LONDON — System failures at McDonald’s were reported worldwide Friday, shuttering some restaurants for hours and leading to social media complaints from customers, in what the fast food chain called a “technology outage” that was being fixed.
Chicago-based McDonald’s Corp. said the problems were not related to a cybersecurity attack, without giving more details on what caused them.
“We are aware of a technology outage, which impacted our restaurants; the issue is now being resolved,” the burger giant said in a statement. “We thank customers for their patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
Earlier, McDonald’s in Japan posted on X, formerly Twitter, that “operations are temporarily out at many of our stores nationwide,” calling it “a system failure.”
The website Downdetector also reported a spike in problems with the McDonald’s app in the last few hours.
Some McDonald’s restaurants were working normally again after the outage, with people ordering and getting their food at locations in Bangkok, Milan and London.
A restaurant in Bangkok had plywood over a door with a sign saying, “Technicians are updating the system” and apologizing for the inconvenience, even as customers were able to order again and pay digitally.
A spokesperson for McDonald’s in Denmark said the “technology failure” was resolved there and its restaurants were open.
A worker at a Milan restaurant noted that the system was offline for a couple of hours and a technician walked them through getting it back up and running.
Media outlets reported that customers from Australia to the U.K. had complained of issues with ordering, including a customer in Australia who posted a photo to X saying a kiosk was unavailable.
”All McDonald’s restaurants are connected to a global network and that is what’s messed up,” Patrik Hjelte, owner of several McDonald’s restaurants in central Sweden, near the Norwegian border, told local newspaper Nya Wermlands Tidning.
McDonald’s, the world’s largest fast-food chain, has been experiencing system outages across various global locations, leaving customers frustrated and employees scrambling to find solutions. Reports of these outages have been circulating on social media, with customers sharing their experiences of long wait times, incorrect orders, and even complete shutdowns of some restaurants.
The system outages have been attributed to a variety of factors, including technical glitches, power outages, and cyber attacks. In some cases, the outages have been so severe that entire restaurants have had to close their doors temporarily until the issue is resolved. This has not only impacted customers looking for a quick meal but also employees who rely on their jobs at McDonald’s for their livelihood.
One of the main challenges of these system outages is the impact on customer service. With orders being taken manually and payment processing systems down, employees are struggling to keep up with the high demand during peak hours. This has led to longer wait times, frustrated customers, and a decline in overall customer satisfaction.
In response to these outages, McDonald’s has been working diligently to resolve the issues and get their systems back up and running as quickly as possible. They have been providing updates on social media and through their website to keep customers informed of the situation. Additionally, they have been offering discounts and promotions to make up for the inconvenience caused by the outages.
As technology continues to play a crucial role in the fast-food industry, system outages like these serve as a reminder of the importance of having robust backup systems in place. McDonald’s and other fast-food chains must invest in reliable technology infrastructure to prevent future outages and ensure a seamless experience for their customers.
In conclusion, the reports of McDonald’s system outages across global locations highlight the challenges that fast-food chains face in today’s digital age. While these outages may be temporary setbacks, they serve as a wake-up call for companies to prioritize technology resilience and customer service in order to maintain their competitive edge in the market.
