Starbucks reportedly stops using AI-based inventory counting app
Starbucks Corp. has reportedly put an end to providing employees with a mobile artificial intelligence solution that automated in-store inventory counting.
Starbucks ceased using the handheld tablet app, which counted in-store stock levels of milk and beverage components (such as syrups and flavorings), the week of May 19, 2026, according to Reuters. In January 2026, Reuters reported that CEO Brian Niccol had made resolving persistent in-store inventory shortages a priority, with the inventory counting app part of a concerted effort to improve shelf stock across the chain.
An internal company statement dated May 21, 2026, that was seen and verified with two company employees by Reuters said the automated counting app would “be retired.”
“Beverage components and milk will now be counted the same way you count other inventory categories in your coffeehouse,” the statement said.
In an official statement to Reuters, Starbucks said it is terminating the inventory counting app in favor of manual employee inventory counts to “standardize how inventory is counted at coffeehouses as we continue to focus on consistency and execution at scale.”
The retailer also said it will increase the daily replenishment schedule of in-store stock and improve supply chain operations. Starbucks began using the inventory counting app in September 2025, at the time saying it would provide store associates with instant inventory visibility, helping prevent out-of-stocks and providing employees more time to serve customers.
The inventory counting app was implemented as part of "Back to Starbucks," a broad turnaround strategy instituted by Niccol in 2024 that includes cost controls and changes to how the company manages its workforce.
[READ MORE: Starbucks' new strategy includes four-minute service, cozier cafes, simpler menu]
As part of this strategy, Starbucks has also been rolling out a tablet-based generative AI solution designed to assist store associates with performing routine tasks.
The tool is known as "Green Dot Assist" and based on the Microsoft Azure OpenAI generative AI platform. Loaded on an iPad located behind the counter, Green Dot Assist enables associates to ask an AI chatbot verbal or typed questions such as how to prepare a specific order or fix a mechanical issue, using natural conversational questions, and receive instant, conversational responses.
At the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Seattle-based Starbucks Corp. operated 41,129 stores globally, including 16,944 in the U.S., with 52% company-operated and 48% licensed.
