Starbucks Revolutionizes Inventory Management with AI Technology

Starbucks rolls out AI for inventory counting

Sept 3 - Starbucks (SBUX.O), opens new tab is rolling out a new system for counting inventory that uses artificial intelligence technology to its more than 11,000 company-owned stores in North America by the end of September, the global coffee chain announced on Wednesday. The system has workers scan inventory shelves with a handheld tablet equipped with software intended to automatically count goods and flag those in low supply. Starbucks Chief Technology Officer Deb Hall Lefevre said in a statement that the system enables faster replenishment and more consistent availability of in-store items, such as cold foam, oat milk and caramel drizzle. "Customers can enjoy beverages their way, every time -- and partners spend less time in the backroom and more time crafting and connecting," she wrote. Lefevre said the technology has already been rolled out to thousands of stores where it has caused inventories to be counted eight times more frequently. The technology is provided by NomadGo, which has provided similar inventory counting services to other chains, such as a franchisee for Taco Bell and KFC, according to its website. "Since the dawn of time, inventory has been a manual, tedious, and inaccurate task," NomadGo CEO David Greschler said in a release. The release said NomadGo's technology is a "unique synthesis of on-device 3D spatial intelligence, computer vision, and augmented reality." Starbucks said the rollout is part of a larger plan for optimizing its supply chains. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, an AI enthusiast, has deployed other technology in recent months, including "Green Dot Assist," a virtual assistant for workers, and "Smart Queue," which sequences customer orders. Reporting by Waylon Cunningham; Editing by Mark Porter Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Starbucks to use AI to track inventory, free up baristas to connect

Next time a Starbucks barista tells you that your favorite latte flavor is out of stock, blame artificial intelligence. The Seattle-based coffee giant said Wednesday that it is embracing AI technology to keep track of inventory in its coffeehouses. Over the past few months, Starbucks rolled out "AI-powered automated counting" to assess inventory across thousands of its coffeehouses in North America, the company said. The technology replaces the practice of manually tallying inventory. The change will take effect at all Starbucks stores by the month's end. "With a quick scan using a handheld tablet, partners can instantly see what's in stock -- ensuring cold foam, oat milk or caramel drizzle are always available," chief technology officer Deb Hall Lefevre wrote in a news release. "Customers can enjoy beverages their way, every time -- and partners spend less time in the backroom and more time crafting and connecting." Starbucks calls its employees partners. The technology, which was developed in collaboration with Redmond-based software company NomadGo, relies on "computer vision, 3D spatial intelligence and augmented reality," Starbucks said. It counts inventory in minutes and delivers information on product availability. NomadGo said in a news release that the technology was deployed at over 11,000 Starbucks locations in North America. It described the method, which is used through tablets and smartphones, as 99% accurate. "Manual inventory counting has long been one of the most disliked and error-prone tasks in food service and retail," the company wrote Wednesday. Starbucks said that, soon, the technology "will even automate restock orders." The coffee chain estimates that, as a result of the new technology, inventory is counted eight times more frequently. The data also helps speed up deliveries and curb stock-outs. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said in an investor call in July that he is focused on creating "the coffeehouse of the future," a redesigned coffee shop that costs less to construct. Niccol revived the coffeehouse tradition of writing on cups with Sharpie markers. The chain plans to incorporate healthier products, such as sugar-free beverages and drinks featuring coconut water, to appeal to conscientious clientele. Starbucks is also capitalizing on the growing interest in protein consumption. Recently, it confirmed the release of its protein lattes and protein cold foam, which is scheduled for Sept. 29 in the U.S. and Canada. But still, it is not abandoning its calorie-packed offerings. Late last month, it welcomed back the cult favorite pumpkin spice latte and other seasonal products, which resulted in "a record-breaking sales week" in the U.S., Bloomberg reported Monday. "At Starbucks, innovations are grounded in a simple goal: to elevate the craft of coffee and deepen human connection," Hall Lefevre wrote. 2025 The Seattle Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Starbucks's new AI could save its baristas 16,500 hours a week

Anyone who has stopped into a Starbucks over the past couple of years knows how exhausted the staff is. Headcount was quietly cut in the 2020s, stress went up, and the experience got worse for customers and baristas alike. (Six straight quarters of same-store sales decline will tell you exactly how that's worked out for Starbucks.) But under CEO Brian Niccol, who was appointed last year, the company is architecting a turnaround. And Starbucks just had its best week of sales ever. Much of Niccol's plan comes down to increasing its staff in stores while also making their lives easier. How? The latest example is a new time-saving AI tool that promises to free up tens of thousands of hours across the company every week as its baristas do inventory. Typically, inventory has been a by-hand process at Starbucks. A couple times a week, an employee will spend about an hour scanning through all of the milks, syrups, and other ingredients, marking down counts on paper so that more of whatever is needed can be ordered and replenished.

