1d ago

McDonald’s Customers Will Get Their Meals With a Side of AI

www.inc.com inc.com

Paywall removed https://archive.is/enbRM

A Boring Dystopia @lemmy.world

return2ozma @lemmy.world

1d ago

McDonald’s Customers Will Get Their Meals With a Side of AI

www.inc.com /bruce-crumley/mcdonalds-customers-will-get-their-meals-with-a-side-of-ai/91158016

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Here's what I don't understand.
McDonalds has an app. McDonalds also does mobile orders like ubereats. Why not use your own app to allow ordering from the app, so you can be 5 minutes away, order, and when you get there it's already paid for, you just pick it up.
It eliminates extra fees for customers willing to pick up their own food. It eliminates the line. It reduces the wrong orders (as most mistakes happen from the register worker not ringing it up right to begin with). And no AI needed.
Why is this so hard?
- I'm not going to download and install an app for every damn restaurant I want to eat at.
  
  Then wait in line. I don't get what you're suggesting.
  
  Website should be sufficient.
- How about just a website? Fuck single company apps
- McDonalds app already does this. Their shit food is absolutely terrible value if you don't use their app. You're basically trading your personal info to get a few dollars off a Big Mac.
- Culver's has started doing tableside ordering at some stores. Go in, sit down, scan the QR at the table. Takes you to a website where you can order and pay. They bring your food to you. It's amazing, especially for those "I need a cheeseburger without having to talk to anyone" times.
  
  I'm exactly that kind of person, would rather order online and no contact, or self checkout. Yet I still feel that pushing that to every service isn't right. Insert Jurassic Park quote here. Maybe doing things just because we can isn't the best qualifier.
  
  Oh, I definitely wouldn't say that "no contact" should be the only option. I think McD's has taken it a bit too far; you still can order from a person at a register, but it's pretty much an afterthought now.
  But I do think that having those no contact options available for whoever wants to use them, for whatever reason, is a positive thing. If I'm having a particularly bad bout of social anxiety, just sitting at a table and eating my cheeseburger "like a normal person" can be very grounding, but it might not be something I'm able to do if I have to talk to a person to place my order.
- @LostMyMind @return2ozma you can in the UK. Maybe not globally? https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/good-to-know/in-our-restaurants/my-mcdonalds-app.html
  ![Screenshot from the FAQ of the UK McDonalds app page: Ordering
  Browse our menu. Add to your order, choose your portion size and customise individual items.
  If you want to use one of the deals available on McDonald’s app makes sure you select the one you want from the deals page. You must add it to your order. If you don't add the deal to your order you will pay full price for the item. Once complete choose which payment card you'd like to use when you arrive at the restaurant.
  Confirm your order and make your way to the restaurant.
  Confirm that you've arrived with the phone used to place the order.
  Choose the collection method you’d like to use.](https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/114/157/322/341/795/138/original/13bca148d1d222e2.png)
  
  I haven't been in a McDonalds in years, but I've never seen or heard of this in America.
  
  @LostMyMind maybe it's because a lot of our McDonald's are in central locations where a lot of people live and there's no parking, so it would be pretty absurd to only allow delivery? Or maybe it's a competition thing. All the coffee chains do it, and it got really popular over lockdown. The queues in coffee chains can take ages while they're making drinks for deliveries and pickups - it's really annoying, but at least it gives another advantage to the independents.

23 comments