McDonald's is advancing the digitization of its 43,000 restaurants worldwide and increasingly relying on artificial intelligence and edge computing. The fast-food chain aims to not only increase customer satisfaction but also ease the workday for employees.

The initiative comes at a critical time: In the US, sales stagnated in January, especially in the low-price segment. With better digital processes, McDonald's hopes to increase the number of its loyalty customers from 175 to 250 million by 2027.

Already at the end of 2023, the company entered into a partnership with Google Cloud to provide more computing power directly in the branches. The concept of edge computing enables faster and more cost-effective data processing on site – especially in regions with weak cloud connectivity.

A key application area is the predictive maintenance of kitchen equipment like fryers or the notorious McFlurry ice cream machines. Sensors are to provide real-time data, analyzed by AI to detect failures early. "If we proactively solve problems before they occur, it will significantly improve operations," said Brian Rice, McDonald's Chief Information Officer.

Order accuracy should also be optimized using computer vision. Cameras in the restaurant could in the future check whether the correct products are being given to customers. Additionally, the company plans to integrate voice AI in drive-throughs with the support of Google Cloud to automate order taking.

Another project is an AI-powered virtual manager designed to take over administrative tasks such as shift scheduling. Competitors like Pizza Hut and Taco Bell are testing similar technologies.

The implementation of new technologies in the various franchise and corporate restaurants remains a challenge. Analysts from Gartner emphasize that the costs for widespread implementations could be significant. McDonald's did not disclose the investment amounts.

In the long term, the corporation also wants to use AI to personalize its offerings. For example, a customer who regularly orders desserts might receive a targeted McFlurry promotion via the app on hot days. "We have a huge database that helps us target customers," Rice said.