Following a massive global IT outage, several retailers and fast-food chains are limiting their operations, leading to significant disruptions. Among the affected businesses, McDonald’s Japan announced that some of its stores had temporarily closed or were operating with limited functionality due to issues with in-store cash registers. About one-third of McDonald’s outlets in Japan were reported to be closed on Friday, though a company spokesperson later confirmed that all restaurants in Japan were open and operational.
Starbucks has been hit particularly hard, with its mobile ordering system down across the United States. Many stores listed their order-ahead function as “not available,” causing chaos and long lines of frustrated customers. One Atlanta barista reported that mobile orders were not functioning at their location, expressing relief at not having to work over the disrupted weekend. Numerous Reddit users, claiming to be Starbucks baristas, echoed these sentiments, describing significant disruptions and some store closures. Starbucks has yet to respond to requests for comment on the issue.
In Australia, the grocery-store chain Woolworths experienced intermittent technical difficulties, affecting both in-store and online operations. While most stores remained open, some had fewer checkouts functioning, and a banner on Woolworths’ website acknowledged the technical issues. Coles, another Australian grocery-store chain, also reported disruptions in its supermarkets and liquor stores due to the global technical issue.
In the UK, the grocery-store chain Morrisons faced issues with payment systems in some stores, while upscale chain Waitrose briefly experienced problems with contactless payments. Various other companies reported difficulties with card payments. For instance, Transport for Ireland’s top-up app for transport passes was down for several hours, WWF Australia’s credit card donation system was inoperative, and Trelissick, a country house in Cornwall, England, could not process card payments. Additionally, a cinema and café in Bristol, England, resorted to accepting only cash.
The Ocean Park Marriott in Hong Kong had staff checking in guests using pen and paper due to the outage. Marriott International stated that it was working with vendors to resolve the issues affecting certain hotel systems.
Despite the widespread disruptions, not all retailers were affected. Representatives for UK grocery-store chains Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Marks & Spencer reported normal operations. The UK hotel chain Premier Inn and the American grocery chain Kroger also confirmed they were not experiencing significant issues.
This extensive IT outage has been linked to problems with Microsoft’s online services and an issue at the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. Major airlines, banks, and supermarkets have reported widespread disruptions as a result.
As businesses continue to address these challenges, updates and resolutions are expected. Meanwhile, consumers are encouraged to check for service updates from the affected companies.