Posted on 12/01/2016 7:19:43 AM PST by rktman
A former McDonald's CEO is laying the blame on the "Fight for $15" movement as for why the company is embracing automation in its restaurants. McDonald's will install self-serve kiosks in its restaurants around the country to replace human cashiers.
Lets start with automation. In 2013, when the Fight for $15 was still in its growth stage, I and others warned that union demands for a much higher minimum wage would force businesses with small profit margins to replace full-service employees with costly investments in self-service alternatives. At the time, labor groups accused business owners of crying wolf. It turns out the wolf was real.
Earlier this month, McDonalds announced the nationwide roll-out of touchscreen self-service kiosks. In a video the company released to showcase the new customer experience, its striking to see employees who once would have managed a cash register now reduced to monitoring a customers choices at an iPad-style kiosk.
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
They’ll still have one cashier at the counter, if only to keep an eye on everything and serve the rare person still using cash.
Might also install a kiosk that accepts cash.
Most days I place and pay for my coffee order through an app on my phone. That way it is always right, correctly charged, ready for me when I get there, and spares me any dialogue with the “barista”. After repeatedly closing the “tip option”, it no longer seems to pop up because it ain’t gonna happen. I love it.
The machine takes the money and it should be at least 8 fewer employees (4 per shift) based on the number of counter workers at our closest McDonalds
Press 1 for English, 2 good luck
The entire operation of a McDonalds could be automated with current technology, except you would still need one person on staff to keep the place clean.
Well, the main components of a kiosk are the electronics and they are all made in China. I guess they might slap the plastic shell together here in the USA still.
Democrat Minimum Wage: Killing jobs by making lower paid jobs illegal. Only jobs worth $15 or more allowed by Democrats.
"Welcome to Carl's Jr - Enjoy your Extra Big Az Fries!"
“OK so they still need people to cook the order. They need people to deliver the food. They need people to take the money. They need people to mop the floor and restock the drink glasses and clean the restroom. Im not seeing where there is going to be a huge headcount reduction because of this.”
1. “they still need people to cook”
They have invented a robotic system to do all of it.
2. “people to deliver the food”
Amazon, google, and others are experimenting with large heavy order fulfillments via drones. I’d expect the first iterations within three years.
3. “They need people to take the money.”
Nope. The entire purpose of the kiosk system is to take the money as well.
4. “They need people to mop the floor”
Robots. Residential robots are already available.
5. “restock the drink glasses”
Nope. Robotics. Even the robotic delivery vehicle can restock the condiments and utensils. McD’s has that in the works.
6. “clean the restroom”
Actually, they are thinking of doing away with them. It is a cost center and they really don’t want people hanging around anymore. That, and you guessed it, robotics. Automated self-cleaning restrooms have been invented. Basically, a restroom that can be hosed down from top to bottom and disinfected.
“Chick-Fil-A hires for value; smiling happy waiters and waitresses, making the purchase a pleasure and pulling customers back.”
The value of that decision is amazing.
#1 Chick-fil-A has a per store revenue of $3.977 million.
#5 McD’s, with their illegal aliens has only $2.5 million.
Heck, even #2 Jason’s Deli has a per store revenue of $2.664 million, beating McD’s.
#15 Wendy’s and their liberal freak show for employees (seriously; full body tats, face piercings, transvestites, ex-cons) has dropped to only $1.54 million. Wendy’s is facing bankruptcy.
Not for long they won't.
I have noticed there is great deal you don't see dawg.
... in broken English/Spanish so you can’t understand anything being said.
I’m sick of not being able to understand anything unless i am fluent in Spanish.
also, mcdonald's food is meant to be exactly the same each and every time -- no room for variance
This is perfect for roboticisation - take two buns, put exactly x amount of condiments, put y amount of lettuce, fry the burger exactly this way and assemble.
this can be easily productionized -- McD's just needs to trim its menu (what it needs to do in any case)
Delivering the food also doesn't need people -- assembly line.
You don't need people to take the money already -- these self-service ordering stations act like vending machines - you pay by card or insert cash.
To mop the floor, collect the glasses and clean the restroom, yes they need people - for now
Cash will soon disappear no matter what you like. Christians of all people should not be shocked at that development.
We have a lot of Mexican restaurants here, and lots of Mexicans empolyees. We just order by number...............
they would rather be on disability...
they would rather be home playing porn on their computers...
it pays more to get unemployment and disability than to actually go out and work...
so these workers do not care...
For an average net profit of maybe $100,000/year while the taxpayers get stuck paying $500,000/year in benefits to the illegals via foodstamps, section 8, health care, government schools, law enforcement, prisons, drug deaths.
we do need people willing to be the sales clerks, the garbage collectors, the waitresses, the newspaper boy, the people that cut hair and the people that clean up after us...
hate to think how our lives with be if we didn't have the little "stupid" people to carry the load...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.