McDonald’s is preparing to install robots to assist workers in its drive-thru restaurants. This move could help to cut down on human error, improve service and even serve food and drinks.
Automated voice ordering for drive-thru
McDonald’s has recently focused on automation in its drive-thrus. Earlier this year, the company made a $300 million commitment to improve its drive-thrus. It has also been testing an automated ordering system. These new technologies are helping to improve the customer experience and modernize operations. Despite the new advances, there are still several areas where the AI-powered systems fall short.
Among the major challenges of fast food automation is labor costs. The restaurant industry has a large labor shortage. Often, the solution to this problem comes down to self-ordering kiosks or more automation in the kitchen. However, other companies are exploring voice-ordering solutions that could provide even more accurate and efficient order-taking.
McDonald’s has been working on a solution that uses artificial intelligence to predict orders. This allows the restaurant to increase the speed and consistency of service. Several companies are testing this technology, including Wendy’s and Sonic. But McDonald’s is one of the first to take it seriously.
The company’s CEO recently spoke at an AllianceBernstein Strategic Decisions conference. He said that the voice-ordering system is 85% accurate. In other words, it can take orders almost exactly the way they are spoken, but some need to be taken by human staff. Nevertheless, the company wants to get to a point where the voice-ordering system can reach the elusive 95% accuracy mark. That might take a few years to implement chain-wide.
One of the biggest questions surrounding voice-ordering technology is how well it can handle regional dialects. At White Castle, for example, the AI system has a difficult time interpreting orders, but its friendly, welcoming voice can be a positive influence on customer interactions.
As an added bonus, implementing the technology can help to eliminate waiting times for staff members to answer the phone. With a long line of cars, this is especially important. Another benefit is that it can handle menu variations. Customers feel more comfortable ordering through a talking box rather than a phone screen.
The voice-ordering system is currently in pilot testing at 10 McDonald’s drive-thrus in Chicago. Employees need to be trained on how to use the technology. While the system is getting orders right 85% of the time, it’s still not able to take orders for every type of food. There are some orders that need to be taken by a real person, such as salads and chicken wings.
Other companies are experimenting with similar systems, such as Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, Sonic, and White Castle. A number of chains, such as Wendy’s, are already using self-ordering kiosks. Ultimately, if the voice ordering technology does improve its accuracy, it may change the way that customers order at drive-thrus.
Even though it’s just in pilot phase, the McDonald’s voice-ordering system is showing significant promise. Considering the company has only been testing it for a year, it’s possible that the technology will be ready for broad adoption later this year.
Serve food and beverages
McDonald’s is currently testing a number of technologies that are set to improve the way customers order food and beverages. These technologies include the use of robots. They can help with a number of tasks, including taking orders and cooking meals. By using this technology, the chain is hoping to cut costs while improving the customer experience.
Robots are proving to be a powerful tool for restaurants. In particular, they can perform tasks that humans might not have the time to do, including cleaning, cooking, and dishwashing. Not only can robotics do these jobs faster and more effectively, they can ensure that the quality is consistent and safe. This can result in higher sales, better customer satisfaction ratings, and safer food handling procedures.
Although the use of robots is not restricted to restaurants, it is gaining traction with the fast food industry. Several companies are experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI) tools and a variety of other technologies to help the industry become more efficient. It is estimated that the use of robots in the fast food industry will increase by 75% by 2024. According to Ron Hetrick, a labor economist with EMSI, this could lead to a reduction in the amount of service that is required from a customer.
As a result of these new innovations, McDonald’s has been able to cut down the time it takes to serve a customer by 30 seconds. Aside from the drive-thru, the chain has also begun to test the effectiveness of automated voice ordering systems. Using an artificial intelligence system, the chain has been able to predict what a customer might want, even when the menu is not available. However, the company has delayed the implementation of the system nationwide for now.
Other chains are also testing their own versions of the voice-ordering system. One restaurant has a robot hostess and another uses iPads to place orders instead of human cashiers. The Atlanta pizzeria is even employing an “Amy” robot, who is able to pour drinks and turn on a tap.
Whether or not robots are the future of the fast food industry, it’s clear that there is a lot of room for innovation. Currently, the industry is awash in predictions on how technology will change the world. But what is the most important piece of technology for the future of the fast food industry?
In the last year, several companies have developed robots that are a good fit for the fast food industry. Some have been tested in pilot projects, but others have been purchased by large corporations. Miso Robotics and Ally Robotics are two such companies. Each have a different model of bot, but they have both benefited from high-profile pilots. Another company is Grubbrr, which has created a software system that allows customers to place their own orders via mobile device.
Cut out human error
A fully automated McDonald’s is coming to a city near you in the next few years. The company is investing in robotics, and you can bet the food they produce will be of a higher quality than what you’ll find at other fast food restaurants. It is a bold move, and one that is sure to please consumers. But it also raises concerns about jobs being replaced by robots. Some experts believe that up to 20 million manufacturing positions will be gone by the year 2030.
In addition to the aforementioned robotics, McDonald’s is also testing artificial intelligence and voice-based ordering systems at its drive-throughs. According to a company press release, the new system is capable of predicting rushes and reducing wait times. For now, however, the robots are just the first step. Human employees will ensure the technology is functioning as expected and remove any money collected by the robots.
While McDonald’s is testing the waters, other companies are moving ahead into the future dominated by robots. Lowe’s introduced a retail service robot in October, and Chipotle has invested in a robotics company. Meanwhile, smaller chains are also trying out AI tools.
One example is the newest robot to hit the fast food scene. It is designed to deliver orders with the speed and efficiency of a human. It uses a robotic conveyer belt to get the food from the kitchen to the customer’s hands.
Another is the new dual-lane drive-thru that McDonald’s unveiled last month. Although it won’t be available until the fall, the new system features a touchscreen and a robot that can read customers’ orders. It is also compatible with Apple Pay, which McDonald’s announced in September.
McDonald’s is also making the most of artificial intelligence by using predictive AI technologies to determine which dishes will be most popular. In a recent test, stores were able to whittle wait times by 30 seconds on average.
However, as with any new technology, the rollout may take time. In fact, the company recently delayed the universal rollout of voice recognition. Additionally, the company has not revealed how it plans to test its latest tech, or whether it will be implemented nationwide. As a result, it is unclear how quickly the company will see a return on its investment.
Regardless, this latest test of technology is the first of its kind in the U.S., and it is likely to spread across the country and the world. Hopefully, the upcoming robotics-filled McDonald’s will inspire other restaurants to follow suit.
There is no word on when these new technologies will be rolled out across the company, but they are definitely on the agenda. Ultimately, the restaurant giant will have to decide what is best for its shareholders and customers. If it can pull it off, then it could be the most revolutionary restaurant in years.
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