navigation: Sticky horizontal scroll
   • Popular Items Section: Highlighted best-sellers
3. Add Custom List for Menu Categories:
   
   
   
   • Filter: Restaurant = Current Restaurant AND Is Available = true
   • Sort: Display Order (Ascending)
   • Navigation: Click to jump to category section
4. Include Deliveroo features:
   
   
   
   • Restaurant rating breakdown with review count
   • Estimated delivery time (combine restaurant prep time + driver estimate; live traffic isn’t native)
   • Restaurant opening hours with "Opens at" indicators

Step 12: Create Menu Item Selection

1. Add screen "Menu Category View"
   
   
2. Display items in Deliveroo's card format:
   
   
   
   • Item Cards: Image, name, description, price
   • Dietary Labels: Visual icons for vegetarian, vegan, etc.
   • Spice Level Indicators: Chili pepper symbols
   • Popular Badges: "Most Popular" flags
3. Add quantity selector with customization:
   
   
   
   • Plus/Minus Buttons for quantity adjustment
   • Customization Modal for modifications
   • Add to Cart Animation matching Deliveroo's feedback

Step 13: Implement Deliveroo-Style Cart

1. Add screen "Basket Review"
   
   
2. Build cart interface matching Deliveroo:
   
   
   
   • Restaurant Header: Current restaurant with change option
   • Item List: Quantities with inline editing
   • Cost Breakdown: Subtotal, delivery fee, service fee, total
   • Delivery Time: Updated estimate based on current load
   • Delivery Address: Selected from address book
3. Add checkout validation:
   
   
   
   • Minimum order value checking
   • Restaurant availability confirmation
   • Delivery area check (compare address against stored delivery radius or allowed zone)

Shopping cart

Step 14: Configure Deliveroo Payment Processing

1. Install Stripe Marketplace Payment component
   
   
2. Set up Deliveroo's payment structure:
   
   
   
   • Customer pays total amount
   • Set a platform fee (percentage) in the component
   • Payouts go to the restaurant’s connected account
   • Restaurant receives subtotal minus commission
   • Delivery fee goes to rider payment pool
3. Configure payment flow:
   
   
   
   • Save payment methods for faster checkout
   • Apply promotional codes and discounts
   • Handle payment failures with retry options
   • Send payment confirmation notifications

Marketplace Payments

Building Restaurant Partner Dashboard

Step 15: Create Restaurant Onboarding Flow

1. Add screen "Partner Registration"
   
   
2. Implement Deliveroo's partner signup:
   
   
   
   • Business Information: Name, cuisine, description, images
   • Legal Documents: Business license upload, tax information
   • Bank Details: Stripe Connect account creation
   • Operating Hours: Weekly schedule configuration
   • Delivery Settings: Radius, fees, minimum orders
3. Add approval workflow:
   
   
   
   • Set initial status to "Pending Approval"
   • Admin review before activation
   • Email notifications for status updates

Step 16: Build Menu Management Interface

1. Add screen "Menu Management"
   
   
2. Create Deliveroo partner tools:
   
   
   
   • Category Management: Add, edit, reorder menu sections
   • Item Management: Full CRUD operations for menu items
   • Bulk Availability Toggle: Quick enable/disable for items
   • Price Adjustment: Real-time pricing changes
   • Image Upload: High-quality food photography
3. Include inventory features:
   
   
   
   • "Out of Stock" toggles for unavailable items
   • Preparation time adjustments during busy periods
   • Special dietary labels management

Step 17: Create Order Management Dashboard

1. Add screen "Orders Dashboard"
   
   
2. Implement Deliveroo's restaurant interface:
   
   
   
   • New Orders Tab: Incoming orders requiring acceptance
   • Preparing Tab: Accepted orders in kitchen
   • Ready Tab: Completed orders awaiting pickup
   • Order History: Past orders with analytics
3. Add order actions:
   
   
   
   • "Accept Order" with preparation time estimate
   • "Reject Order" with reason selection
   • "Mark Ready" triggering rider assignment
   • Customer communication options

Step 18: Build Order Detail Management

1. Add screen "Order Processing"
   
   
2. Show comprehensive order information:
   
   
   
   • Customer Details: Name, phone, delivery address
   • Order Summary: Itemized list with customizations
   • Timing Information: Order placed time, promise time
   • Special Instructions: Customer notes and dietary requirements
3. Include restaurant tools:
   
   
   
