Future fast food: What sci-fi tech is going to shape the next decade for operators

Fast food has long been synonymous with speed and convenience (it is kind right there in the name, after all). The connection between fast food and technology is not new. The concept of fast food emerged in tandem with industrial innovations. Early automats and assembly‐line kitchens revolutionized how food was mass‐produced and delivered, with chains like White Castle and McDonald’s setting the foundation for efficiency and standardization.

These early innovations enabled huge gains in food prep speed and consistency, dramatically lowering costs. All of these factors played a huge part in helping fast-food chains set up shop around the world.

Today, the fast-food industry is still looking to leverage the latest tech to manage costs, increase efficiency, and enhance customer experience. So, what tech can we expect to see making a splash with operators over the coming years?

Artificial Intelligence 

AI is increasingly transforming the customer experience in fast food. Major brands are now deploying AI-powered systems to streamline order taking (several chains are experimenting with AI-driven digital assistants that learn customer preferences through repeated interactions), personalize customer interactions, and even predict maintenance issues before they cause disruptions. Your days are numbered, finicky ice cream machines.

Though recently AI hasn’t had the best public showing, *Loud cough MdDonald’s Drive-Through. The tech is too powerful and has too many applications to stay out of the kitchen for long.

Barriers to adoption:

• Integrating AI with the current tech stack can be tricky.

• Privacy and security conferences.

• High upfront costs.

• Public misfires can dent trust in the system and slow adoption. 

Robots

Robot-assisted kitchens are already operational in trial settings at chains like White Castle and Jack in the Box, demonstrating that robotics can coexist with human workers to elevate the overall customer experience. Automating repetitive tasks leads to safer kitchens and lower costs, and, let's be real, robots are cool.

Fast food chains are investing in robotic technologies, such as AI-driven machines capable of flipping burgers, frying fries, and assembling orders. Miso Robotics' "Flippy"—a robotic arm designed to operate fry stations can process more than 100 fry baskets per hour, surpassing human workers' capacity while reducing the risk of workplace injuries.

Barriers to adoption:

• Integrating robots into existing kitchens can be challenging.

• High purchase and maintenance costs put a strain on budgets

• Robots may struggle with custom, off-menu orders.

• Worker concerns over job security can slow acceptance.

Lab grown meats

Unlike plant-based meat alternatives, lab-grown meats are indistinguishable from traditional animal protein.

Cultivated or lab-grown meat is produced by growing animal cells in controlled environments, eliminating the need for traditional livestock farming. This innovation offers the potential to dramatically reduce meat production's environmental impact while addressing animal welfare concerns. Recent approvals by regulatory bodies have paved the way for companies like Good Meat and Upside Foods to supply lab grown meat in upscale dining settings.

While major fast-food chains have yet to adopt lab-grown meat, the likelihood of this happening grows as technology and production scale improve.

Barriers to adoption:

• The cost of scaling up production.

• Meeting fast-food volume demands

• Lengthy regulatory approvals can delay the rollout.

• Consumer skepticism about flavor and safety.

• Traditional providers of animal protein aren’t stoked about lab grown taking a bite out of their profits.

Drones

As an industry, we've been talking about drones for delivery for over a decade now.

Drone delivery would solve lots of delivery problems, such as traffic congestion and longer routes. Services like Flytrex and Wing are already piloting drone delivery in select U.S. regions, where drones can deliver meals directly to customers' doorsteps in minutes.

Drones aren't just for bringing food to customers. They are also helping to optimize the flow of drive-throughs. In February 2020, Chic Fillet launched a drone-focused Film Studies unit, employing drone pilots to record a bird's eye view of drive-throughs. The footage is combined with in-store video from kitchens to create detailed hour-long analysis videos for franchise owners. The tape is analyzed and broken to find where resources like outside order takers can be applied to improve flow. It’s pretty much game tape. 

Barriers to adoption:

• Strict airspace regulations can restrict drone operations.

• Payload limits mean only light items can be delivered.

• Harsh weather conditions can hinder performance.

• Significant investment in landing and charging infrastructure is needed.

Speaking of delivery

If you offer delivery, you can use PrepProof to protect your business from unjust refunds. We ensure that you never have to shell out money for a refund that wasn’t your fault. Our tech is currently helping thousands of locations save money. 

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