SINGAPORE – Mobile ordering services on the McDonald’s app here were down on March 15 as the fast-food chain suffered a widespread technology outage across its outlets in multiple cities, including in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan.
McDonald’s in Singapore said in a statement on March 15 at 6.30pm: “We are aware of a technology outage which impacted our restaurants; the issue is now being resolved.
“We thank customers for their patience and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. Notably, the issue is not related to a cyber-security event.”
A message seen at 4.30pm on the McDonald’s mobile app said the fast-food company is experiencing issues with the app, temporarily affecting mobile orders, deals and rewards.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused,” said McDonald’s on its app.
The McDelivery website had said the platform was closed for maintenance.
The outage appeared to have affected some electronic kiosks at outlets here, including some in Toa Payoh.
The kiosks at the McDonald’s outlet at 51@AMK were in service, but employees were seen calling for customers to collect their orders, as the screens that usually display the order numbers were turned off. Staff in the kitchen could be seen verbally communicating orders to one another.
The kiosks and screens that signalled customers’ order numbers were down at the McDonald’s outlet in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, said a customer, Mr Tan Boon Leng, 45.
Without the electronic system, restaurant employees took orders via slips of paper and collected payment in cash, said Mr Tan, who works in a bank.
Order numbers were written on slips of paper, which were handed to customers, he added.
“The staff looked flustered. I think the crowd wasn’t disgruntled or anything because it was still early (before dinner), but I suspect that there might be some confusion during peak hours,” he told The Straits Times at around 6.15pm. At 7.20pm, he visited the same outlet again and said the system was back in operation.
McDonald’s in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan also reported system issues on March 15. Social media users have also complained of disruptions across Europe.
McDonald’s Japan, which suspended operations at an unspecified number of its roughly 2,900 outlets in the country, wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter: “There is currently a system failure. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and ask that you please wait for a while until the service is restored.”
On the McDonald’s Hong Kong website, the company said a computer system failure had caused the issue and customers were advised to order from staff at store counters.
In Australia, the company’s spokesman said it is aware of a technology outage impacting its restaurants nationwide and is working to resolve the issue.
A customer from Australia said on X that food and electronic payment were still available at the physical outlets, but another customer said it was “impossible to buy anything” via drive-through or online.
