Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

mcdonald's

Doing without humans: How transactions are evolving in an automated world

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FinancialNewsMedia.com commentary

The world of retail is being turned upside down with consumers and investors alike preferring “human-less” transactions, interactive retail services and multiple payment options. It’s no secret that traditional retail brands are doubling down on their investment into autonomous robotics in the name of competitiveness and bottom-line profitability.

Companies highlighted in this commentary are positioned to benefit from this disruption, include:

  • Generation Next Franchise Brands, Inc. (OTC: VEND);
  • Bank of America (NYSE: BAC);
  • Wendy’s (NASDAQ: WEN);
  • JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: JD); and
  • McDonald’s Corp (NYSE: MCD).

Millennials, in particular, prefer to avoid any human interaction at all during the shopping or the delivery process. This tech-savvy generation places a premium on time, convenience, and customization, favoring machine automation over human interaction.  [Read more…] about Doing without humans: How transactions are evolving in an automated world

Rising minimum wage pushing fast-food joints towards automation

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The ongoing demand for an increase in the minimum wage to the level which would enable workers to buy burgers is leading fast-food giants to consider fully automating hundreds if not tens of thousands of restaurants across the US, getting rid of all the human employees. 

The latest senior executive to suggest such a move is Leonard Comma, CEO of fast-food chain Jack in the Box.

Speaking at an industry conference, and quoted by Business Insider, Comma said: “As we see the rising costs of labor, it [getting rid of them all and replacing them with automation technology] just makes sense.”  [Read more…] about Rising minimum wage pushing fast-food joints towards automation

McDonald’s shares reach record high as it launches new wave of automation

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Fast-food restaurant chain McDonald’s shares have reached record highs last week, gaining 26 per cent, as the company announced a new round of automation at 2,500 of its outlets in the US. 

The global icon of American enterprise says it will replace cashiers with digital ordering kiosks and introduce mobile ordering at a total of 14,000 locations across the US.

The extensive automation plan is part of the company’s “Experience of the Future”, according to a report on CNBC.com.  [Read more…] about McDonald’s shares reach record high as it launches new wave of automation

Do you want chips with that? How robots are threatening millions of fast food jobs

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mcdonalds, fast food, robots
McDonald’s plans to open 25,000 robot-run fast food restaurants this year

Technology moves so fast there’s rarely enough time to grab a burger before the next iPhone update. And even if you do find the time to visit a fast food restaurant, it’s increasingly likely that it will be a robot that will be preparing your food and possibly even serving you, not to mention charging you for their efforts to seem human while carrying out their customer service duties.

According to Statista, almost 4 million people in the US work in the fast food industry. McDonald’s, arguably the most famous fast food restaurant chain in the world, employs around half a million people. [Read more…] about Do you want chips with that? How robots are threatening millions of fast food jobs