   • Preparation time adjustment slider
   • Direct customer messaging
   • Print receipt functionality
   • Order modification capabilities

Developing Deliveroo Rider App

Step 19: Create Rider Dashboard

1. Build separate "Rider App"
   
   
2. Add screen "Available Deliveries"
   
   
3. Show Deliveroo-style delivery marketplace:
   
   
   
   • Available Orders List: Orders ready for pickup
   • Earning Estimates: Payment per delivery with distance
   • Delivery Distance: Pickup to dropoff calculation
   • Batch Opportunities: Multiple orders from same area
4. Add delivery filters:
   
   
   
   • Maximum distance preference
   • Vehicle type compatibility
   • Estimated delivery time ranges
   • Minimum earning thresholds

Step 20: Build Active Delivery Interface

1. Add screen "Active Delivery"
   
   
2. Implement Deliveroo rider tools:
   
   
   
   • Restaurant Information: Name, address, phone, order details
   • Customer Information: Delivery address, contact, special instructions
   • Navigation Integration: Direct maps link for routing
   • Status Updates: "Arrived at restaurant", "Picked up", "Delivered"
3. Include communication features:
   
   
   
   • Quick SMS templates for common updates
   • Call restaurant and customer buttons
   • Photo confirmation for delivery proof
   • Delivery completion with digital signature

Step 21: Implement Location Updates

1. Add Map component for delivery tracking
2. Update rider location during key events:
   
   • Order acceptance → Send location to customer
   • Restaurant arrival → Notify estimated pickup time
   • Order collection → Update with delivery ETA
   • Customer arrival → Confirm delivery location

Important: Adalo doesn’t support continuous GPS tracking or background location updates.

Implementing Deliveroo's Communication System

Step 22: Configure Push Notifications

1. Navigate to Settings → Push Notifications
2. Upload iOS and Android certificates
3. Set up Deliveroo-style notification triggers:
   
   • Order Placed → Restaurant partner
   • Order Accepted → Customer with preparation time
   • Order Ready → Assigned rider
   • Rider Assigned → Customer with rider details
   • Order Collected → Customer with delivery ETA
   • Delivered → All parties with completion confirmation

Push notifications setup

Step 23: Create Order Status Updates

1. Configure automatic status notifications:
   
   
   
   • Order Confirmation: "We've received your order from [Restaurant]"
   • Preparation Updates: "Your order is being prepared - [X] minutes remaining"
   • Rider Assignment: "[Rider Name] is collecting your order"
   • Delivery Updates: "Your rider is [X] minutes away"
2. Include dynamic content using magic text:
   
   
   
   • Restaurant names and order numbers
   • Estimated delivery times
   • Rider names and contact information
   • Order totals and payment confirmations

Step 24: Add Customer Support Chat

1. See Add chat
   
   
2. Create support channels:
   
   
   
   • Customer ↔ Restaurant: Order modifications, special requests
   • Customer ↔ Rider: Delivery coordination, location clarification
   • Restaurant ↔ Rider: Pickup instructions, order details
3. Configure automated responses:
   
   
   
   • Order status inquiries with real-time updates
   • Delivery time estimates based on current location
   • Common FAQ responses for typical questions

Advanced Deliveroo Features

Step 25: Build Rating and Review System

1. Create "Reviews" collection:
   
   
   
   • Rating (Number 1-5) - Star rating system
   • Review Text (Text - Multiline) - Customer feedback
   • Review Type (Text) - "Restaurant", "Rider", "Order Quality"
   • Helpful Votes (Number) - Community feedback on reviews
   • Review Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
2. Implement post-delivery review prompts:
   
   
   
   • Automatic review request 1 hour after delivery
   • Separate ratings for food quality, delivery speed, rider service
   • Photo uploads for visual feedback

Step 26: Create Deliveroo-Style Promotions

1. Add "Promotions" collection:
   
   
   
   • Promo Code (Text) - Unique discount codes
   • Discount Type (Text) - "Percentage", "Fixed Amount", "Free Delivery"
   • Discount Value (Number) - Amount or percentage
   • Minimum Spend (Number) - Order threshold
   • Usage Limit (Number) - Maximum redemptions
   • Expiry Date (Date) - Promotion deadline
   • Applicable Restaurants (Text) - JSON list of eligible partners
2. Implement dynamic pricing:
   
   
   
   • First-time user discounts
   • Restaurant-specific promotions
   • Free delivery thresholds
   • Loyalty program rewards

Step 27: Add Delivery Zones (native approach)

1. Create a “Delivery Zones” collection:
   
   
   
   • Zone Name (Text)
   • Base Delivery Fee (Number)
   • Is Active (True/False)
2. Add a Zone relationship on Restaurants and on Addresses
3. Implement checks:
   
   • Show restaurants where Zone matches the Address’s Zone
   • Apply the Base Delivery Fee from the selected Zone

Note: Polygon boundaries and distance/ETA math aren’t native. If needed, store pre-assigned zones or call an external API via Custom Actions.

