Posted on 04/21/2016 6:16:47 AM PDT by xzins
A little while back we told you about how the CEO of Hardees/Carl’s Jr. was thinking about replacing employees with machines thanks to the ridiculous minimum wage hike to $15.
Well, it appears he has done it.
It was only a matter of time before this started to happen and you can expect to see more of this in the future.
Whatever the cost of computer and display is, it is guaranteed that it will go down over time, while the cost of human labor will go up.
Even if the systems aren’t that much cheaper than humans, the ones we are seeing now are just pilot rollouts, to get people used to them, and to iron out the bugs. In a year, they will be in every fast food place.
The next step will be a mobile app where you can put in your order, and pay for it using your phone. As you roll up to the pickup window, wave your phone and your order will appear at the window.
“See post 64. Seriously, people are a lot better with automation now - sometimes to the point of not understanding the old way.”
I have the experience, you have your theory.
Indeed they do, as do several other chains. One hitch in that get along, those machines aren't setup to read the chip cards. They do prevent the need to hand your card to the wait staff to disappear with, which I appreciate.
I believe it does. At the drive thru if I order light sauce and add mustard it comes up on the screen, so it must already be programed into the POS system. Now it’s just you punching it in directly.
Thank you.
“Too many stories of malcontents contaminating the food, either intentionally”
Yep, gives “special sauce” a whole different meaning!
“Hey, Joe, the law says I have to pay you $15.00 an hour. You ain’t worth it. Here’s your last check. Turn in the uniform.”
And the costs can be a tax writeoff as a capital improvement.
I assume wages are also a cost of business.
But, if a single machine lasts a couple of years or more, then the company saves money on at least one person who takes and delivers orders.
Most fast fooders have 2 or 3 people up front, but they also bag and deliver the food besides just taking the orders and delivering them. I imagine it will kill the need for one of those people per 4 hour shift, so that’s about 4 people a day. For convenience sake, though, they’ll need more than one machine....2 anyway.
Nope, the customer making the mistake does not obligate the business to correct it at their expense, whereas an employee mistake does.
Did you let them know about it, and your reason? Enough public opinion changes corporate minds, but they have to know about it.
Convenience. . .but imagine all the snot-smeared fingers, cough-trap, filthy unwashed bathroom hands touching that screen before you.
What could go wrong.
It takes 3 seconds to say “Number 1 please”. It takes 3 minutes to navigate thru those touch screens that are covered in bacteria.
“While ordering from a human, do you rest your hands on the counter? “
No.
I already use my sleeve to grip public door handles.
I also carry my own hand sanitizer. . . once you’ve had MRSA, and your immunity system is compromised, you try and minimize exposure.
That and I don’t go to fast food places. . .never.
Frankly, I like this idea. If the choices and options allow for custom alterations as to condiments, I’d say this is a winner.
****************
These are nothing more that a similar device that the clerks at a McDonalds
or other fast food places have been using for a long time. The difference is
the customer punches in the order rather than the clerk behind the counter.
I teach college. I’ve discovered through class discussions that most students can’t make change, let alone understand that when you add a penny or two when you pay, this can sometimes reduce the amount extra change you get in return.
It is a concept most simply can’t understand.
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