Starbucks has a new way to ensure it doesn't run out of your favorites

Next time a Starbucks barista tells you that your favorite latte flavor is out of stock, blame artificial intelligence. The Seattle-based coffee giant said Wednesday that it is embracing AI technology to keep track of inventory in its coffeehouses. Over the past few months, Starbucks rolled out "AI-powered automated counting" to assess inventory across thousands of its coffeehouses in North America, the company said. The technology replaces the practice of manually tallying inventory. The change will take effect at all Starbucks stores by the month's end. "With a quick scan using a handheld tablet, partners can instantly see what's in stock -- ensuring cold foam, oat milk or caramel drizzle are always available," chief technology officer Deb Hall Lefevre wrote in a news release. "Customers can enjoy beverages their way, every time -- and partners spend less time in the backroom and more time crafting and connecting." Starbucks calls its employees partners. The technology, which was developed in collaboration with Redmond-based software company NomadGo, relies on "computer vision, 3D spatial intelligence and augmented reality," Starbucks said. It counts inventory in minutes and delivers information on product availability. NomadGo said in a news release that the technology was deployed at over 11,000 Starbucks locations in North America. It described the method, which is used through tablets and smartphones, as 99% accurate. "Manual inventory counting has long been one of the most disliked and error-prone tasks in food service and retail," the company wrote Wednesday. Starbucks said that, soon, the technology "will even automate restock orders." The coffee chain estimates that, as a result of the new technology, inventory is counted eight times more frequently. The data also helps speed up deliveries and curb stock-outs. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said in an investor call in July that he is focused on creating "the coffeehouse of the future," a redesigned coffee shop that costs less to construct. Niccol revived the coffeehouse tradition of writing on cups with Sharpie markers. The chain plans to incorporate healthier products, such as sugar-free beverages and drinks featuring coconut water, to appeal to conscientious clientele. Starbucks is also capitalizing on the growing interest in protein consumption. Recently, it confirmed the release of its protein lattes, and protein cold foam is scheduled for Sept 29. in the U.S. and Canada. But still, it is not abandoning its calorie-packed offerings. Late last month, it welcomed back the cult favorite pumpkin spice latte and other seasonal products, which resulted in "a record-breaking sales week" in the U.S., Bloomberg reported Monday. "At Starbucks, innovations are grounded in a simple goal: to elevate the craft of coffee and deepen human connection," Hall Lefevre wrote.

Starbucks rolls out AI for inventory counting - The Economic Times

Starbucks is rolling out a new system for counting inventory that uses artificial intelligence technology to its more than 11,000 company-owned stores in North America by the end of September, the global coffee chain announced on Wednesday. The system has workers scan inventory shelves with a handheld tablet equipped with software intended to automatically count goods and flag those in low supply. Starbucks Chief Technology Officer Deb Hall Lefevre said in a statement that the system enables faster replenishment and more consistent availability of in-store items, such as cold foam, oat milk and caramel drizzle. "Customers can enjoy beverages their way, every time - and partners spend less time in the backroom and more time crafting and connecting," she wrote. Lefevre said the technology has already been rolled out to thousands of stores where it has caused inventories to be counted eight times more frequently. The technology is provided by NomadGo, which has provided similar inventory counting services to other chains, such as a franchisee for Taco Bell and KFC, according to its website. "Since the dawn of time, inventory has been a manual, tedious, and inaccurate task," NomadGo CEO David Greschler said in a release. The release said NomadGo's technology is a "unique synthesis of on-device 3D spatial intelligence, computer vision, and augmented reality." Starbucks said the rollout is part of a larger plan for optimizing its supply chains. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, an AI enthusiast, has deployed other technology in recent months, including "Green Dot Assist," a virtual assistant for workers, and "Smart Queue," which sequences customer orders.

