'Order Ahead Lane' promises McDonald's drive-thru built for era of gig economy

Sitting in your car waiting to park and get your food or drink is starting to look retro. (And delivery drivers could definitely use a break to get people out of the way to pick up orders)

Courtesy business. McDonald's new test restaurant in Fort Worth, TX.

That's why McDonald's is testing a new drive-thru and building layout, built for the gig and pickup economy.< /p>

The fast food chain publicly announced the new test restaurant and food pickup systems in Fort Worth, Texas via a press release Thursday.

"As the needs of our customers continue to evolve, we are committed to finding new ways to serve them faster and easier than ever before," said Max Carmona, senior director of global design and product development. restaurants, in the release.

Delivery's popularity doesn't seem to be waning even as pandemic rules ease, but it adds an extra layer of complexity for employees who give orders to drivers while managing customers in-store, a noted CNN. Brands from Chipotle to Taco Bell to bolster or plan to bolster drive-thru lanes, the outlet added.

From a global perspective, the food delivery market tripled between 2017 and 2021, according to McKinsey.

So it makes sense for traditional brands to rethink their spaces. This test restaurant grew out of an effort that McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski discussed on a call with investors in 2020, which was called "Accelerating the Arches."

He notably explained how the company plans to adapt to a world “with less on-site dining and more take-out”, focusing on “digital, delivery and drive-thru” .

The Fort Worth restaurant is equipped with features such as a delivery pick-up room, kiosks for take-out orders, and a pick-up shelf for orders.

It additionally includes special parking spaces for delivery drivers and curbside pickup.

It's also smaller. "When you enter the test restaurant concept, you will notice that it is considerably smaller than a traditional McDonald's restaurant in the United States. Why? The features - inside and out - are aimed at customers who plan to dine at home or on the go," the statement said.

There is also an 'advance order lane', where you can pick up your mobile order delivered to you via a conveyor belt, as a separate drive-thru.

Courtesy company.

All concepts are currently in test mode. “We are constantly innovating to improve our customers' experience, however they want to order or receive their food,” the company added.