McDonald's 'Innovation Center' in Romeoville IL attempting to automate cashiers

[Joe Magarac]

I had figured automation would come to the kitchen first (if at all), but I was wrong.

http://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/2csn5g/the_cashiers_at_this_mcdonalds_were_replaced_by/

This McDonald’s is actually pretty unique. First of all it’s owned by McDonald’s, it’s not a franchise. Second, this is the store where McDonald’s tests all the new technology. New griddle? It gets tested here first. New ordering monitors, new deep fryer, all tested here first. If it doesn’t work here, they don’t offer it to their franchisees. They test everything in this store for YEARS before it gets mass produced so they’re sure it works well and is cost-effective.

I used to work for a McDonald’s supplier and we took a tour of their Innovation Center (which is right behind this store) and it included a tour of this store. They were experimenting with all sorts of cool things; they were pumping fragrances in the entrance foyer (the little area between the two entrance doors) to make you more hungry and the ordering monitors were there (this was about two years ago).

So whatever that store looks like now, all new McDonald’s stores will look the same, with the same technology, 4-5 years into the future.

[RobertEarl]

1. Cool

I can just imagine how the computerized cashiers will get hacked and deliver free happy meals for everyone!!

[Jackpine Radical]

4. I just had this thought involving a bill reader, a dollar bill, and Superglue.

Just a thought, mind you.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. Am I right in guessing that's a hand sanitizer station next to it?

So that folks can de-germ after punching the same buttons as everybody else ordering there?

I'd assume for the drive-thru, they use voice recognition software like you run into when you call up the phone co or the cable co.

[Prophet 451]

3. I will never use one of those

Those (and the self-service cashiers at supermarkets now) are taking working-class jobs.

[Callmecrazy]

5. I don't use those for the same reason...

One person monitoring 6 self checkout stands puts 5 people out of work. Do you get those 5 cashier's pay checks too?

[Prophet 451]

6. Nope, they don't

A couple of months ago, my SO and I had to go and buy something in the middle of the night (I forget what now) which meant we had no choice but to use the self-service checkouts. Well, I'm on crutches and can't stand for long so while my SO checked out our shopping, I had a brief chat with the guy watching the self-service check-outs and, according to him, they're making barely above minimum wage. Minimum wage here (UK) is £6.31 and he said "barely" above it so I doubt he's making more than £7, maybe £7.50 an hour.

So that's one guy making (we'll be generous) £7.50 an hour, watching eight stands. And seven working-class jobs are gone.

I remembered what it was, it was cat food.