Contactless payment technology makes food even faster at McDonald’s

Visa Europe expects contactless card numbers in the UK to increase from 13 to 20 million by the end of 2011. This increase in card numbers is expected to be catalysed by several major retailer rollouts this year. Leading the charge is McDonald’s, with contactless payment technology now live across all 1,200 of its UK restaurants.

Contactless payment can be incorporated into debit and credit cards, allowing customers to pay for everyday items up to a value of £15, simply by holding their card over a wireless reader or screen. There’s then no need to enter a PIN number. Transactions take place in less than a second, giving retailers and consumers speed and convenience, and no need to handle cash. For retailers, contactless payment saves money being spent on cash handling and operating costs. Reducing the amount of cash on site also offers improved security and risk management.

Jill McDonald, President and CEO of McDonald’s UK, said: “We were the first major quick-service restaurant to launch payment by cards and we’re delighted to be leading the way again with the rollout of contactless payment technology. Convenient and quick, the technology is perfect for McDonald’s customers and we are now offering it in all of our UK restaurants.”

The number of Visa contactless cards in circulation passed the 13 million mark in March this year – in line with Visa’s predictions of 12 million cards by the end of 2010. But Visa expects that this figure will increase even more significantly to 20 million cards in the UK over the coming months, as major high street outlets launch contactless technology and banks respond to consumer demand to introduce the functionality on their customers’ Visa cards.

Mark Austin, Head of Contactless at Visa Europe, commented: “Contactless payments are building to a genuine tipping point due to a combination of critical factors – more banks are issuing cards, major retailers such as McDonald’s are adopting the technology, and contactless travel infrastructure through Transport for London is being realised – with London buses being contactless enabled in 2012.”