Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder
You’ve mastered the art of drive-thru ordering. You’ve figured out the touch screens at the register. But are you ready for mobile ordering at McDonald’s?
The future is now! (Almost.)
America’s largest burger chain will roll out mobile ordering and payment in all its U.S. stores by the end of the year — that’s more than 14,000 locations where you can avoid human contact as much as possible.
“Customers will be able to place orders directly on the mobile app for pickup or have a kiosk recognize their app profile, which holds customized favorites and preferred payment methods,” the company said in a March 2017 statement. “The result is a more stress-free, personalized experience, enhanced by technology and world-class hospitality that puts customers in control.”
Convenience of McDonald’s App Might Crush Your Budget
McDonald’s isn’t the first fast-food joint to roll out mobile ordering. Taco Bell and Chick-fil-A already offer it, and Wendy’s seems ready to roll out its own system to half its stores this year, according to CNBC. At some Starbucks locations, mobile orders make up more than 20% of total sales.
But there’s a sneaky piece to this mobile ordering puzzle, and it’s how much you spend — surprise, surprise. A 2016 Deloitte survey found that people who place mobile fast-food orders visit 6% more frequently and spend 20% more per visit.
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“Visits tend to increase because technology makes it easier to repeat an order automatically, while repeat orders of custom or upgraded drinks lead to increased sales,” the Chicago Tribune explained.
Still, the app could improve the ordering process for customers. McDonald’s has increased its efforts to improve order accuracy over the past few years by confirming drive-thru orders several times before the customer drives away with their nuggets. The latest mobile ordering push further increases the odds of accuracy by cutting out any verbal confusion during the ordering process.
Your Turn: Are you excited for McDonald’s mobile ordering? Do you use this feature at any other fast-food chains?
Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer at The Penny Hoarder.
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Privacy Policy
FAQs
I work at McDonalds. We ask if you have already PLACED an order through the app so we can get your code, put it through the till and send you to the next window where payment is confirmed and you can drive straight down to collect your food.
What's the point of the McDonald's app? ›
Pay & Earn All in One Step
Link your card details to the app so you can conveniently pay and earn points at the same time—including an extra 1500 Bonus Points on your first payment using your linked card. Then, simply tell us your Drive Thru code before placing your order at the speaker or scan the code in-restaurant.
Why fast food pushing apps? ›
For these businesses, their profitability is directly related to how many customers they're able to serve within a 24-hour period. Mobile apps make it easy for customers to quickly place their orders and pick them up, which helps to keep the lines moving and the customers happy.
Why did McDonald's change their app? ›
Updates to McDonald's liability in cases of injury, third-party errors and in-app malfunctions, waivers for a customer's right to a jury trial or class action lawsuit and an agreement to solve disputes through a strict arbitration process have all been included in the new terms.
Do you have to have the McDonald's app to get free fries? ›
Get free medium Fries on any $1+ purchase, only in the app.
Why do McDonald's take your picture? ›
In the clip, the staff member explained that the cameras take a quick snap of you to identify you and your vehicle so they know they're giving you the correct order when you drive to the window, helping staff deal with several orders with ease. They said: "Ever wondered how McDonald's knows whose car is whose?
How to get free fries at McDonald's today? ›
Late last week, the fast food giant announced that customers enrolled in its rewards program are eligible to receive “free medium fries with any $1 minimum purchase” via the app, which is valid every Friday now through December 31, 2023. You can, as the app reads, “Make it fry day with a friend.”
When did McDonald's start using the app? ›
The McDonald's app was released in 2015, and at launch it let people browse the McDonald's menu and save and use coupons. In 2017, it app started allowing customers to customize their orders and reorder previous items.
How much does the McDonald's app cost? ›
If you're craving a quick meal, McDonald's has you covered. The fast food eatery has a free mobile app full of money-saving deals. With offers like a $1 breakfast sandwich and 20% off any purchase of $5 or more, you can get your fast food fix without breaking your budget.
Do fast food apps track you? ›
If granted location access, chains can also track customers' every move, and see how often they dine at a competitor. By default, all fast-food apps request location access via GPS and mobile networks for the best user experience upon installation.
But those artificially low wages lead workers to quit when they find better-paying options – or when they're just tired of working for such low wages. As a result, hiring and maintaining staffing levels becomes more difficult for employers, leaving them with unfilled vacancies.
Why is fast food so bad now? ›
The Ingredients Used in Fast Food
Most of these chains use low-quality ingredients that are high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats. These ingredients are often processed and contain a range of additives and preservatives that can be harmful to our health.
Is McDonald's changing its name? ›
McDonald's is changing their name. But only temporarily. For the time being, McDonald's will take the risky chance of changing their famous “M” to a “W,” and will now be known as WcDonald's all over the United States. It lasted from February 26 to March 18.
Why are there no deals on the McDonald's app? ›
Customers must opt in to MyMcDonald's Rewards to access all deals and rewards that the McDonald's app has to offer. If you are a current user of the McDonald's app and want to opt in here are the steps using the app: Select More.
Is McDonald's app successful? ›
McDonald's had the most downloaded app of any quick-service restaurant in the US in March, with 3.5 million downloads, about 2 million more than No. 2 Starbucks, according to Apptopia. Taco Bell, Subway, and Domino's Pizza rounded out the top five.
Can you use mcdonalds app and have someone else pick it up? ›
Yes, with the McDonald's Mobile Ordering app, you can order and pay in-app and then have someone else pick it up for you.
Why can't I use my McDonald's app? ›
If you registered for the App with your Google or Facebook account and are unable to log in, double check that you are using the correct username and password for that account. You may need to reset your Google or Facebook password and try logging into the McDonald's App again.
Do McDonald's take a picture of you? ›
"There is a camera and it takes a picture of you and your car." The teen explains that a camera takes a snap of the car when the customer chooses what they want, and links it to their order. This means employees just have to match the order to the car and they can hand over the correct food.
Can I use my McDonald's Rewards twice in one day? ›
How many McDonald's deals can be used at a time? You can only redeem one McDonald's deal per person, per visit.
