Fast-food chains like Burger King, Shake Shack, and KFC are doubling down on digital order kiosks — but watch out, you’ll probably end up spending more | Business Insider
In a digital age where convenience and efficiency reign supreme, major U.S. fast-food chains are making a significant shift towards incorporating more digital order kiosks into their restaurants. This move not only streamlines the ordering process but also brings in bigger checks for the businesses. Burger King, under the umbrella of Restaurant Brands International, has seen “tremendous results” from a pilot kiosk expansion and plans to convert its operations to “100% digital.” Similarly, Shake Shack has implemented kiosks across nearly all its U.S. locations, doubling its kiosk sales year-over-year and accounting for over half of its in-restaurant orders.
Yum! Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, and the Habitat Burger Grill, is also jumping on the kiosk bandwagon. Taco Bell boasts kiosks in all its U.S. restaurants, while KFC aims to have kiosks in the majority of its non-China restaurants by the end of 2026. The adoption of kiosks is driven by several factors, including labor savings, increased order accuracy, and the ability to easily adjust menu items and prices. Moreover, kiosks are considered the “most profitable channel” for Shake Shack, highlighting the financial benefits of this digital transition.
Customers seem to embrace this shift, with orders placed at kiosks tending to be larger than those made at cash registers. Kiosks encourage customers to add extras, switch to larger portions, or opt for more expensive customizations. This increased spending is attributed to the kiosks’ ability to upsell more consistently than human cashiers and to provide a less rushed ordering experience, allowing customers to browse the menu and customize their orders more thoroughly. Additionally, the integration of loyalty apps with kiosks enables personalized recommendations, further enhancing the customer experience.
The pandemic has played a role in accelerating the acceptance of digital ordering, with customers becoming more comfortable with the technology. This shift towards digital is not just about convenience but also about adapting to the changing preferences of consumers, particularly millennials and Gen Z, who have grown up with digital ordering. As fast-food chains move towards a future where digital ordering dominates, the landscape of quick-service restaurants is set to evolve, promising a more efficient and personalized dining experience……….
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Considering the shift towards digital kiosks in fast-food restaurants, how might this trend impact the job market within the industry and the overall customer experience, especially in terms of personalization and efficiency?
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The shift towards digital kiosks in fast-food restaurants will impact the job market because it takes away from the jobs, they are able to get, and it also effects the customer experience because it provides a quick way for making their orders.
There might be a shift in job roles. Some traditional cashier positions may be replaced kiosk attendants or other roles focused on assisting customers with the kiosk. There could also be a reduction in cashier positions as more orders are placed through kiosk.
the change from in person to online in fast food restaurant’s will impact jobs because fast food companies would no longer need to have real employees besides uber eats or Grubhub putting many out of work.
The job market is going to thin out , and customers will have to do everything for themselves with minimal assistance. I think this will increase personalization but decrease efficiency.
The change to digital will impact people’s jobs because there will be no need for cashier’s anymore. It could improve the restaurant by having less people say their order and it’s quicker.
Jobs are going to go down because there no longer going to need cashiers, and customers will have to do everything
its a tradeoff for convenience but spending more.
Digital kiosks impact the job market within the industry and the overall customer experience by making ordering more efficient and convinient. It also prevents cashiers getting orders wrong. It will also impaact the job market because with the use of digital kiosks, there is no need for cashiers which takes away jobs.
The shift towards digital kiosks in fast-food restaurants can have an impact on the job market. While it may reduce the need for some traditional roles, it can also create new opportunities for employees to focus on other areas like food preparation and customer service. As for the customer experience, digital kiosks can enhance personalization by allowing customers to customize their orders, and they can also improve efficiency by reducing wait times. Finding the right balance between technology and human interaction is really important.