McDonald's has launched a new initiative, Digitizing the Arches, which focuses on enhancing operational efficiency.

The fast-food chain has outlined plans for system upgrades and investments in its operational framework.

A significant component of this initiative is the implementation of Ready on Arrival, which aims to optimise the pickup process for mobile orders.

This feature is expected to decrease wait times for customers by more than 50% through geofencing technology that prompts staff to prepare orders as customers near the restaurant.

McDonald's is upgrading its restaurant platform known as Edge, developed in partnership with Google, which enhances cloud capabilities within restaurants and is already in use in several locations across the US, with plans for further global deployment.

The technology is intended to support AI and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, contributing to improved kitchen efficiency and food quality.

The company is also deploying AI-driven accuracy scales, which assess the weight of outgoing orders against target weights.

They alert staff to any discrepancies before orders are delivered, ensuring accuracy in customer orders. They have been rolled out in numerous drive-through and delivery locations and are set for further expansion.

The burger giant is also modernising its internal processes by replacing outdated tools with contemporary, scaleable platforms.

In 2025, new systems are being introduced across various markets to enable faster decision-making and allow teams to focus on operational management.

In the finance and HR sectors, the company is consolidating numerous legacy systems into a single cloud-based enterprise solution to enhance efficiency and integration.