Serving as many customers as possible in the shortest amount of time without compromising the quality of the food or the customer experience. This is one of the challenges that has driven the restaurant industry toward digital solutions. Touchscreen kiosks, which have become widespread in many establishments, perfectly illustrate this trend.
McDonald's is an excellent source of inspiration in this regard, especially if you're planning to get into the fast-food business or are on the fence about installing such systems. How does the McDonald's self-order kiosk work? Let's take a closer look!
Do you remember the first time you saw or used a self-order kiosk? It might have been at McDonald’s, and that’s not surprising. After all, this chain is one of the leaders in trends and innovations in the restaurant industry.
Order kiosks sit at the intersection of the food service industry and technology and have significantly revolutionized the way consumers place their orders. These compact devices can take the form of freestanding kiosks or countertop kiosks. They are, in fact, interactive electronic devices. The touchscreen allows customers to place their orders completely on their own. These machines are also equipped with a payment terminal and a barcode scanner.
McDonald’s ordering kiosks are equipped with specialized software that displays the menus and customization options specified by the company. Thanks to the combination of this software and the touchscreen, customers can navigate the menu. Customizing their order to suit their needs and preferences is a breeze. Once they’ve made their selection, customers simply pay directly at the kiosk, typically using a credit card, a smartphone, or another contactless payment method.
Touchscreen kiosks—whether they’re McDonald’s models or not—are all equipped with ordering software. This software provides customers with a seamless, personalized experience and helps employees manage orders more easily. Features vary from one software program to another—for a detailed comparison, check out our guide to the key features of an order kiosk —but they all share a few commonalities:
These days, in fast-food restaurants, it’s common to be greeted by a touchscreen—and for good reason: these self-service machines need to be easily accessible to customers. They must therefore be installed near the entrance.
Touchscreen kiosks will undoubtedly reduce the number of traditional checkout lanes, but they won’t completely eliminate them. Why? Some of your customers will always prefer this method of ordering and paying. You shouldn’t lose out on this segment of customers who value personal interaction or who aren’t comfortable with technology.
Installation is generally covered by the company selling the kiosk. At Innovorder, we teach you how to use the system to help you get started.
Now that you know more about the positive impact of and how ordering kiosks work, what's stopping you from implementing them in your restaurant? Their cost, perhaps?
These tools cost between €2,000 (excluding tax) and €10,000 for the top-of-the-line terminals. The more features and integrations with the digital ecosystem (production screen, POS software, cash register, etc.) there are, the higher the prices go. We agree that this represents a significant investment, but it will pay for itself very quickly. In fact, ordering kiosks will allow you to increase your productivity over the long term while offering an optimized dining experience.
Still on the fence? Keep in mind that it’s perfectly possible to rent a touchscreen kiosk. That way, you can test it out and see how it impacts your business before deciding whether or not to permanently install it in your establishment.
👉 To find out more: Restaurant kiosks: the guide to choosing the right kiosk
It’s impossible to talk about the ordering kiosk without briefly mentioning the advantages it offers. Based on our experience, we’ve identified 9 advantages for restaurant owners and 7 benefits for customers.
"Before Innovorder, my average basket was around €15 and today it's over €20." Jabrane Bakhoury, co-founder of Double XL
👉 To find out more: How Double XL boosted its team's productivity tenfold
"The kiosk frees up a staff member who can serve customers, give them advice, or come help me in the kitchen during busy periods. When things get really busy, it saves my life." Nils Edelman, co-founder of What The Foc ?!
Ultimately, all of this translates into an increase in your revenue. It also has an impact on the quality of your employees’ work and, consequently, on employee turnover. That’s the return on investment you’ve been waiting for!
👉 Learn more: How can you increase your restaurant's revenue?
"80% of my customers pay via the terminal." Albert Fitoussi, founder of Alfi
👉 To find out more: How Alfi increased its average shopping basket by 28%.
All of this results in a significant improvement in the customer experience. And a satisfied customer is a customer who will return and promote your business by leaving a positive review online or through word of mouth. The result? You’ll increase your customer traffic and revenue.
Now you know everything there is to know about the McDonald's order terminal.
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Has this success story inspired you to set up a similar system in your restaurant? Contact an Innovorder expert to install an ordering kiosk in your restaurant!
