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McDonald’s US profits are falling as ongoing inflation and economic uncertainty slows the country’s appetite for fast food.
However, the franchise is ushering in some marked changes in the New Year in a bid to bring back customers — and it could lead to substantial savings for those who return.
According to The Daily Meal, McDonald’s is expanding its rewards program to offer diners more bang for their buck.
Below, four other big shake-ups set to rock McDonald’s in 2026:
More consistent pricing
While many fast-food companies have been in the spotlight this year for high prices amid inflation, customers noticed that prices varied by location.
That’s because McDonald’s works on a franchised model, meaning individual owners could adjust pricing for their own location.
But starting Jan. 1, McDonald’s will be rolling out new franchise guidelines that will hold franchisees accountable for setting more standardized prices, The Daily Meal reported.
The home of the Big Mac is investing in pricing tools and consultants to help franchise owners make more informed judgments on product pricing.
During a time when McDonald’s is shifting its focus to value meals, this will hopefully help avoid any so-called “value” items from being overpriced.
Introducing artificial intelligence
McDonald’s is just one of the latest fast food restaurants hoping to use artificial intelligence to step up its game.
Earlier this year, the fast food giant announced that it will be overhauling all 43,000 restaurants with an AI makeover in an attempt to cut wait times and make a better experience for both customers and employees.
Upgrades will start with internet-connected kitchen equipment, AI-enabled drive-throughs and AI-powered tools for managers that can predict equipment issues before they shut down.
The chain is also looking into computer vision — the type of AI behind facial recognition — to determine whether orders are accurate before they go into a customer’s hands.
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said the chain is partnering with Google Cloud to examine the best ways to “use AI to deliver an even better experience for our customers and for our crew members,” per Technology Magazine.
“We have customers at the counter, we have customers at our drive-through, couriers coming in for delivery, delivery at curbside,” Brian Rice, McDonald’s Chief Information Officer, previously said. “That’s a lot to deal with for our crew. Technology solutions will alleviate the stress.”
McDonald’s hopes that the AI upgrades will help grow loyal Golden Arches customers from 175 million to 250 million by 2027.
The implementation of AI could also cut costs in many areas, leading to a slowdown in price hikes for consumers.
Paying with card instead of cash
After the U.S. Mint placed its final order of penny blanks and ceased production of the coin, there was ultimately a penny shortage, and McDonald’s adapted to the change by notifying customers that the chain will now be rounding change to the nearest five cents.
Due to the penny shortage, McDonald’s fans can expect an emphasis on card payments in the new year, per The Daily Meal, aligned with their broader strategy of going digital for a faster and more efficient ordering process.
Encourage mobile ordering
As part of its plan to expand digital integrations, McDonald’s has plans to enhance the mobile ordering process as they expect to see 30% of delivery orders come from their mobile app by 2027.
Their “Ready on Arrival” initiative, which they started pushing this year, aims to have employees prepare mobile orders before customers even get to the store, and it’s expected to be expanded in 2026.
McDonald’s is also rolling out tech integrations to help support the scale of mobile orders they receive on a daily basis, tracking response time and error rates to improve efficiency.
This goes hand-in-hand with McD’s plan to significantly expand its loyalty program in 2026.
Plus, the fast-food giant is planning to encourage customers to order online ahead of going to the store by implementing a “fast lane” drive-thru experience in the new year, allowing these customers to bypass the line.
