Costco is retiring its decades-old paper-form requirement for custom cake and deli tray orders, moving to a fully digital system through its mobile app and website. The change eliminates the need for a separate preliminary trip to the warehouse, addressing years of member complaints about the "clunky" process.

During a Q1 2026 earnings call, CEO Ron Vachris confirmed the digital transition is underway across all locations. Members will now be able to select cake sizes, flavors, designs, and custom inscriptions via the Costco app, streamlining what previously required two separate store visits.

The company has not provided specific "go-live" dates for individual warehouses but expects full adoption by the end of 2026. Costco plans to monitor digital usage rates to determine if other "old-school" features like food court ordering will receive similar app integrations.