McDonald’s has unveiled plans to draw in more customers by investing in mobile ordering technology and offering delivery services.

The company told investors that it has lost out on 500 million restaurant visits in the US alone in the past four years.

It has partnered with Uber to deliver food in some regions in the US - it’s now bringing deliveries to a number of "major international markets."

McDonald's described the rise of delivery apps as, "One of the most significant disruptions in the restaurant business today."

The company estimates that in US, France, the UK, Germany, and Canada - its five largest markets - 75% of the population live within three miles of a McDonald's outlet. It also notes that peak times for deliveries coincide with slower periods in its outlets.

It believes that because of its "extraordinary footprint" around the globe the company is, "uniquely positioned to become the global leader in delivery."

It already offers home deliveries in a number of Asian markets, including China and South Korea.

"Restaurant delivery is a $100bn market and it’s exploded … There’s significant opportunity that we haven’t even tapped into yet," Lucy Brady, McDonald’s chief strategy officer commented.

The number of people visiting McDonald's fell by 2.1% last year - but sales grew by 1.7% as those who dined with the company spent more.

Newstalk is waiting to hear whether there are plans to introduce this service in Ireland.