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AI continues to evolve in fast food locations. McDonalds is piloting voice recognition systems in their drive thrus hoping to hit their 95% accuracy benchmark before deciding whether to roll this out to 14,000 McDonalds locations. The technology is improving ordering processing on average by 20 seconds per order and could reduce human labor hours by 9 hours per day.

Mc Donalds is now taking another step towards technology use and providing nutritional information via QR codes. Customers can scan a QR code located on their bag and be directed to a web site that list the nutritional content of their food. This is another way McDonalds is "trying" to be more health conscious with its customers and the meals that they serve. Way to go McD's. I think this technology is beneficial in several ways: 1- the obvious of providing customers with needed nutritional information 2- it is more convenient as it allows the company to make changes to the menu items and update nutritional information without having to reprint all the associated materials 3- possible marketing opportunity to print QR codes to win prizes As a side tip I think other companies should embrace this technology and instead print the QR code on the customer receipt with data corresponding to only items they ordered.

Unattended POS systems in fast food restaurants like McDonalds can significantly improve their efficiency and remove the pressure from their staff. Restaurants like these are often short staffed. They feel significant impact when they do not have enough staff to support the amount of business that comes through their doors. The cashier often will have to assist in making orders as well, causing a further delay in the line. Adding this and their new drive through initiative, McDonalds will be able to maximize profit, produce more orders in one day and keep their customers waiting minimal amounts of time.

This article focuses on the enhanced technology that fast food chains such as McDonald's are embracing to enhance their service and increase their productivity. An example of this is the self-service kiosks that many McDonald's have installed inside their restaurants. Consumers have adapted well to this technology because data shows that this has increased revenue over time, therefore proving how the unattended POS technology is helping companies be more cost efficient and increase sales.

In this article, Michele McDonald describes how the IATA Organization which represents thousands of travel agents across the world and GDS Companies are butting head over merchandising capabilities with GDS systems. Travel Agents are starting to feel the impact of technology with GDS systems. The IATA organization describes today's GDS screen much like a screen from the 1970's. The IATA members' main concern is the capability of the system; Brewer a member of the advisory board of Everbread, an air fare shopping company explains how airlines and consumers are becoming more sophisticated with technology and with the outdated GDS's systems consumer trends are being hindered. The major GDS's companies do not agree with the IATA organization, they feel that their systems are adequately able to perform the role. Should GDS's companies switch to more web-based systems allowing travel agents to perform their roles more efficiently? This is probably a question that Sabre, Amadeus, and other companies should keep in mind as technology continues to advance. I also feel that both the airlines and GDS's companies should partner with the workforce; the travel agents who are the frontline to determine what things should be updated if needed.

This article is a little old in the 3Q 2012 information, hover the overall scope is what was poignant. Last year, Facebook reached 1billion users, 20% of which (200 million) where fans of just 49 restaurant brands. This shows that, those who are using the social media properly are gaining the benefits of marketing. The Restaurant Social Media Index (RSMI) tracks brand social media through Influence, Sentiment and Engagement. At the time the top five brands were McDonalds, Subway, Starbucks, Chic-fil-A, and Buffalo Wild Wings. Now, the top five are Chipotle, Wendy's, Taco Bell, Starbucks and McDonalds. The top trend in Emarketing, based on RSMI is that social and mobile are displacing emails as the main way to reach customers.

As iPhone 6s begin shipping to pre-order purchasers tonight, this article is very timely for retailers everywhere. Apple already has the support of the big three credit card companies (Visa, Mastercard, and American Express) covering 83% of all credit cards out there. They also have buy in from a variety of companies including: Disney, Subway, McDonalds, Walgreens and many more. 220,000 stores are already ready to accept contactless payments . The system uses a combination of hardware, software and biometrics to keep the transactions secure. No actual card data ever leaves the phone. All transactions have unique codes and store personnel never get their hands on a card. Apple may have finally broken the code to making shopping easier and more secure.

Apple Pay is going to solve so many issues when it comes to security and fraud. By using biometrics it will be nearly impossible for people to use credit cards that are not theirs. Disney is already set up to start using Apple Pay and it will be so interesting to see how guests react to using this method of payment. Although we already use biometrics when guests enter the main entrance of our theme parks at Disney the idea of giving biometric information has not appealed to all of our guests. Biometrics are something many companies will be using in the future as an extra step in security and it will be essential that people adjust to this change.

This articles refers to the restaurant industry and how technology has helped it enhance the customer experience moving forward. For example, it touches on topics such as mobile and online ordering, in-house experience, and internet connectivity. The most interesting point was the topic of self-service as part of the in-restaurant experience. It refers to data of how a customer would prefer to use a self-ordering kiosk if it were offered. More fast food restaurants like McDonalds and Taco Bell seem to be embracing the unattended POS, which per the article appears to be a growing trend.

The self-serve kiosks or unattended POS systems are changing the customer behavior and getting consumers to spend more. Many major chain restaurants have incorporated them in their business such as Chilis, McDonalds and Taco Bell. Kiosks tend to upsell the customer while regular cashiers may not. Self serve is bette for business, not so much for the customers wallet.

the new technology for the fast food restaurant to monitor its oil condition to make sure the quality of the oil and provide the healthy choice for the guests to buy it. it is real useful, but i doubt it will costy and may not be apply easily even though it is a good idea for healthy food. 

