Digital processes at the touch of a button: How McDonald’s guarantees reliability in every branch with edge data centres

In McDonald’s Austrian restaurants, hardly anything works without IT. From self-service terminals and mobile orders to cashless payments – the systems have to function around the clock. Any failure would have immediate consequences for operations. To ensure maximum availability and easy scalability, McDonald’s Austria relies on edge data centres from Rittal – an infrastructure that grows with requirements and is designed for practicality.

‘Our IT must be available at all times – otherwise we come to a standstill.’

For Arman Manutscheri, Director of Technology and Market CTO at McDonald’s Austria, one thing is clear: without functioning IT systems, the branches would no longer be able to operate economically. ‘Our processes are now so closely linked to digital processes that, in the event of prolonged system failures, operations can effectively no longer be maintained,’ he says. A robust and future-proof infrastructure is therefore not an option, but business-critical.

The challenge here is that both existing restaurants and new locations must be equipped with IT components quickly, reliably and in a standardised manner – and in a form that can be flexibly adapted to local conditions.

Tailor-made edge solutions as the answer to high demands

In Rittal, McDonald’s found a partner that not only supplies hardware, but also responds to individual requirements and acts both reliably and quickly. The solution: an edge data centre based on Rittal’s modular VX IT system. This system allows fine-tuned adaptation to the respective environment and at the same time offers all the prerequisites for a highly available IT infrastructure.

Different rack variants are used depending on the location – nine versions are currently in use, varying in terms of air conditioning and dimensions, among other things. A key advantage is that the systems are fully pre-assembled at Rittal and delivered as ready-to-use units. This not only shortens the installation time on site, but also increases quality assurance during rollout.

Technological diversity meets practical implementation

Mario Peric, Technology Operations Professional at McDonald’s Austria, oversaw the implementation together with Levente Pölcz from Rittal Austria. The concept of pre-installed racks pays off, especially in the construction and opening phase of new restaurants, where processes are tightly scheduled.

The range of variants extends from open-cooled models – for locations with central air conditioning – to closed systems with integrated ventilation. This ensures that the IT system works reliably under all conditions, without compromising on performance or availability.

Flexibility beyond the standards

A key factor in the success of this partnership is Rittal’s willingness to think beyond standards. Although Rittal is known as a manufacturer of series solutions, the numerous custom-made products in the course of the project demonstrate how adaptable the company is.

Gerhard Pospichal, IT VMO at McDonald’s Austria, sums it up as follows: “No matter what we ask for, Rittal always says, ‘We can do that.’ This attitude makes a huge difference in our day-to-day work.” This solution-oriented collaboration enables the McDonald’s team to focus on what matters most: stable IT operations for over 60 branches across the country.

Partnership that goes beyond technology

Peter Hoffmann, Head of Sales IT Infrastructure at Rittal Austria, also emphasises the close cooperation: “We bring experience from many industries to the table and develop solutions that are precisely tailored to the needs of our customers. That also includes unconventional requirements.” Together with McDonald’s, a concept was developed that not only works for the present, but can also grow with new requirements and technologies in the future.

Summary

What remains invisible to guests is essential for the smooth running of the restaurant: the highly available IT infrastructure forms the backbone of digital services in McDonald’s branches. Thanks to Rittal’s Edge Data Centres, McDonald’s Austria can rely on a flexible, scalable and operational solution that impresses even under time pressure and with individual requirements. The close partnership between the two companies ensures that not only is technology delivered, but real challenges are solved – efficiently, cooperatively and with an eye to the future.

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