McDonald's launches contactless payment across UK

Fast food giant McDonald's will be introducing contactless payment technology into all its restaurants by the end of May 2011.

Mark Fabes, UK IT director for McDonald's, said that the move will improve the customer experience.

"It's about the customer journey. It's quicker than the chip-and-pin transaction," he said.

The firm doesn't expect the service to experience heavy use initially, but to grow in time, leading to increased revenue.

"The number of cards with contactless capability among the customer base at the moment is low. But we recgonise that contactless near-field communications capability will soon be in many customers' hands. We believe that having this technology now will help drive people into our restaurants."

The move may also provide a new outlet for the company's marketing strategy.

"It also allows us to consider what we may do in the loyalty space with promotions and vouchering."

Fabes added that McDonald's would be the first major fast food chain to introduce the technology.

"It gives us first mover advantage in the industry, much as in 2007 when we were the first to introduce free Wi-Fi."

Contactless payment is also expected to be available on London's transport network in time for the 2012 Olympics.