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Submitted via IRC for AndyTheAbsurd
Gone are the heady days of cashiers asking if you want your order "supersized."
Not only has the infamous upgrade gone by the wayside, but cashiers at fast-food restaurants are becoming increasingly uncommon. McDonald's started rolling out ordering kiosks at its US locations in 2015, and the chain hasn't looked back since: by 2020, most of its 14,000 locations will have kiosks installed.
Panera Bread has also committed to digital ordering. Admittedly, when I first tried it in 2015, I found it had decidedly dystopian vibes. But it ended up being a fairly pleasant and painless experience.
A recent poll conducted by Business Insider's partner MSN suggests that diners aren't big fans of automated kiosks: 78% of customers said they would be less inclined to go to a restaurant that has automated ordering kiosks.
The popular narrative is that kiosks and mobile ordering are here to take jobs and hours away from underpaid cashiers, ultimately saving companies money in the face of rising labor costs — but the data suggests that isn't true. It may be true for some, but most chains are simply reallocating labor behind the scenes. And with such a tight labor market, many chains are struggling to hire and retain customer-facing employees.
Americans don't seem too threatened by automation in general. Nationally, only 21% of responders to MSN's poll believe their job may one day be done by machines. And restaurants like automated ordering for its increased accuracy and efficiency as more chains look towards cashless options.
But for now, a question remains: are kiosks, in fact, better for customers?
Source: Business Insider
(Score: 5, Touché) by frojack on Saturday March 31 2018, @10:23PM (5 children)
You make two unwarranted assumptions.
1) properly entered orders are executed flawlessly in the kitchen
2) you are less error prone than the person that does it daily.
Unless you have the personality of a porcupine, you can assure better service by varying your attitude and demeanor rather than walking in with the assumption that they don't care and are stupid. I imagine you are a joy to serve. Bad enough they have to take an entry level job in the first place but then having to deal with you must really be the highlight of their day.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by tftp on Saturday March 31 2018, @10:38PM (1 child)
The cashier has nothing to do with the kitchen. If you are not getting what you ordered, call the cook and complain. It's not like they are in another galaxy.
Yes, I am most certain that I am less error prone when I choose my lunch. And why not? Adding another human into the chain will not help in this respect, it can only add noise. The cashier is tired, I am not. The cashier does not care, does not know what I like, but I do. If I use a smartphone, I can save meals and recall them later without any chance for an error. But, seriously, a man who cannot order a sandwich for himself is probably too stupid to leave the institution - he would not know how to make a part of the wall with a shiny metal thing to go away.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Dr Spin on Sunday April 01 2018, @11:28AM
It's not like they are in another galaxy
All the evidence suggests they probably are from another galaxy.
Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Justin Case on Saturday March 31 2018, @11:16PM (1 child)
frojack, as usual, you fail with just about every sentence.
I made no such assumption. Kitchen failures will, or will not, occur completely independent of the person pushing cartoon covered buttons at the counter.
That's because I care about my order and they don't. And no, it isn't like it takes 2 years of study to master the cartoon covered buttons. The person who does it daily is no better at it than I am.
I reserve the right to not be charming some days. A machine won't be offended.
Yes, I live to entertain the minimum wage serfs of the world. (Not.)
Aaaaand we come full circle. They won't have to deal with me if I can enter my order myself.
(Score: 3, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 01 2018, @05:58AM
> They won't have to deal with me if I can enter my order myself.
Truly, this is the best argument for kiosks so far :)
(Score: 3, Insightful) by bobthecimmerian on Sunday April 01 2018, @01:32PM
I'll add that if anyone is to blame for idiocy at a fast food restaurant, it's typically the owner. If there are buffoons working in important roles, it simply means they're not offering enough pay and benefits to attract competent staff.