Automating Catering Delivery Across Corporate and Franchise Locations
How Jason's Deli moved delivery management from manual to automated across 242 corporate and franchise locations, and what changed for drivers and guests.
Jason’s Deli replaced a manual delivery process with automated dispatch across 242 corporate and franchise locations. Since the rollout, its drivers average a rating above 4.7, on-time deliveries and repeat orders have increased, and customer calls about order status have decreased.
Where manual delivery management breaks down
Manual dispatch depends on a manager deciding which driver takes which order, then relaying updates to the guest by phone. That works at a single store on a quiet day. Across hundreds of locations, it produces uneven service from one store to the next.
Catering raises the stakes. Orders are larger, delivery windows are tighter, and the guest is often an office administrator who needs the food to arrive before a meeting starts. Every manual step is a point where an order can slip.
What Jason’s Deli automated
Jason’s Deli runs in-house, hybrid and third-party delivery across individual and catering orders. In late 2024, the brand joined Cartwheel partner Olo for online ordering. Cartwheel now manages the delivery side of those orders.
- Driver App: in-house drivers receive orders, navigate and update status in the Cartwheel Driver App, which keeps service consistent from store to store.
- Auto-dispatch: AI-powered auto-dispatch assigns orders to drivers and optimizes routes, which shortens delivery times, especially for catering.
- Real-time tracking: guests follow their order from the store to the door instead of calling to ask where it is.
- Hybrid delivery: the brand can fulfill an order with its own drivers or with third-party providers from the same platform.
Results reported
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Locations live | 242 corporate and franchise |
| Average driver rating | Above 4.7 |
| On-time deliveries | Increased |
| Repeat orders | Increased |
| Customer calls about order status | Decreased |
Industry research supports the tracking result: 90% of customers are more likely to order from restaurants that provide delivery tracking updates.
“This partnership with Cartwheel represents our commitment to operational excellence and the customer experience.”
Amy Schuster, Vice President of IT, Jason’s Deli
One standard across corporate and franchise stores
A mixed system has to serve two kinds of operator. Corporate stores follow central standards, while franchisees run their own teams and need tools that fit their workflows. Jason’s Deli configured Cartwheel to its own operational needs and rolled it out to both, so every location dispatches, tracks and reports on delivery in the same way.
The same approach earned recognition outside the company. Food on Demand named Jason’s Deli among its 2025 Outstanding Operators.
Frequently asked questions
How many Jason’s Deli locations use Cartwheel?
Cartwheel is live at 242 corporate and franchise Jason’s Deli locations nationwide.
What did Jason’s Deli use before Cartwheel?
Delivery management was manual. Cartwheel automated dispatch, driver management and guest tracking.
Does Jason’s Deli use its own drivers?
Yes. Jason’s Deli runs in-house, hybrid and third-party delivery, with in-house drivers working in the Cartwheel Driver App.
To see how automated dispatch works across a corporate and franchise system, book a demo with Cartwheel.