Have you ever wondered how legendary restaurants stay successful year after year? It’s simple – they keep up with the times, adapting to trends like online contactless services during the pandemic.

We are introducing our new series, “Why Top Restaurants #ThriveforDecades: Trends and Tech Adoption”.

So let’s start with McDonald’s journey, where digital transformation is in the core of their triumph. In 2014, they created a Digital Information Team, which has grown from three members to over 130 experts, addressing challenges in restaurant dining, drive-thru services, and home deliveries. AI, analytics, and IoT solutions were their drivers.

Efficiency has been McDonald’s driver from the beginning. The introduction of drive-thru services in 1976 laid the foundation for a dominant sales channel. Today, drive-thru and delivery are the main part of their revenue.

The real game-changer arrived in 2019 when McDonald’s invested $300 million to acquire Dynamic Yield, an Israeli AI startup, to infuse innovation into all aspects of customer interaction. So now you face almost everywhere with their AI-driven voice recognition systems, dynamic menu boards, and app-based ordering.

Did you know the recent new? McDonald’s is venturing into the metaverse, imagining “virtual restaurants” that blend social interactions with food orders.

Beyond customer-facing innovations, McDonald’s is optimizing its internal operations and supply chain with AI and analytics. The ultimate goal is an end-to-end intelligent business that predicts customer demand and adapts to global challenges.

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories of restaurants that withstand the test of time.