McDonald's To Install Ordering Kiosks Instead Of Paying People $15/Hour(WHAT?!)

townhall.com ^ | 11/29/2016 | Christine Rousselle

[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.

Let’s 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, McDonald’s announced the nationwide roll-out of touchscreen self-service kiosks. In a video the company released to showcase the new customer experience, it’s striking to see employees who once would have managed a cash register now reduced to monitoring a customer’s choices at an iPad-style kiosk.

[CurlyDave]

It is just a matter of time before the drive through windows have voice recognition software and machines to accept the cash and deliver the food...

And the machine will automatically deliver the wrong items, just like the old-fashioned people.

[WKUHilltopper]

I’m loving it...

[Harpotoo]

Funny how THINGS WORK!

[hattend]

No tainting your food with spit, etc.

Well, yeah. Humans are still cooking it in the back...you're just bypassing the clerk at the front of the store.

Until they make a machine that cooks, wraps and delivers it to you,

[xzins]

From Eatsa, fully automated restaurant:

The restaurant is almost fully automated, functioning like a vending machine that spits out freshly-prepared quinoa bowls.

It was recently named one of the most influential brands in the restaurant industry by Nation’s Restaurant News.

When customers enter Eatsa, they order their food at an iPad kiosk.

[discostu]

Of course that’s another part of the problem McD is having. Part of the new revolution in quick service is having servers that are good.

[Dustoff45]

I always go to the self check lines at Walmart.

My new Super WalMart that went in a few years back started with some self-service checkout stands. I loved those, then they pulled them. When I asked why, I was told they had too much theft. So I quit going as I prefer the self check out.

I went back recently for an early morning purchase and found they had remodeled and now have a contained area for self check-out. I will go back.

I hate standing in line to suffer a clerk with ghetto attitude.

[SaraJohnson]

Yeah but they don’t know which burger the police officer will get from the machine so they can’t target people they hate like they do now.

[Covenantor]

Did you ever pay attention to the ratio of fry cooks to cashiers? Locally there are more cashiers than cooks.

Handle what cash? All automated when you place your order. Stick your debit/credit card/gift card into the machine or even feed cash into it.

Virtually eliminates employee theft, screw ups in making change and order foul ups. Eliminates cashier count outs at shift end. Not a real biggie but multiply the minutes x cashiers x shift changes. No more worrying about drug use, absenteeism, late arrivals, training time, all drains on bottom line.

As for the general custodial work, really only need 1 per shift. Most times around here you see the owner or mgr doing a lot that work to see things run smoothly.

Big savings are in net cost of employee, SocSec contribution, unemployment, workman's comp, benefits, insurance, and so forth.

And the automated cookers coming online now can replace the former fry cooks with current hourly of about $9.25, across the big fast food chains, anticipating the the $15+costs increase.

Big win? Maybe, maybe just holding on with rising costs in other categories.

[spokeshave]

The people will still make the food, but no one will take your order and say, “Would you like fries with that?”.............

Even better...

the machine will recognize and greet repeat customers....

customer can set up his / her required meal menu

Repeat customers offered a freebee

"would you like a FREE coffee / fries / etc...today"

(note to self...lots of jobs in automation....buy stock in McDonald's)

[Red Badger]

Now THAT’s a great idea!

Send it to all the FF companies and ask for a reward!.................

[rb22982]

$15 + another ~25% for FICA, unemployment insurance, liability insurance, 401k match, overhead, among other costs. Pretty close to $20/hr all in.

[polymuser]

We’re going to see more and more of this, including smarter, learning algorithms replacing human diagnostic and decision-making in many disciplines (lawyers and politicians first, please!). Already happening with many on the web self-diagnosing their maladies, often better that the doc.

[Buckeye McFrog]

[Flaming Conservative]

LOL!

[COBOL2Java]

I abstain from pan-era the same as I do from starsux and “hole”foods stores. Too much “We’re just sooooooo much smarter than you.” attitude. Like they know a secret that you’re too stoopid to get. LOL!

Well, the kiosks don't talk back to me.

[Gil4]

I’ll go out of my way to patronize the first one I see.

I agree - I use the self-checkout at Walmart for the same reason. I'd rather do it myself than wait for a minimum-wage employee to do it.

[ridesthemiles]

Will cash still be accepted? Many seniors pay cash for their fast food.

[Go Gordon]

I’d rather order from a kiosk. Then I know the order is right.

And I bet you the kiosk doesn't give you an attitude.

[Mears]

“Will cash still be accepted? Many seniors pay cash for their fast food.”

---

I’m a senior———most of us will just refuse to use the damned thing.

(Since I NEVER eat fast food it doesn’t bother me what they do.)