Starbucks Teams With AI Startup NomadGo To Automate Counting In 11,000 Stores — CTO Says Goodbye To Manual Tallies Forever
News Summary
Starbucks announced a partnership with AI startup NomadGo to deploy AI-powered automated inventory counting across all 11,000 of its company-operated stores in North America by the end of September 2025. This transformation marks a significant shift from time-consuming manual inventory tallies to instant, accurate counts using only a handheld tablet. NomadGo's technology combines computer vision, 3D spatial intelligence, and augmented reality, enabling inventory counts up to 10 times faster with 99% accuracy. Starbucks CTO Deb Hall Lefevre stated that the system, already deployed in thousands of locations, increases inventory counting frequency eightfold, providing real-time visibility for faster, more precise replenishment decisions, potentially leading to automated restock orders. The aim is to optimize the supply chain, minimize stockouts, and enhance operational efficiency and customer experience.
Background
NomadGo was founded in 2017 by former Microsoft director David Greschler and Jonah Friedl, with a mission to eliminate manual, tedious, and inaccurate inventory counts through automation and intelligence. The company raised $1.5 million in 2024 from investors including Cercano Management, Flying Fish, and Fitz Gate. Starbucks, a global leader in coffee retail, operates a vast network of stores with a complex supply chain. Manual inventory management has long been a pervasive challenge in the retail sector, leading to inefficiencies, inaccurate data, and potential stockout issues. Through this partnership with NomadGo, Starbucks aims to address these pain points using advanced AI technology to enhance its competitive edge in the global market.
In-Depth AI Insights
What are the deeper strategic implications for Starbucks beyond mere cost savings from this large-scale AI deployment? - Enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty: By ensuring consistent product availability and reducing customer disappointment due to stockouts, the shopping experience is directly improved. - Optimized labor allocation: Freeing employees from tedious counting tasks allows them to focus more on value-added activities like customer service, beverage preparation, and store cleanliness, indirectly improving service quality and employee satisfaction. - Strengthened data-driven decision-making: Real-time, high-frequency inventory data provides a solid foundation for more accurate sales forecasting, seasonal product planning, and promotional activities, helping reduce waste and increase sales. - Supply chain resilience and efficiency: Faster inventory turnover and automated replenishment mechanisms can significantly boost supply chain responsiveness and resilience, especially during unforeseen events or sharp demand fluctuations.