Connecting Catering Management and Delivery Dispatch
How MONKEY and Cartwheel connect catering order management with delivery dispatch, driver management and tracking, with Willy's Mexicana Grill as an early adopter.
Catering teams that manage orders in one system and delivery in another lose time and visibility at the handoff between the two. Since May 2025, restaurant chains on MONKEY, the catering management platform from MonkeyMedia Software, can run catering from order placement to final delivery in one ecosystem with Cartwheel.
The gap between catering operations and delivery
Catering runs on detail: headcounts, setup instructions, delivery windows, billing contacts. Catering management platforms hold that detail well. The delivery itself often runs separately, through phone calls to drivers or a separate courier booking.
That separation creates blind spots. The catering team cannot see where the driver is, the driver may not have the setup notes, and the guest has no way to check progress without calling the store. On a high-value order, each of those gaps is a service risk.
What each platform covers
| Platform | Role in the catering workflow |
|---|---|
| MONKEY | Order management, CRM, production and delivery logistics for restaurant chains across North America |
| Cartwheel | AI-powered auto-dispatch, driver management, real-time tracking and access to more than 50 catering delivery service providers |
With the integration, catering orders managed in MONKEY are dispatched and tracked in Cartwheel. Brands can assign an order to their own drivers or to a third-party provider, and follow every delivery from one place.
Why tracking matters more in catering
Catering orders typically carry a higher average ticket than standard delivery or dine-in orders, and the guest is usually ordering for a group. A late or unconfirmed delivery affects a meeting or an event, not one meal.
Guests reward visibility. According to ezCater’s 2024 Feeding the Workplace report, 90% of orderers are more likely to order from a restaurant that offers delivery tracking updates.
Early adopters
Willy’s Mexicana Grill and Howlin’ Willy’s Hot Chicken are among the first brands to run the integrated solution. Their catering team now manages in-house drivers and third-party services from a single view.
“The combination of MonkeyMedia Software and Cartwheel has transformed our catering delivery operations.”
Harold Castro, Senior Director of Catering, Willy’s Mexicana Grill and Howlin’ Willy’s Hot Chicken
Cartwheel and MONKEY together power five of Food On Demand’s 2025 Outstanding Operators.
Frequently asked questions
What is MONKEY?
MONKEY, from MonkeyMedia Software, is a catering management platform for restaurant chains. It covers order management, CRM, production and delivery logistics.
What does Cartwheel add to MONKEY?
Cartwheel adds auto-dispatch, driver management, real-time tracking and access to more than 50 catering delivery service providers.
Can MONKEY users dispatch to their own drivers?
Yes. Brands can send catering orders to in-house drivers, to third-party providers, or to a mix of both.
To see how catering orders move from MONKEY to delivery in Cartwheel, book a demo.