This article discusses how self-service POS systems are now under fire from the ADA for not being accessible to people with disabilities. Most of the lawsuits have claimed that the problems with these systems are 1) they are mounted too high or at angles that are inaccessible for people in wheelchairs, 2) they do provide captions for those with hearing disabilities, and 3) they do not provide tactile feedback for those with visual disabilities. The ADA provides guidance for different types of technology, such as ATMs and vending machines, but has not provided such guidelines for these new POS systems. Because of this, the courts are having difficulty determining how to better enable these POS devices to work for those with disabilities, having to determine what to do for each individual device. Furthermore, these lawsuits pose a big risk to these companies. Businesses need to better evaluate their POS devices in order to make them more user-friendly for all individuals.

McDonald's has been promoting mobile payments in the Austin, TX. Consumers' experience is not up to par compared to Starbucks mobile payments. Because the level of employees not understanding mobile payments is much different compared to Starbucks. In order to utilize the mobile payments, streamlined payments is the most important. Seconldy, experience should be seamless. Educating employees on how the technology works and creating a strong infrastructure would be necessary.

Apple has created momentum for POS enhanced technology with it's announcement of the new Apple Pay platform. No longer will customers need to search wallets or purses for cash or credit cards to buy products, no longer will customers wait for and sign receipts. This new e-wallet tech will allow users to make fast transactions using their Apple smart phone. Major retail establishments such as McDonalds have signed on to promote and provide the necessary catalyst to make this technology mainstream. The benefits are very clear, with the increased transactional speeds promoting better customer service and also increased throughput at the retail counter. And this will also enable smaller companies enhance their profitability by utilizing such an easy purchase platform. How does this new tech work? Very simply, it users "near-field communication technology or NFC, which allows for the transfer of small amounts of data between two devices held closely to one another." Just tap your iPhone to the terminal and the transaction is complete. The concern for data security still exists, however "Industry experts will be watching as customers road-test Apple Pay." Apple Pay and similar products from Apple's competitors are the future. Businesses that embrace this technology will be in the enviable position to cater to tech-savvy customers and will see increased revenue as a result.

MODULE 7: This article is about the growing trend of quick-service brands implementing mobile and kiosk ordering for their customers. For major quick-service brands like McDonalds, Burger King etc. they've started to implement self-service kiosks or mobile apps allowing their customers to pre-order their meal and pick it up without waiting in a long queue line. At the base of this ever-growing trend, the trend is very similar to when banks started to provide self-servicing ATMs. According to the article in the next three years most of any quick-service brand that has multiple locations on a regional and/or national scale will have implemented a mobile ordering system within their operations. While taking this into consideration, quick-service restaurants need to be careful in how these mobile apps are perceived by people who isn't using it. Some may think that using the mobile app promotes those people to "skip the line", which can cause some negative feedback. With that said, now these quick-service brands need to satisfy their customers who don't use the mobile app so that they don't feel obsolete for not partaking in the trend before. With this growing trend, these quick service brands will not only have to think about their customers walking in their locations but also for the potential customers that are walking on the streets with their mobile devices.

I liked this article because it actually discusses something I thought about for the discussion board. POS systems, can create ways for guests to easily access what they want, quickly get it and have the opportunity to receive loyalty perks and promotions via APPs. Fast casual restaurants such as Little Caesars just introduced a self service and mobile order pickup stationed called the "pizza portal" which i think is effectively reaching their target market. The usage of POS is restaurant brands are having a major positive effect and creating stronger brand loyalty, especially with the generation CX taret.

McDonald's has consistently been "beaten to the punch" by its competitors regarding the use of technology in its restaurants, and it has shown in an overall 10.4 decrease in foot traffic from its peak. In a cross-promotional attempt to advertise its new menu offerings while connecting with a younger (i.e. Millenial) market to show off their increased technological offerings (e.g. mobile ordering, digital smart menu boards, self-service ordering kiosks, and even delivery), McDonald's set up a Big Mac vending machine in Boston's Kenmore Square that dispensed burgers in exchange for a video posted to the consumer's twitter account. This multi-facted marketing technique allowed them to deliver their tech-driven message to potentially several hundred new consumers for every burger that was dispensed. This is a highly cost-effective marketing strategy that will allow McDonald's to focus its resources on continued development of the tech solutions that the event is aimed at promoting.

This article discusses the increasing demand for e-commerce and third party delivery in the food and beverage industry, as well as the costs associated with it. Restaurants are currently facing a growth problem in the United States as foot traffic has declined due to a "millennial generation shift" that sees diners doing more in their homes, while third party companies like Grubhub have seen it's stock rise 141 percent from a year ago. For many restaurants, it is a matter of opportunity cost. As explained in this article by Warren Solocheck, a restaurant industry analyst at NPD, "We're going to see more and more quick-service chains begin to try out delivery," he said. "The margins associated with third-party delivery may be slimmed down. But, the question for restaurants is, 'If I don't do it and I'm not delivering my food, am I in the game anymore? Am I in people's consideration? It boils down to being an opportunity cost. The hope is that at some point people will like the food enough to come in and sit down." I found this article very interesting as a General Manager. We recently decided as a brand to begin offering delivery through third party services as we noticed a decline in covers leading to a decline in revenue. This new revenue stream, although at a higher cost, still brings in revenue that we would be missing out on either way. We also offer free appetizer cards for a consumer's next in house visit to help attract new guests.

This article talks about three new innovative trends in the online food delivery market that satisfy the highly connected consumer: Group Ordering, Multiple Platforms, and Remote Location Delivery.