News

McDonald’s UK to go fully contactless by end of May

May 8, 2011

In January, McDonald's UK announced it was going to roll out contactless card payments in all of its 1,200 units by this summer. Those plans seem to be right on schedule.

Computing reports that the technology will be fully implemented by the end of May.

The new system is being launched in partnership with Visa Europe. It will allow customers to use a contactless-enabled card to make a payment for tabs that cost less than 15 pounds (about $24).

All McDonald's units will be equipped with a wireless reader that accepts these cards. Additionally, Visa Europe has implemented new security measures for the system. McDonald's is the first restaurant chain in the U.K. to fully roll out contactless payment options.

From the story:

Mark Fabes, UK IT director for McDonald's, said that the move will improve the customer experience ... The firm doesn't expect the service to experience heavy use initially, but to grow in time, leading to increased revenue. The move may also provide a new outlet for the company's marketing strategy.

"It also allows us to consider what we may do in the loyalty space with promotions and vouchering," he said.