(Yicai Global) July 15 -- China's ByteDance Technology is reportedly planning to launch a food delivery function on the Chinese version of TikTok.

Douyin is internally testing Xindong Waimai after setting up a task force, tech news outlet 36Kr reported yesterday.

The mini-program should be available on the mobile application very soon, the same report added, citing an insider close to the Beijing-based tech firm. It is not likely to be launched as a separate app, the person added.

Douyin already has an information page about the mini-program that says it will be comprehensively available later.

ByteDance would enter a booming sector. The number of food and beverage delivery orders tallied about 17.1 billion in China in 2020, rising almost 8 percent from 2019. Nearly 500 million people used takeout services while most of them were born in the 80s or 90s, according to CCTV Finance.

Douyin could have a competitive edge in takeout as user reviews that consist of short videos could attract clients in a more dynamic way than the general reviewing options which include photos and texts, according to the 36Kr report.

First, the service will be launched in first- and second-tier cities, and then the scope will gradually be widened to other cities around China.

Most likely, the company will ask restaurants to take care of transport. But ByteDance may also collaborate with takeout platforms Ele.me or Meituan and guide users to place orders on these apps.

Editor: Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi