McDonald's Is Testing an App That Lets Customers Order AheadCan fast food get faster? McDonald's is trying to speed up with tech, testing a new order-ahead and payment app in Georgia.

ByKate Taylor

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Fast food, by its very nature, needs to be fast. But apparently it's not fast enough.

McDonald's isreportedlytesting an order-ahead mobile payment app in 22 locations in Columbus, Ga. Similar toStarbucks'extremely popular app, McD Ordering links to a credit or debit card to order and pay, cutting out the hassle of waiting in line or even interacting with a cashier.

The burger chain currently offers a McD App, which features coupons and loyalty offers, in multiple test markets. The company has also rolled out mobile ordering and payment apps in foreign markets, including Austria and Thailand.

Related:Domino's Introduces 'Dom,' a Siri-Like Voice Assistant to Process Pizza Orders

移动应用提供快餐连锁店sp的新方法eed up their processes. Coffee chains have wholeheartedly adopted the system, with Starbucks CEO claiming that mobile payments account for14 percentof the chain's in-store transactions. Pizza chains have also jumped on the mobile bandwagon, with mobile and online ordering accounting for40 percentof Domino's U.S. sales.

McDonald's and other traditional fast-food chains have taken longer to turn mobile apps into money makers. However, with companies from Chick-fil-A toChipotlerolling out mobile ordering and payment apps, it may be time for McDonald's to adapt to its smartphone-loving customers.

Related:From Starbucks to Domino's: 6 Tasty Companies With Awesome Mobile Apps

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Kate Taylor

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Kate Taylor is a reporter at Business Insider. She was previously a reporter at Entrepreneur. Get in touch with tips and feedback on Twitter at @Kate_H_Taylor.

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