Latest news with #BrianRice
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
McDonald's Plans to Change Customer Waiting Times
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. McDonald's has unveiled a "digital transformation" strategy it believes will drastically lower the time customers spend waiting on their orders. On Thursday, the fast-food chain announced in a press release that it would be upgrading its systems and making new investments in its operations to unleash "the full potential of McDonald's iconic brand and global footprint." Among these changes, McDonald's said it will be deploying "Ready on Arrival"—designed to streamline the pickup process for mobile orders—across its top markets, and that this change could "reduce customer wait times by more than 50 percent." Why It Matters "Ready on Arrival" forms part of McDonald's broader digital investments, which includes an Edge computing platform built with Google and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled in-kitchen tools. The company said faster pickup and drive-thru efficiency could affect customer satisfaction and frequency of visits across thousands of its restaurants. What To Know McDonald's "Ready on Arrival" system is enabled by geofencing—location-based technologies that sets virtual geographic boundaries to trigger responses when a mobile device moves in or out of an area. This alerts McDonald's workers so they can begin preparing orders. "For a brand that measures progress in tenths of seconds, this is proving to be transformative," the company said Thursday. McDonald's initially announced the launch of a "Ready on Arrival" pilot program in early 2023. In October, the company said it would be expanding the system to its six top markets by the end of 2025, following the success of this pilot. Based on restaurant count and sales, the top six markets are the United States, China, Japan, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany. In an earnings call earlier this month, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said that "Ready on Arrival" had, in some cases, reduced waiting times for food pickup "altogether," and that it was already active in five of the company's top markets. The deployment is part of a long-term revamp of McDonald's locations globally, also aimed at improving wait times and increasing customer engagement. In March, Chief Information Officer Brian Rice said the company would be overhauling 43,000 restaurants, equipping them with AI-powered technology that can identify equipment failures and ensure greater order accuracy. "Our restaurants, frankly, can be very stressful. We have customers at the counter, we have customers at our drive-through, couriers coming in for delivery, delivery at curbside. That's a lot to deal with for our crew," Rice told the Wall Street Journal. "Technology solutions will alleviate the stress." A person holds a smartphone displaying the logo of McDonald's Corporation on July 31. A person holds a smartphone displaying the logo of McDonald's Corporation on July 31. Photo illustration byWhat People Are Saying McDonald's, in Thursday's press release, said: "Our digital transformation strategy, which we call Digitizing the Arches, is a once-in-a-generation transformation that's redefining what it means to be a modern, connected brand. This isn't just about upgrading our systems, and global footprint to delight our customers." What Happens Next? McDonald's is also engaging in tailored marketing offers in an effort to boost its loyalty program. In the second quarter, the company boasted 185 million active loyalty users and is set on reaching 250 million by 2027.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'No-brainer' to get Bartley back in Livingston dugout
Marvin Bartley's return as Livingston coach "softens the blow" of Brian Rice's move from the dugout to the boardroom, says manager David was announced as Livingston's head of football operations on Thursday, leaving his role as a first-team coach 38, initially joined the Lions as a player in 2019 and then became assistant before leaving to become manager of Queen of the South in said it was "a no-brainer" to get the former Hibernian midfielder back in the dugout."Brian's change in role left a void in the coaching team and it was a no-brainer to speak to Marv and see if he would like to come back be a part of my coaching staff again," Martindale told the club website."My relationship with Marv over the years since has only grown ever since the day we signed him from Hibs. I have huge respect for him as both a person, and as a coach."We have always kept in touch so I knew he was itching to get back on the grass and I'm just delighted we can get him back to the club."It's a hugely positive signing for the myself and the club and I'm sure the players will really look forward to working with him."I feel bringing Marv back really softens the blow of losing Brian in the dugout, but having both of these guys at the club really is fantastic for everyone at Livingston."
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Rice appointed Livingston head of football operations
Brian Rice has "swapped the dugout for the boardroom" after being appointed head of football operations at 61, joined David Martindale's backroom team in November 2023 and helped the team gain immediate promotion back to the Scottish Premiership last former Hamilton and Alloa boss will now focus on the club's player recruitment."As part of the structural review at the end of our successful 2024-25 season, we identified we were a bit fragile in terms of player recruitment and player ID, both paramount to the on-field success of the club," manager Martindale said."[Rice] has swapped the dugout for the boardroom on a matchday essentially, and as much as he will be a big loss in terms of the daily coaching and matchday itself, he will be a huge asset for the football club in this new role."
