Introduction
McDonald’s is one of the world’s most iconic fast-food chains, and it is now taking its innovation to the next level. The company recently announced that it is opening a new innovation lab in its home city of Chicago. The lab will be dedicated to exploring new technologies and ideas that can help McDonald’s continue to provide customers with the best possible experience. The lab will focus on areas such as digital ordering, delivery, and customer service. It will also explore new ways to use data to better understand customer preferences and behaviors. With the new lab, McDonald’s is hoping to stay ahead of the competition and continue to be a leader in the fast-food industry.
McDonald’s Is Opening a New Innovation Lab in Its Home City
McDonald’s is taking a big step forward in its commitment to innovation. The fast-food giant is opening a new innovation lab in its home city of Chicago, Illinois. The lab will be used to develop new products and services, as well as explore new technologies and processes.
The lab will be located in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago and will be staffed by a team of experts from various disciplines. The team will be tasked with exploring new technologies and processes that can be used to improve the customer experience. They will also be looking for ways to make McDonald’s operations more efficient and cost-effective.
The lab will be equipped with the latest technology and tools, including 3D printing, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. The team will also have access to a variety of data sources, such as customer feedback and market research. This will allow them to quickly identify trends and develop new products and services.
McDonald’s is hoping that the lab will help them stay ahead of the competition and remain a leader in the fast-food industry. The company is also hoping that the lab will help them create new products and services that will appeal to customers and keep them coming back for more.
The lab is just one of the many steps McDonald’s is taking to stay ahead of the competition. The company is also investing heavily in digital technology, such as mobile ordering and delivery, as well as expanding its menu to include healthier options. With the new innovation lab, McDonald’s is hoping to stay ahead of the curve and continue to be a leader in the fast-food industry.
Once upon a time, the Big Mac was the most innovative burger on the scene. But a fast-food giant like McDonald’s can’t simply rest on its decades-old achievements if it wants to maintain its number 1 status. So naturally, an innovation lab is a crucial part of its business.
To that end, the chain is planning on launching Speedee Labs—a brand new innovation hub at its Chicago headquarters. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because it was borrowed from McDonald’s pre-Ronald McDonald mascot, and is also the name of the 1948 McDonald’s service system used to speed service, according to Restaurant Business.
The Lab will take up some 15,000 square feet and serve as a point of collaboration between the chain’s existing innovation team, which is currently operating out of Romeoville, Ill., and its corporate team. It is expected to open in the second half of 2023.
“The creation of Speedee Labs will enable more of our customers, restaurant teams, markets, and global teams to contribute to our innovation while driving growth and creating more seamless and memorable McDonald’s experiences,” says Manu Steijaert, McDonald’s chief customer officer, in a statement.
Streamlined kitchen processes, updated cooking methods, McDelivery, mobile order and pay—amongst many other things—can be attributed to the work of the chain’s current Innovation Center. So we can only imagine what will come from the new and improved labs.
But we do have a few hints from Mickey D’s. The chain entered into a strategic partnership with IBM in 2021 to help with the development of its automated order-taking technology (those screens that help you order food yourself), along with its drive-thru lanes. It also started focusing more on the mobile app and collaboration with technology partner Ayden on its loyalty program. Last year, MyMcDonald’s Rewards, the company’s first national loyalty program in the United States, was rolled out through the mobile app.
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All employees from the Romeoville location will be transferred to Chicago, adding to more than 14,000 jobs the chain supports in its home city.
“I am thrilled that McDonald’s is continuing to bet on Chicago by adding Speedee Labs to their global headquarters,” says Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot in a statement. “This new addition will draw even more visitors from around the world to our city, and I look forward to welcoming them as they come to collaborate and innovate with this iconic brand.”