Have you come across KFC's self service express lanes?

@oldchem1 (8132)
October 4, 2010 2:16am CST
We don’t really use fast food restaurants very much, but if we do we always choose KFC. The main KFC that we do use is on the motorway that we use about every 2 - 3 weeks when visiting family 60 miles away. This restaurant is at the Charnock Richards service station on the M6 in Lancashire and is always very busy. In fact several times that we have intended to stop for food at the KFC there we have turned away because of the length of the queues there. We stopped this restaurant again last week after a recent family visit; as we walked in and I saw the amount of people we were about to leave again until that is, I spotted four new terminals offering ‘Self Service for Paying by Card’, as I was intending to use my debit card to pay I thought that I’d give it a try – and I was very impressed by the speed and the simplicity of the whole process. This system was very easy to use; it consisted of four stations that each had a computer–like machine which had a touch screen monitor and a debit/credit card machine attached, all meaning that the customer can order and pay for their meal without the need for a counterperson to take the transaction. To use the system the fast-food customer simply touches the screen to get simple pictures and words that show all the products available for order. You simply press ‘buckets’, ‘burgers or wraps’, ‘drinks’, ‘children’s meals’ etc which each brings up the menu for that category; the screen guides you through the ordering process – asking about side orders, drinks, portion sizes etc and then you confirm and have the option to go back to increase your order. A virtual receipt is shown on the right hand side of the screen which lists all the items you have ordered and the price of each, it even totals up the price as you go along – you have the opportunity to alter any of these orders before completing the transaction. As I walked to the counter the assistant was already preparing my order and within minutes of me starting the whole process my family were tucking into our meal. Have you used one of these express lanes - for me I thought that it was a great idea and meant that the ‘fast food’ experience really was that – instead of having to queue for 20 minutes the whole process of entering the restaurant, ordering, paying and eating the meal took just over 30 minutes – perfect for travelers in a hurry.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@Bellapop (1279)
4 Oct 10
We love KFC but I've never ever seen one with an express lane for motorists, only for McDonald's. Usually it still takes at least 10 minutes to order and recieve the goods. Whether there are express lanes or not at KFC we've had to cut back on getting them - the amount of fat in them is horrendous. We love the taste so much and there is simply no-one else who does chicken the way they do, but we've noticed that it does cause a lot of indigestion and heart burn in several members of our family... :(
@oldchem1 (8132)
5 Oct 10
I know it is only something we have very rarely this particular restaurant is just handy for us if we've missed a meal when visiting!! Usually though the queues are horrendous but this certainly speeded things up!
• United States
4 Oct 10
I have never seen a fast food like you mention. I am all for it as well technology is increasing and expanding by the day. Trouble is computers have malfunctions. Hopefully on my first try I do not get a malfunctioning one as it will make my fast food experience not so fast. But as all technology I give it a go all the time.
@oldchem1 (8132)
4 Oct 10
Believe me if I managed it there's hope for anyone!!
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
5 Oct 10
no, haven't noticed one of those things, but then again, I tend to do drive thru when I go to fast food joints
@oldchem1 (8132)
5 Oct 10
I have never been in any other KFC so I don't know if this is unusual or not but certainly very handy!!
@Memnon (2170)
4 Oct 10
That all sounds pretty quick. We do not use KFC though.
@oldchem1 (8132)
4 Oct 10
We don't often just occasionally when coming back from visiting my daughter, the time is usually a strange one for eating so we call in the services on the M6