McDonald’s and IBM to improve cashless payment systems in UK

Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun will soon be in your gut faster and safer than ever for McDonald's lovers in the U.K.

Recently, IBM and McDonalds joined forces to cook up a new system for cashless payment systems at the legendary fast food goliath. Contracting a three year deal with IBM, McDonald's hopes to purchase what will be a more efficient and secure system than what they have ever offered their customers in over 1,300 locations across the United Kingdom.

IBM will host and support the entire system, from chip and PIN payments to back-end processing on its StorePay and SureSwitch products, to improve the ability of McDonald's to process and manage the data. Jonathan Glencross, retail client executive at IBM, made the claim on v3.co.uk that the move will improve the handling of card payments, and provide increased security and analytical insights into the transactions for each outlet and the overall business.

"McDonald's has seen a doubling in the number of payments being made on cards in recent years," Glencross explained. "So it's important to improve its ability to record and monitor this data, and be able to access it from a central system."

The software overhaul will take place over a three month period as McDonald's transitions from its current system to the new and improved IBM system. But McDonald's hasn't made any further public comments on the switch, and refuses to release what the contract is going to cost the artery-clogging conglomerate.

-AJ Register