Skip to main content

McDonald’s to Install Samsung Tablets in Restaurants in the UK

14583828953_bc6d2abcc8_hRemember way back when pizzerias had tabletop Pac-Man games you could play while you ate?

McDonald’s does, and they’re bringing the idea into the 21st century. PCR reports that McDonald’s is going to test Samsung Galaxy tablets in its restaurants in the UK:

Fast food chain McDonald’s is installing Samsung Galaxy tablets the majority of its UK restaurants.

The rollout is part of the restaurant’s ambition to provide the ‘Experience of the Future’ for its customers.

SOTI will supply the software for the tablets, which will let customers to play games, use social media and browse the web while they eat.

“The tablets form an important part of our new customer experience initiative, which is part of our overall ‘Experience of the Future’ programme. We pride ourselves on listening to our customers and trying to provide new and innovative experiences,” said Doug Baker, head of IT restaurant solutions and service at McDonald’s UK.

No idea how this will be accepted and supported by UK customers, but this certainly won’t be spreading to the US.

The thing about tablets is that like other mobile devices they tend to distract you from what you’re doing. Put them in a restaurant and people will take longer to finish their food.

And since all of the McDonald’s I’ve visited in the US have posted signs discouraging customers from staying longer than 20 minutes, I don’t see how they would be interested in prolonging visits.

But apparently things are different in the UK.

image by Brett Jordan

Similar Articles


Comments


puzzled April 22, 2016 um 5:39 am

I hope McDonald’s is also going to provide anti-everything cleaning wipes…

Nate Hoffelder April 22, 2016 um 8:04 am

Or maybe dump the tablets in a giant vat of antiseptic wash in between users.


Frank April 22, 2016 um 9:39 am

Most people have their own smartphone in the US, so adding tablets would not be useful at a McD.

Nate Hoffelder April 23, 2016 um 11:42 am

would think that smartphone penetration is about the same in the UK as in the US.


Karen Walk April 24, 2016 um 3:42 am

I think I saw these in my local McDonald’s yesterday when we stopped to get an ice cream for the kids, there were some kind of devices screwed to the tables anyway. I was horrified! I hate seeing folks glued to their phones, especially when they’re with they’re kids, and this is just the next step in encouraging families to ignore each other completely. I’m certainly going to be complaining.

Nate Hoffelder April 28, 2016 um 4:39 pm

How inconvenient!


Write a Comment