Starbucks is making a greater push to invigorate slowed down U.S. same-store sales. They’re deploying new technology breakthroughs to run their operations better and create more holistic customer experiences. It’s time for Chipotle to “get back to Starbucks.” It supports his long-term goals of making state service processes more efficient and involving employees in the process.
Ever since Niccol became CEO last year, he’s made it his priority to slash service down to four minutes per order. This goal is to improve customer experience and drive more conversion and sales. Under his leadership, Starbucks is taking major steps to leverage technology to better support baristas and create operational efficiencies.
On Tuesday, Starbucks Chief Technology Officer Deb Hall Lefevre pulled back the curtain on a few, very cool new innovations. She debuted them at our Leadership Experience event in Las Vegas. The show was a tremendous success, attracting more than 14,000 North American store managers. They learned about new technology developed to assist baristas in streamlining their day-to-day operations.
Starbucks, for their part, is preparing to roll out the their “Green Dot Assist” platform nationwide in both the U.S. and Canada. The new rollout is scheduled to begin in fiscal 2026, starting this fall. This platform is just one aspect of our deeper partnership with Microsoft. Collectively, we created a reliable fact-checking engine that helps baristas avoid the spread of misinformation.
Lefevre explained how amazing tenured baristas were at adapting. He pointed out that they are able to learn the new POS (Point of Sale) system within an hour. This rapid learning curve is a testament to the company’s long commitment to creating simple, applicable technology employees can easily familiarize themselves with.
“It’s just another example of how innovation technology is coming into service of our partners and making sure that we’re doing all we can to simplify the operations, make their jobs just a little bit easier, maybe a little bit more fun, so that they can do what they do best.” – Deb Hall Lefevre
These new systems are meant not only to improve the efficiency of their service, but they also solve many daily operational difficulties. Starbucks is excitedly prototyping ways to automatically trigger a service ticket for IT support when an equipment problem occurs. Further, they are developing the system of making consultant recommendations for replacements anytime a barista needs to call in sick. These new projects & pilots have focused on reducing interruptions and ensuring consistent operations among all the company’s stores.
The Leadership Experience decision to feature this type of technology symbolizes Starbucks’ long-standing belief that obliging an empowered workforce is the key to business success. The new format The company has armed baristas with advanced technology and streamlined processes. This goes a long way in fostering a positive atmosphere to work in, which to no surprise results in happier customers.
As Starbucks charts its course through Niccol’s first full fiscal year, the emphasis is clearly on rejuvenating top line growth and improving customer interactions. Through a focus on innovation and quality, the company takes new technological advancements to adapt to changing consumer needs. It focuses on supporting employees and engaging them in their work.