McDonald’s is introducing a new digital kiosk that accepts cash and dispenses change – a move that could pave the way for the fast-food giant to eliminate the need for human cashiers.
The world’s largest burger chain had installed self-service screens at most of its stores in 2020 that accepted credit card payments, but at these kiosks, customers paying with cash still had to complete their purchases at the counter.
The new pay machines, which have so far only been installed in a few restaurants, allow Big Mac lovers to bypass this process, reported Bloomberg, which first reported on the incident.
“These changes will enable franchisees to meet our customers’ increased desire for digital options while improving speed and accuracy,” a McDonald’s spokesperson told The Post on Wednesday.
Normally, the screens behind the counter at McDonald’s display the entire menu. Now, selected dishes will be highlighted and guests will be encouraged to order at the self-service kiosks or via the McDonald’s app, the company said.
For the company’s franchisees, who own and manage about 95 percent of the approximately 14,300 McDonald’s stores in the United States, the cash registers are optional.
Less than two percent of these franchisees have so far opted to use the new kiosks and screens, McDonald’s USA told The Post.
The company, which employs around two million people, said there was no timetable for widespread introduction.
The new screens would not result in job cuts, the McDonald’s spokesman stressed.
Instead, cashiers are being assigned other tasks, such as serving food to customers who have ordered online or leading improvements to the “guest experience.”
However, concerns remain that continued automation will make the cashier role obsolete in the future – especially after California raised the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 an hour.
Taco Bell and Panera have used similar self-ordering screens in their restaurants.
Customers have embraced these new options, which can reduce wait times and reward loyal app users with discounts and other perks.
McDonald’s benefits from this because customers who use mobile apps are more likely to remain loyal to the company and buy more extras, such as French fries, with their orders.
Orders placed via the app, self-service screens or a delivery service accounted for more than 40 percent of McDonald’s sales in major markets in the third quarter of last year, the company said.
“Digital will continue to grow for us,” McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski told analysts in July. “We will attract more and more customers on our digital platform.”