Step 28: Build Analytics Dashboard

1. Create admin analytics screens:
   
   
   
   • Restaurant Performance: Orders, ratings, revenue
   • Rider Metrics: Deliveries completed, earnings, ratings
   • Customer Insights: Order frequency, favorite cuisines, spending
   • Platform KPIs: Total orders, average order value, commission revenue
2. Add Operations screens:
   
   • Orders by status (list views)
   • Average delivery times
   • Customer satisfaction scores
   • Revenue tracking and forecasting

Testing Your Deliveroo Clone

Step 29: Conduct Comprehensive Testing

1. Customer User Journey:
   
   
   
   • Account registration and profile setup
   • Restaurant discovery and filtering
   • Menu browsing and customization
   • Cart management and checkout
   • Order tracking and communication
   • Review submission and ratings
2. Restaurant Partner Workflow:
   
   
   
   • Business registration and approval
   • Menu creation and management
   • Order acceptance and processing
   • Status updates and communication
   • Analytics and performance tracking
3. Rider Experience Testing:
   
   
   
   • Registration and vehicle verification
   • Order assignment and acceptance
   • Navigation and delivery completion
   • Earnings tracking and payment
   • Customer communication tools

Step 30: Optimize Performance

1. Database Optimization:
   
   
   
   • Limit restaurant lists to 20-30 items per load
   • Implement pagination for menu items
   • Use conditional visibility for role-based features
   • Clear completed orders older than 30 days
2. Image Management:
   
   
   
   • Compress all food photos before upload
   • Use appropriate image dimensions (1200x800 for hero images)
   • Implement lazy loading for menu items
   • Cache frequently accessed restaurant logos

See Optimize performance for list sizes, images, and data strategies.

Deployment and Platform Considerations

Step 31: Prepare for Launch

1. App Store Requirements:
   
   
   
   • Choose a paid plan as needed — see Pricing
   • App icons, splash screens, and store descriptions
   • Privacy policy and terms of service
   • Age rating and content classifications
2. Legal Compliance:
   
   
   
   • Food safety regulations compliance
   • Data protection (GDPR/CCPA) requirements
   • Business license and insurance verification
   • Payment processing compliance (PCI DSS)

Step 32: Handle Platform Limitations

Deliveroo Features Not Available in Adalo:

• Real-time GPS tracking of riders
• Live order updates without app refresh
• Advanced route optimization
• Background location monitoring
• Complex surge pricing algorithms

Recommended Workarounds:

• Push notifications for status updates
• Manual refresh prompts for customers
• Use Custom Actions for external APIs
• Use Push notifications for live-like updates
• Hybrid architecture for advanced functionality

Step 33: Plan Scaling Strategy

1. Keep UI in Adalo; move heavy calculations/history to a backend via External collections
2. Use Custom Actions for advanced APIs (e.g., distance/ETA, geocoding)
3. Monitor App Actions & list sizes

Costs: Plans and usage vary — see Pricing

Additional Resources

Essential Adalo Resources:

• App Academy - Comprehensive tutorials
• Component Marketplace - Additional features
• Restaurant Template - Starting foundation
• Database Documentation - Relationship setup
• YouTube Channel - Video tutorials

Development Timeline:

• Basic Deliveroo MVP: 3-4 weeks
• Complete three-app platform: 8-10 weeks
• Testing and optimization: 2-3 weeks
• App store approval: 1-2 weeks

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Note: This Deliveroo-style clone covers menus, cart/checkout, basic order status, and role-specific apps using Adalo’s native features. Advanced logistics like continuous GPS tracking, automatic dispatch/batching, distance-based fees, and background jobs aren’t native. If you need those, wire a lightweight backend and trigger server-side workflows via Custom Actions. Keep lists lean, enable progressive loading, and test on real devices for performance.

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