Case Study: Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels (MOW) Sioux Empire is a non-profit organization, provides essential meal delivery services to community members. Their work relies on tools that streamline coordination among staff, volunteers, and routes to keep operations efficient.
The challenge
MOW needed a technology solution to reduce paperwork, improve communication, and streamline operations. Off-the-shelf tools weren’t a good fit, as their workflows required flexibility to align with the specific demands of meal preparation and delivery.
Our Approach
At Parallel, we apply a human-centered design process. For Meals on Wheels, this meant co-designing with staff and volunteers, prototyping in real use contexts, solving for real-world constraints, balancing emotion and efficiency, and continuously testing and refining based on feedback.
Our Work
We delivered a custom digital platform designed specifically for Meals on Wheels with core features including:
Route Management
Digitally plan, assign, and adjust delivery routes to ensure meals reach clients efficiently, reducing time spent on manual planning.
Volunteer Management
Streamline onboarding, scheduling, and shift coordination so volunteers can easily find where they’re needed, while staff saves time managing logistics.
Invoice & Billing
Generate accurate invoices quickly and reduce paperwork, freeing staff from repetitive manual tasks and minimizing errors.
Staff Workflow Efficiency
Simplify daily tasks with an intuitive system that reduces duplication and frees staff to focus on client care.
Samantha Locke - Program Manager
“The team at Parallel truly works in parallel with you… Their hands-on approach replaced five systems with one beautifully designed platform.”
Rebecca - Program Director
The Results
Through close partnership and human-centered design, Parallel helped Meals on Wheels transform outdated systems into a modern, intuitive platform. The result is a more efficient, connected, and sustainable solution that staff and volunteers can rely on every day.
Simplified Tech Stack
Replaced five disconnected systems with one streamlined platform.
Saves Staff Time
Improved staff efficiency, reducing paperwork and saving time.
Improved Communication
Enhanced communication between staff and volunteers.
Quality of Life
Delivered a system that staff found intuitive and easy to adopt.
