McDonald’s is rolling out a new store format in the United States with digital ordering stations that can take cash and give change, reported Bloomberg. The new technology allows more customers to bypass the register.
While the majority of McDonald’s already have ordering kiosks, customers who choose not to pay with cards have to finish their transactions at the register with an employee.
“Human workers aren’t going away. But the new model—which is only in a handful of restaurants—would further reduce the restaurants’ reliance on cashiers, who can be redeployed to other tasks such as bringing food to customers who request table service or curbside pickup,” Bloomberg wrote.
“These changes allow franchisees to meet our customers’ increased desire for digital options, while improving speed and accuracy,” McDonald’s said.
With the new store format, the screens located behind the counter will not display the full menu—the area will instead highlight specific menu items and encourage customers to use the kiosks. However, a full printed menu is available on request and customers who prefer to order at the counter may still do so.
A McDonald’s spokesperson told the New York Post that the new kiosks will not result in job cuts. Cashiers will instead be reassigned to other roles, such as bringing food to customers who ordered online or improving guest experience.
According to Bloomberg, the kiosks are being installed in restaurants the company owns and are optional for franchisees, who operate 95% of McDonald’s restaurants in the United States. There is no timeline for a wider rollout.
Less than 2% of franchisees have opted to use the new kiosks and screens so far, McDonald’s USA told The Post.