McDonald’s is automating the ordering process by adding kiosks to thousands of stores

The way you order at McDonald’s is about to change. Soon, you’ll request your food by simply clicking on images of items on a screen — placing and paying for your entire order without having to talk to a person.

McDonald’s is joining the wave of chains that have turned to kiosks and other forms of automation to place orders, rather than relying on humans to do these customer service tasks.

The fast-food giant has already implemented the new way of ordering across its Canadian, French and British stores, and soon, the kiosks will become widely available in the U.S. as well. The current goal is to add kiosks to 1,000 U.S. stores every quarter for the next two years.

Kiosks Are Better For Business

The main reason to expect the change? It’s good for business. Plain and simple.

“What we are finding is when people dwell more, they tend to select more,” McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook told CNBC. “So there is a little bit of an average check boost that comes with it.”

Of course, the chain will also be able to save in the long run because adding kiosks means saving money on employees, as Forbes points out.

Will Kiosks Take Away Jobs From Humans?

Unfortunately, the convenience of ordering at a kiosk may cost people job opportunities in the fast-food industry.

However, McDonald’s has claimed in the past that they have no intention of imposing mass layoffs, but instead will place the workers in other roles besides cashier.

“Our CEO, Steve Easterbrook, has said on many occasions that self-order kiosks in McDonald’s restaurants are not a labor replacement,” a spokeswoman told Business Insider in 2017. “They provide an opportunity to transition back-of-the-house positions to more customer service roles such as concierges and table service where they are able to truly engage with guests and enhance the dining experience.”

For better or worse, McDonald’s is embracing the high-tech world we live in and changing the way you order your burger, shake and fries.

What do you think about this added level of convenience you’ll soon find at McDonald’s?