Apache Pizza

The challenge

1. Locked into the wrong supplier

By the mid-2010s, Apache Pizza had scaled rapidly, but its technology setup was holding the brand back. Their previous provider controlled the POS and e-commerce infrastructure and offered only basic functionality. When Apache looked to expand digitally, the supplier raised fees, slowed development, and resisted flexibility, creating an existential risk for a chain of over 200 stores.

2. Fragile operations and franchisee distrust

Slow menu updates, weak data insights, and frequent disruptions caused by Ireland’s unreliable internet left daily operations fragile. Franchisees resisted change, and HQ lacked the transparency needed to enforce standards.

3. Customer experience falling behind

While delivery platforms offered smooth ordering experiences, Apache’s own channels lacked loyalty features, personalization, and modern marketing capabilities. Without change, the brand risked losing both profitability and direct customer ownership.

“Hardware independence” was also key in the decision process. Apache’s leadership wanted to avoid the cost and hassle of supplying and managing hardware for hundreds of franchisees.

We were looking for an industry expert who strives to solve the needs of quick-service restaurants with innovative software solutions. S4D is bringing both to the table, industry expertise and technical know-how! , Jordan Pendleton, CTO of Apache Pizza

The Solution

1. From supplier lock-in to full control

In 2018, Apache Pizza partnered with S4D to implement a cloud-native, hardware-independent POS and omnichannel e-commerce system. The rollout was one of the fastest in the industry: 166 stores migrated in just two weeks, restoring stability and confidence across the network. With one platform connecting POS, website, app, kitchen management, and reporting, HQ could centrally manage menus while still supporting localized offers and campaigns.

2. From fragile systems to resilient infrastructure

To handle Ireland’s patchy internet, S4D introduced a hybrid POS setup, ensuring resilience even in difficult conditions. Real-time reporting provided HQ with full transparency, helping to easily see all transactions in real-time. We also adapted the platform to Ireland’s distinctive Eircode system (postcode format), which required custom logic for delivery routing and address handling. This not only improved order accuracy and delivery times for Apache but also demonstrated S4D’s ability to localize for country-specific requirements.

3. From static software to co-created innovation

On the customer side, Apache and S4D co-developed features tested directly with Apache’s audience through constant A/B testing. Apache’s CTO, Jordan Pendleton, is also part of the extended S4D team: together we brainstorm, design, and improve the platform through joint experiments, with regular visits to Apache’s headquarters to align roadmaps and test new features. This close collaboration ensures every innovation is rooted in Apache’s real business needs.

A Partnership That Evolves

The results of this transformation were both immediate and long-term. Within the first three years, digital sales had doubled, making Apache more profitable and less dependent on delivery platforms. HQ gained real-time visibility into store performance, enabling fact-based conversations with franchisees around revenue, customer reviews, and product mix.

Operational efficiency improved with resilient POS infrastructure and centralized menu management, while customer engagement increased through loyalty features, app-first activations, and more flexible payment options.

S4D efficiently facilitated our strategic changes and consistently helped to optimize our business. In the first 3 years, we doubled online sales and became a more profitable organization., Martin Lyons, former CEO of Apache Pizza

Today, Apache Pizza is going through organizational changes under new leadership, with a sharpened focus on converting customers from aggregators and e-commerce into their own app channel. Together, we’ve built a dedicated App Growth Strategy to drive that shift, with the first step being S4D’s integration with Deployteq, enabling smarter customer segmentation, automated journeys, and personalized app-first campaigns. As this strategy unfolds, S4D continues to support Apache with the tools, data, and ongoing collaboration needed to achieve sustainable, loyalty-driven growth.

Beyond strategy, the collaboration is highly operational. Together, we are always looking for optimizations and ways to improve the bottom line for Apache’s franchisees. New features are introduced and tested continuously, often using S4D’s pre-environment before going live, with Apache’s CTO, Jordan Pendleton, personally validating many of these improvements. Jordan is not only the architect of Apache’s digital transformation but also a true key-user of the system, working closely with S4D’s product team to co-develop content, campaigns, and features. This partnership,equal parts technology and teamwork, ensures the platform keeps evolving in line with Apache’s real business needs.