Going cashless
While Wendy’s, McDonald’s and other big QSRs continue to add self-ordering kiosks, the future of kiosk-only concepts is uncertain, now that the genre’s poster child, Eatsa, closed half its locations in the fall. And yet, new versions—such as Denver’s Birdcall (pictured)—continue to emerge. Shake Shack announced the opening of a cashless, kiosk-only unit in New York City in October, and Chicago chain Wow Bao—where guests have long been able to place their order at a kiosk or with a cashier—is launching a fully automated location, powered by Eatsa technology.
One thing to watch: Restaurants’ card-carrying-customers-only policies have sparked pushback from some that say it weighs against lower-income patrons who may not have access to credit.