Starbucks targets 24-hour inventory replenishment
Starbucks is testing out new methods to optimize
inventory management and create a more efficient and modern supply chain.
Niccol said new technology, including inventory ordering systems, will be a
critical part of the strategy in fiscal 2027.
The coffee company’s latest initiative comes after it deployed
an artificial intelligence-powered tool last year to help employees keep better track of in-store stock.
The tech, which used computer vision and 3D spatial intelligence, aimed to
automate aspects of inventory counting, with the intention of later automating
some restocking orders. However,
nine months later, Starbucks decided to kill
the computer vision inventory counting system as employees dubbed it “unreliable.” Instead, the coffeehouse is
opting for a single process across all inventory counts to support accuracy.
Last year, the coffee chain also trimmed
its SKUs by 30% in a bid to simplify its menu. Cutting menu
items, including several from its drink selection, could also help speed up
production of core menu items, according to the company.
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