The Very First Mostly Automated McDonald’s Has Opened Near Fort Worth, Texas
From zoo animals everywhere to an exterior shaped like a giant Happy Meal, the Lone Star State is no stranger to unique McDonald’s restaurants. One location in particular, however, is taking things up a notch and looking far ahead into the future. The first automated McDonald’s in Texas (and the world!) can be found just outside of Fort Worth, allowing guests to get in and out in record time thanks to the use of conveyor belts and other technological advances.
The first mostly automated McDonald's in the world is open just outside of Fort Worth, and it foreshadows the future of the fast food industry.
Located in the community of White Settlement, the restaurant virtually eliminates customer-facing positions to improve order accuracy and shorten time spent waiting in line.
Guests place their order via a user-friendly, touchscreen kiosk that divides the menu into its various categories, from burgers and sandwiches to fries to Happy Meals and beyond.
When your order is ready, you simply pick it up from one of the boxes inside the store - from start to finish, not a single interaction with an employee is required.
The restaurant also offers a drive-thru for mobile orders placed ahead of time. If you go this route, a conveyor belt, rather than a human, delivers your food to you. The verdict? While the concept may seem a bit dystopian, it appears to work as intended - customers can expect to spend less than a minute inside the store or in the drive-thru lane.
This new concept has drawn criticism from activists who fear the automation of the fast food industry will eliminate jobs. McDonald’s maintains, however, that the workforce here is comparable to that of any other location.
For a full tour of the restaurant and step-by-step walkthrough of the ordering process, please watch this YouTube video by Life Out There:
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Address: 8540 West Fwy, White Settlement, TX 76108, USA
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