Daily Record
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Brian Rice in brutally honest account of gambling hell that took him to the brink as Livingston coach provides counsel
Rice hasn't gambled for five and a half years and insists life has never been better - now he's helping others caught in the same addiction to seek help. Brian Rice has opened his heart on the gambling hell that drove him to the very brink - and how he's helping others try to avoid the same perilous path. The Livingston coach hasn't placed a bet in over five and a half years since being suspended by the SFA while manager of Hamilton for breaching rules. But he insists football still has a massive problem with the addiction he labels an 'illness'. Rice admits the day he heard that he was subject of a Hampden investigation was the best day of his life. It was the moment he knew he'd reached the end of a lonely life of lies and guilt. Years earlier, while coaching 4500 miles from home in Qatar, his addiction took him to the darkest of places. The 61-year-old - whose career took him to the very top of English football with Nottingham Forest - told Mail Sport: 'Football has been my life. 'But I'd choose not to have football if it meant also not having gambling. I'd give it up. 'The day I was told the SFA were investigating me in October 2019 was the best day of my life. Apart from my kids being born. 'I remember Danny Doherty the secretary at Hamilton phoned to inform me the SFA had been in touch. I just said 'thank God'. 'A weight had been lifted. I'd reached the end. I knew the rules. But when you have an addiction there's no rules. 'I got suspended. But the best punishment ever was I had to go to meetings for my addiction. 'I've not gambled since. But I'm not an ex-gambler. It's just a day at a time. Life is much better without it. 'I've seen what it does to your family, to your friends. To other people. I struggled with guilt for a long time. That doesn't do you any good having that guilt. 'The low point? When I was stood on top of a 32-storey building in Qatar….. 'Gambling takes you there. It has no boundaries. It's looking for a weakness like any addiction. Something stopped me taking that step that day, thank God. 'When you are on the pitch during games that's your space because you need to concentrate on what's happening. 'But as soon as the game is over. That's you again. 'You can't think of anything else. You miss so many things in life, going for a coffee, going for a walk, you can't do that. That's your gambling time. Unless you're a compulsive gambler you won't understand. 'I've rebuilt my life around my meetings now. I go to at least two a week, usually three and sometimes four. All over the country. 'Not gambling gives you a simpler life. It's a well known fact: compulsive gambler, compulsive liar. 'I don't have any of that in my life now.' Rice has just helped Livingston secure promotion back to the Premiership after a remarkable season on the park that also saw the Lions win the SPFL Trust Trophy. Off the park he is trying to guide some of those suffering from the addiction that took over his life away from those dangers. He said: 'I've worked with footballers and non-footballers. I want to tell people there's help there, they're not alone. 'You would be amazed with how many players have been in touch with me. 'Football still has a massive problem. It's rife. You're shutting your eyes if you don't realise it. 'There's ways round the rules. It's there, it's available. You don't need to go into the bookies now. It's on your phone, on your tablet, advertised everywhere. 'These players think it's a quick fix. That if they stop gambling for a month it'll be alright. 'It's not about stopping gambling. It's about changing as a person, changing your habits and character. A day at a time. 'I'm one of the lucky ones. I've never thought about going back gambling because I have too much to lose. 'I used to think asking for help was a weakness. Now I know it's a strength. 'Identifying you need help. Back in the day you'd be battered for that. The 'you're only as strong as your weakest link' mentality. 'Society has changed now. Thankfully.' Some blame the betting companies flooding football with advertising. But Rice said: 'There's nothing wrong with betting - as long as you can control it. 'The money it generates for the sport. Football needs their money. Without that I might not be sitting in a job right now. 'It's not the betting company's fault that I'm a compulsive gambler. I'm the problem.'
Wall Street Journal
05-03-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
McDonald's Gives Its Restaurants an AI Makeover
McDonald's is giving its 43,000 restaurants a technology makeover, starting with internet-connected kitchen equipment, artificial intelligence-enabled drive-throughs and AI-powered tools for managers. The goal? To drive better experiences for its customers and workers who today contend with issues ranging from broken machines to wrong orders, according to Brian Rice, the Chicago-based burger giant's chief information officer.
