The global demand for self-service ordering machines continues to soar
According to "2024 Global Self ordering Machines", although McDonald's remains the world's largest self ordering technology deployer with over 130000 installations, both Burger King and KFC have significantly expanded their international self ordering machine deployments, covering countries from Romania to the Philippines.
The usage rate of self-service terminals in the Asia Pacific region and Europe, Middle East, and Africa is rapidly increasing.
The report shows that the installation of self-service terminals in restaurants in the Asia Pacific region has significantly increased, mainly due to the Chinese chain Dexter expanding its restaurant scale by more than double, and Korean brands such as Lotteria, Mom's Touch, and A Twosome Place have also widely deployed self-service terminals at their store network.
In Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, local chain stores and global fast food brands are pursuing digital store models, including self-service terminals; BCHEF in France and Pasibus in Poland have promoted this technology to all restaurants. North American chain stores are going out of the local market, entering Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and opening stores based on self-service terminals, including Taco Bell in the UK, Dunkin 'Donuts in Germany and Pizzahut in Saudi Arabia.
The largest regional self-service terminal market is in the Americas, with over 110000 installations in the United States alone. In addition to international fast food giants, domestic chain stores in the region, such as Shake Shack in the United States, Habibs in Brazil, and Mostaza in Argentina, are also launching this technology.
More and more restaurants are choosing smaller kiosks
Although the largest standing and double-sided self-service terminals continue to be favored by major global chain stores such as McDonald's, small and medium-sized self-service terminals, including tablet based solutions, are showing strong growth worldwide. In fact, information kiosks with screen sizes between 19 inches and 30 inches now occupy half of the global market.
Space and budget constraints mean that countertop self-service terminals and tablets have gained great appeal in local chain restaurants, including Black Sheep Coffee in the UK, Pokawa in France, and Arctic Circle Restaurants in the United States.
Self ordering is crucial for the future of large chain restaurants
With the rise in food prices and labor costs, as well as the fragility of the supply chain, chain restaurants have seen clear business cases of self-service terminal technology as an effective means of cost reduction. Usually, fast food operators also report an increase in average transaction volume due to the installation of self-service ordering machines.
These economic benefits, as well as the customer's demand for the convenience of this technology, have brought enormous potential for future growth to the global self-service terminal market. RBR Data Services predicts that by 2028, nearly 700,000 self-service terminals will be installed worldwide.
Chris Allen, head of global self-service ordering service terminal research at RBR Data Services in 2024, commented, "As global hotel management costs continue to soar and many developed countries plan to raise minimum wages, chain restaurants of all sizes will introduce self-service terminals or expand their existing service scope as a way to rationalize operations and increase transaction value."
