At Starbucks, a premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee with more than 40,000 stores worldwide, every innovation circles back to a straightforward mission: Enhancing the art of coffee while strengthening human connection. The company’s technology isn’t meant to take center stage — it’s built to seamlessly support store partners, freeing them to focus on what matters most: the craft and the customer. The newest example of this philosophy is AI-powered automated counting, a tool that blends quietly into operations while making a big impact.

Rolling out across our North America coffeehouses, this technology transforms how inventory is counted, according to Deb Lefevre, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Starbucks. 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. Customers can enjoy beverages their way, every time — and partners spend less time in the backroom and more time crafting and connecting.

Developed in collaboration with NomadGo, a company with a mission to transform the supply chain by digitizing physical spaces, the technology combines computer vision, 3D spatial intelligence and augmented reality to deliver fast, accurate inventory counts. In just minutes, it identifies what’s available, flags low-stock items and, soon, will even automate restock orders. It’s a farewell to manual tallies — and a hello to smarter, more seamless operations.

“We already deployed this innovation in thousands of coffeehouses, and the impact is clear: inventory is now counted eight times more frequently, giving us real-time visibility and enabling faster, more precise replenishment,” says Lefevre. “By the end of September, AI-powered automated counting will be live in all company-operated coffeehouses across North America — and this is just the beginning.”

Behind the scenes, rapid and precise data signals now automate key parts of operations, helping accelerate deliveries and reduce stockouts. This modernization paves the way for smarter supply chain optimization and more agile inventory replenishment—ensuring coffeehouses stay well-stocked and partners remain focused and empowered.

“At Starbucks, technology isn’t about bells and whistles — it’s about creating meaningful efficiencies that preserve and strengthen craft and connection,” concludes LeFevre. “With automated counting, we’re delivering both a better experience for partners, and a more consistent, delightful experience for every customer who walks through our doors.”

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