Lots of people here are saying they should just use a phone app.
I see it as problematic to require drivers, even those stopped at a drive through, (you don't generally put your car in park) to use their phone. There are laws against it, and they don't have exclusions for drive through ordering. I'm not even sure that a McDonalds policy that said "put it in park" would pass legal review since the car is on and you're only stopped temporarily.
There would also be an issue with keeping the orders in the proper order. 10 people in line at the drive through sending their orders through at once would make that difficult, error rates could be high.
Chick-Fil-A handles the queuing order problem by asking you just to confirm who you are at the drive through order station. They don’t start preparing your order until you check in.
> “Mobile order for zaroth!”
> “Thank you!”
Most people order the same thing every time. Open app, click Favorite Reorder button. It can be exactly one tap. Or a Hey Siri if you like.
This is how everyone orders their Starbucks coffee for years now. There’s no liability issue with providing an app to order ahead.
They already have a phone app though. You order on your phone then pull into one of the pickup slots, note in the app which slot you're in and your food is brought out to you. Has been here in Canada for awhile now.
I see it as problematic to require drivers, even those stopped at a drive through, (you don't generally put your car in park) to use their phone. There are laws against it, and they don't have exclusions for drive through ordering. I'm not even sure that a McDonalds policy that said "put it in park" would pass legal review since the car is on and you're only stopped temporarily.
There would also be an issue with keeping the orders in the proper order. 10 people in line at the drive through sending their orders through at once would make that difficult, error rates could be high.
Maybe a kiosk would work though.