How McDonald’s Qatar Transformed Workforce Management with Orquest

From its first restaurant on Suhaim Bin Hamad Street to now operating 76 branches across the country, McDonald’s Qatar has become a benchmark in the region. Behind that growth lies a strong commitment to operational excellence, employee well-being, and continuous innovation.

One of the most transformative moves in recent years has been the adoption of Orquest the leading workforce management solution that has reshaped how the brand schedules, manages, and supports McDonald’s restaurant teams in over 40 countries.

McDonald’s Qatar Strategic Leap Toward Smart Scheduling

For Matt Abunasser, Executive General Manager at McDonald’s Qatar, the decision to implement Orquest came swiftly. After witnessing its success in Jordan, he had no doubts. “There is no testing needed. It needs to be rolled out,” he stated confidently. That decisiveness stemmed from his understanding of the critical role innovative technologies like Orquest play in today’s business landscape, especially when they improve both customer satisfaction and employee efficiency.

Previously, scheduling was a time-consuming manual process that required significant human oversight and guesswork. “Before, they copied previous schedules and we didn’t know how accurate it was,” Abunasser explained. But with Orquest, everything has changed: “It’s easier, it’s faster, and it’s more right on the target,” he added.

The Operational Shift

Head of Operations Ayoub Mozaffari emphasized how scheduling used to take up to four hours per week per manager. “If I spend three to four hours preparing a schedule, and Orquest will help me with one click: of course I’ll choose one click,” he said. Since the rollout, Mozaffari has seen noticeable improvements in shift efficiency and team productivity: “The right number of people at the right time during peak hours, that was the biggest benefit.”

Project Manager Benjamin Abastillas echoed that sentiment. “Prior to Orquest, schedules were created using spreadsheets, taking three hours.” Now, with automation, schedules can be generated “in less than a minute.” This shift has not only saved time but also reduced scheduling errors and misalignments.

Driving Forecast Accuracy and Business Efficiency

One of the key advantages of Orquest is its predictive capability. Abastillas highlights its accuracy: “90–95% forecast accuracy. The system captures our data and creates balanced schedules.” This data-driven approach ensures peak times are staffed with the right mix of well-trained and newer employees—improving both service delivery and labor cost control.

Orquest also brings flexibility in accommodating regional labor laws and cultural practices. As Abunasser noted, “The system is adaptable. From labor laws to McDonald’s standards—it adjusts quickly.” This adaptability proved crucial during special periods like Ramadan, when legal constraints limit shift lengths. “Orquest helped us adjust opening and closing times to ensure 6-hour schedules, giving us the best Ramadan scheduling we’ve ever had,” added Sharmaine Sambrano, Operations Consultant at McDonald’s Qatar.

Supporting Employee Engagement and Growth

With a diverse workforce of over 2,200 employees from multiple nationalities, employee satisfaction is a top priority for McDonald’s Qatar. The company was recently named the top workplace in the Middle East, and Orquest plays a significant role in sustaining that reputation.

“We found out that if our people are happy, they will deliver a happy experience to the customer,” said Abunasser. “Give them the right schedule, on time, and if it’s fair to the business and customer, you’ll capture more sales.” The results speak for themselves: customer satisfaction regularly exceeds 96%, reaching up to 98% at times.

Restaurant Manager Youraidylle Alvizo shared how Orquest helped free up his time and reduce daily friction. “Before, the line bar took up half of my 8-hour day. Now it’s automated.” The system’s ease of use and intuitive design mean managers can focus more on operational and customer-facing tasks rather than spending hours managing rosters.

Bus Logistics and Cost Reductions

In a market where transportation is employer-provided, scheduling buses is a complex yet essential task. Orquest has helped optimize these logistics too. “We saw a 10% improvement in transportation costs,” shared Mozaffari. “We also discovered that some restaurants didn’t need extra shifts, which led to better resource allocation.”

A Model for the Region

McDonald’s Qatar’s journey with Orquest is a testament to the power of intelligent workforce management. From improved forecasting and labor efficiency to greater employee satisfaction and operational flexibility, Orquest has become an essential partner in the brand’s growth and excellence.

“Definitely, happy employees serve happy customers,” concluded Abunasser. With Orquest, McDonald’s Qatar continues to lead the way in innovation, proving that the right tech, used the right way, can deliver outstanding results across every level of the organization.