McDonald's in Europe: Rise of the machines

[Deleted]

I just read this article and I am reminded of the Terminator movie series. It looks computers are taking over, where are the resistance when you need them?

McDonald's restaurants in Europe will soon be swapping the chain's legendary "service with a smile" with "service with a beep." European McDonald's restaurants are preparing to replace cashiers with touch screen computers at terminals where customers will be able to order up their hamburgers and fries and pay with credit cards.

Anyways, what does everyone else think? I have to be lead to believe that McDonald's America has got to be watching this pilot project. It will probably only be a matter of time I guess.

Story here:

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43050933/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/

[jrcz]

They will NOT succeed here. It will all be stolen in like 5 seconds.

[Jazzman]

I actually ordered from one of these in Paris when I went there this March, to see how weird it was. Not that bad actually, you still see the people taking orders, it's a choice really. You can put an order into the machine and go from there or go to the counter and order old fashioned style.

[YAKMAN is ICHIBAN]

They had a touchscreen thing at Einstein Bagels at my college....and half the people there didn't have a goddamn clue how to run it.

I would hate to be stuck in a line in Chicago with a bunch of morons trying to figure out/breaking the touch screen.

[Ryback on a Pole!]

In many supermarkets over here there are already self-service computer desks rather than actual checkouts. My local Natwest bank is going the same way by having a self-service system that lets you cash money in, take money out, print a bank statement and I think even cash in cheques.

[B'Cup x]

May 17, 2011 13:06:49 GMT -5 Jazzman said:

I actually ordered from one of these in Paris when I went there this March, to see how weird it was. Not that bad actually, you still see the people taking orders, it's a choice really. You can put an order into the machine and go from there or go to the counter and order old fashioned style.

exactly the same for me, time and place. They really helped a guy who can speak very little french, order food x

[ddd84]

I don't know why any fast food places have humans taking orders. Just doesn't make sense to me. Replace 'em all with machines. It wouldn't even eliminate jobs.

[willywonka666]

Wow. There was just an article last week about how McDonald's is undergoing a $1 billion makeover and now things have already changed again!

[Red Impact]

May 17, 2011 13:06:49 GMT -5 Jazzman said:

I actually ordered from one of these in Paris when I went there this March, to see how weird it was. Not that bad actually, you still see the people taking orders, it's a choice really. You can put an order into the machine and go from there or go to the counter and order old fashioned style.

Right now it is, hence the phrase "phasing it out" as opposed to "replacing them all at once." These things are never implemented all at once. If they do replace the cashiers, it will be gradual, over the span of a few years, having fewer nad fewer cashiers until they're no longer there.

For my part, the one annoying part would be them no longer accepting cash as payment (which I think is ridiculous). Other than that, this thing would probably work pretty well in places used to stuff like this.

May 17, 2011 15:55:04 GMT -5 ddd84 said:

I don't know why any fast food places have humans taking orders. Just doesn't make sense to me. Replace 'em all with machines. It wouldn't even eliminate jobs.

Except for those they bring in to run the registers? That's at least 2 positions a shift that would no longer be there, and they're not going to shift those positions anywhere else.

["The Rated XXX Superstar" Jed]

So they've finally managed to make a computer with acne?

[default]

I keep forgetting most of the country doesn't have Sheetz convenient stores. They have little touch screens for their MTO foods and they're awesome. Great for building a sandwich, sub or nachos without confusion or lengthy waits. Although, they haven't replaced any jobs there, they still have food makers/stockers and cashiers.

I'd say it would be overkill for McDonald's with their foods and the fact that while there are people who want custom orders, they're a minority. But, it may help speed up things a little bit. Once of course, the customers become accustomed with them.

Plus, I could be wrong but I really don't see them replacing all the cashiers. It sounds like self-checkout at the grocery. Which is nice in some instances, but a pain in the butt in others.

[Alex Shelley]

These have existed in America for a while. The Carls Jr back home has one of these.

[Son of a Pregnant Dog]

May 17, 2011 22:33:15 GMT -5 default said:

I keep forgetting most of the country doesn't have Sheetz convenient stores. They have little touch screens for their MTO foods and they're awesome. Great for building a sandwich, sub or nachos without confusion or lengthy waits. Although, they haven't replaced any jobs there, they still have food makers/stockers and cashiers.

.

WaWa does this too, although in our land we call sandwiches 'hoagies.'

[default]

May 17, 2011 23:07:51 GMT -5 Son of a Pregnant Dog said:

May 17, 2011 22:33:15 GMT -5 default said:

I keep forgetting most of the country doesn't have Sheetz convenient stores. They have little touch screens for their MTO foods and they're awesome. Great for building a sandwich, sub or nachos without confusion or lengthy waits. Although, they haven't replaced any jobs there, they still have food makers/stockers and cashiers.

.

WaWa does this too, although in our land we call sandwiches 'hoagies.'

Oh, we call them hoagies as well. I just referred to them as subs because that's what Sheetz calls them. (Okay, technically they're Subz). Sadly, no WaWas here.

[Jiren]

KFC does it too

Well where i live they do

[ibdude]

They do it at this gas station/convenience store in the DC/Maryland area called Royal Farms.

[ddd84]

May 17, 2011 18:52:37 GMT -5 Red Impact said:

May 17, 2011 13:06:49 GMT -5 Jazzman said:

I actually ordered from one of these in Paris when I went there this March, to see how weird it was. Not that bad actually, you still see the people taking orders, it's a choice really. You can put an order into the machine and go from there or go to the counter and order old fashioned style.

Right now it is, hence the phrase "phasing it out" as opposed to "replacing them all at once." These things are never implemented all at once. If they do replace the cashiers, it will be gradual, over the span of a few years, having fewer nad fewer cashiers until they're no longer there.

For my part, the one annoying part would be them no longer accepting cash as payment (which I think is ridiculous). Other than that, this thing would probably work pretty well in places used to stuff like this.

May 17, 2011 15:55:04 GMT -5 ddd84 said:

I don't know why any fast food places have humans taking orders. Just doesn't make sense to me. Replace 'em all with machines. It wouldn't even eliminate jobs.

Except for those they bring in to run the registers? That's at least 2 positions a shift that would no longer be there, and they're not going to shift those positions anywhere else.

Every fast food place I've been, there's never been one employee just doing registers. They jump over to help with fries, to get drinks, etc. How would it eliminate jobs?

[Phosphor Glow]

May 17, 2011 15:55:04 GMT -5 ddd84 said:

I don't know why any fast food places have humans taking orders. Just doesn't make sense to me. Replace 'em all with machines. It wouldn't even eliminate jobs.

I'm a cashier at Taco Bell. I'd sure as hell lose mine.

[Big L]

May 17, 2011 13:04:44 GMT -5 @jrcz said:

They will NOT succeed here. It will all be stolen in like 5 seconds.

Exxxxxxactly

[I *still* ✡ Johnny]

I finally figured out how to use the ones they have in Sainsburys just recently.