Starbucks shares bold plan to change in-store experience

Starbucks has said it wants to "deepen human connection." It's latest move could help with that a workflow changes free up baristas to spend more time focused on customers. It's a quiet, but bold move as the company works through a major turnaround to return to its roots and deliver a more personalized coffeehouse experience. The coffee giant revealed it has begun rolling out AI-powered automated inventory counting across its U.S. stores to improve operational efficiency and free baristas from time-consuming tasks. How AI-powered automated counting works * Baristas can scan shelves and storage areas with a tablet * Computer vision technology identifies products * 3D spatial mapping detects shelf space and product placement * Augmented reality overlays reveal what's in stock and what's missing * The system automatically counts items * AI flags low-stock products before they run out With this system, baristas can spend less time manually counting inventory in the back room and more time connecting with customers. Starbucks says the new technology will ensure ingredients are consistently available, leading to faster service and fewer disruptions. Image source: Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images Why Starbucks is betting on AI-powered inventory management The inventory technology has already been implemented across thousands of stores and will be available at all company-operated locations nationwide by the end of September. According to Starbucks (SBUX) , the system counts inventory eight times more frequently than traditional methods, offering real-time visibility and enabling quicker, more accurate restocking. Beyond improving its in-store experience, the technology also strengthens Starbucks' supply chain by optimizing deliveries and reducing unnecessary restocks, which will help it have fewer shortages and smoother operations overall. Inventory management matters in the food industry Inventory management is one of the most critical factors in running a successful food business. This process involves tracking and controlling the ingredients and supplies needed for daily operations, requiring staff to monitor stock levels to ensure that the right products are always available when needed. When done effectively, inventory management reduces waste, controls costs, maintains quality standards, ensures customer satisfaction, and helps businesses stay compliant. However, when mismanaged, the consequences can be very costly. According to the National Restaurant Association, 75% of restaurants struggle to remain profitable due to inventory and food cost management issues. Manual inventory tracking has long been the industry standard, but it is often time-consuming and requires significant labor hours that can disrupt daily operations, especially when staff is limited. Additionally, human error, estimated at around 5%, frequently leads to overstocking or understocking, both of which cost businesses valuable time and money. Adoption of AI inventory technology remains slow but profitable To combat these inefficiencies, more food businesses are turning to modern tools. Automated systems and dedicated restaurant inventory technology can make the process faster and more accurate, reducing reliance on outdated manual methods. According to Apicbase, restaurants using inventory management software can reduce inventory mistakes and overstocking by around 17%. Despite the benefits, as of 2024, only 52% of restaurant operators plan to invest in new technology for inventory control. Although this technology is not error-free, that reluctance could mean a missed opportunity to improve revenue. Data from 5X show that restaurants using analytics have seen a 5% to 10% revenue boost, a 15% reduction in operating costs, and up to 20% improved EBITDA. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc. This story was originally published September 5, 2025 at 3:07 PM.

Starbucks rolls out AI for inventory counting

-Starbucks is rolling out a new system for counting inventory that uses artificial intelligence technology to its more than 11,000 company-owned stores in North America by the end of September, the global coffee chain announced on Wednesday. The system has workers scan inventory shelves with a handheld tablet equipped with software intended to automatically count goods and flag those in low supply. Starbucks Chief Technology Officer Deb Hall Lefevre said in a statement that the system enables faster replenishment and more consistent availability of in-store items, such as cold foam, oat milk and caramel drizzle. "Customers can enjoy beverages their way, every time -- and partners spend less time in the backroom and more time crafting and connecting," she wrote. Lefevre said the technology has already been rolled out to thousands of stores where it has caused inventories to be counted eight times more frequently. The technology is provided by NomadGo, which has provided similar inventory counting services to other chains, such as a franchisee for Taco Bell and KFC, according to its website. "Since the dawn of time, inventory has been a manual, tedious, and inaccurate task," NomadGo CEO David Greschler said in a release. The release said NomadGo's technology is a "unique synthesis of on-device 3D spatial intelligence, computer vision, and augmented reality." Starbucks said the rollout is part of a larger plan for optimizing its supply chains. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, an AI enthusiast, has deployed other technology in recent months, including "Green Dot Assist," a virtual assistant for workers, and "Smart Queue," which sequences customer orders. (Reporting by Waylon Cunningham; Editing by Mark Porter)