McDonald's shoots down fears it is planning to replace cashiers with kiosks

[godlyitems]

McDonald's is rolling out self-service kiosks in restaurants across the US that allow customers to order and pay for their food without ever having to interact with a human.

"At least half of the operators in my region are on the verge of collapse," one franchisee wrote in response to a recent survey by former Janney Capital Markets analyst Mark Kalinowski. "With minimum wage for fast food workers potentially increasing to incredibly high levels, we are facing a crisis situation."

Another franchisee wrote, "We are in uncharted waters. The minimum wage issue is a major threat to the survival of the operator community." The franchisee said McDonald's should be "putting every resource available" into finding labor savings, through technologies such as kiosks and automatic fry dispensers.

The price increases needed to offset any added labor costs "would cause a complete collapse in guest counts," the franchisee added. "I see no other options but the company paying to keep operators alive until they figure out how to reduce labor required by 30%."

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/mcdonalds-shoots-down-fears-planning-202513285.html

My take - From a profit standpoint, it makes sense. I do feel bad for potential cashiers, but technology is going to do it's thing. While I'm all about higher pay for retail and fast food employees, I don't want to prevent companies from taking advantage of cost saving technology.

[Adamsux]

Where is the phone app for this?

[abasin]

And if minimum wage is increased to $15 an hour like some think it should be, the rate at which this happens will increase exponentially.

[abasin]

I'm sure a good number of liberals know it would happen. Not all of them want to pretend that there aren't any consequences to actions taken. I tell anyone who will listen to learn to install and fix the technology that is turning this world autonomous.

[morin]

This was going to happen independent of the minimum wage. Stop pretending otherwise. I'm not sure I'm going to tell much difference, personality-wise, between these kiosks and a disinterested 16 yr old.

[abasin]

This was going to happen independent of the minimum wage. Stop pretending otherwise. I'm not sure I'm going to tell much difference, personality-wise, between these kiosks and a disinterested 16 yr old.

Who is pretending this wouldn't happen anyway? Do you not think dramatically increasing he minimum wage won't cause this to roll out much quicker?

[shevon]

This will spell the end for McDonalds. People like to serve by humans with a friendly smile not by machines!

[abasin]

This will spell the end for McDonalds. People like to serve by humans with a friendly smile not by machines!

Lol. I guess ATMs are doomed as well then huh, since people only want to be served by other humans, not machines.

[arul.BP]

This will spell the end for McDonalds. People like to serve by humans with a friendly smile not by machines!

Nobody is going to McDonald's for the customer interaction.

[rajaaziz]

This will spell the end for McDonalds. People like to serve by humans with a friendly smile not by machines!

Which is why ATM's, self service pumps, direct dial phone service, and automatic elevators never caught on?

[Daewoo]

This will spell the end for McDonalds. People like to serve by humans with a friendly smile not by machines!

But they'd have to have smiles and besides the machines will get the orders right.

[Namviet]

This will spell the end for McDonalds. People like to serve by humans with a friendly smile not by machines!

Have you been to a mcdonalds? The last time I was there the guy was pushing the coffee filter in with his wet tattered bandaid finger. I prefer my coffee without old bandaid flavor. I couldnt care less if hes smiling while doing it.

[Gijina]

I don't think this is right might just leave MacDonald's for good.

[Nora12322]

Lol. I guess ATMs are doomed as well then huh, since people only want to be served by other humans, not machines.

homeless bums like atms to they hang out next to them in citys and panhandle everyone that takes out cash, oh and the bankers dont care at all aboutus being harassed its called globalism.

[Daewoo]

homeless bums like atms to they hang out next to them in citys and panhandle everyone that takes out cash, oh and the bankers dont care at all aboutus being harassed its called globalism.

But if your city enforced the law, the bums wouldn't be there would they? Nobody ever said every ATM came attached to a bum.

[bukceline]

Who is pretending this wouldn't happen anyway? Do you not think dramatically increasing he minimum wage won't cause this to roll out much quicker?

I think this was rolling out on a timeline independent of minimum wage increases, which are being phased in slowly.

[issacsy]

Yup globalism sucks so does these machines that cut our jobs so the company can save a buck.

[abasin]

homeless bums like atms to they hang out next to them in citys and panhandle everyone that takes out cash, oh and the bankers dont care at all aboutus being harassed its called globalism.

You have a habit of posting some pretty random points

[rio3232]

I think this was rolling out on a timeline independent of minimum wage increases, which are being phased in slowly.

Min wage increase just accelerates it. Look at a guy who owns 3 or 4 chain restaurants. He/she needs managers who tend to get a benefits package. The ACA has driven up those costs so the owner must look to cut costs elsewhere. His suppliers also are raising prices to him but the consumer, thanks to the Obama policies, has less cash and can't absorb price increases. It becomes an unconditional loop which won't stop until you pull back govt mandates, not impose more.

[Wilikon]

This will spell the end for McDonalds. People like to serve by humans with a friendly smile not by machines!

Lol. I guess ATMs are doomed as well then huh, since people only want to be served by other humans, not machines.

The last time I went to make a cash deposit to my bank, the lady behind the window gave me a nice sale speech telling me it would better, faster to make the cash deposit directly at the ATM. I told her thanks but no thanks and joked I'd rather look at a human smile. The line was smaller than the one at the ATM anyway. She told me if I did not know how to do it she could show me. Toward the end she became kinda pushy. Still smiling but "please go use the ATM" That was weird.
All that time I was thinking they are training the employees to show how useless they will become and she wasn't even aware of it. I'll take her advice and will never see her again.


Au revoir beautiful smile...