Starbucks plans to expand the introduction of The Third Eye, an AI-based store management system that leverages AI technology to increase work efficiency and create future-oriented stores. As Starbucks celebrates its 25th anniversary in Korea this year, the company is determined to accelerate its digital innovation.
According to industry sources, on the 6th, Starbucks recently enlarged the introduction of The Third Eye to 10 stores nationwide, including the Yeosu Dolsan DT, Jeju Songdang Park R, and Mokdong branches.
Last year, the Third Eye was first tested at the Starbucks Myeongdong Namsan branch. With its introduction in large stores nationwide, Starbucks aims to collect relevant data and focus on refinement. Once AI learning is mastered, Starbucks plans to add other features.
The Third Eye provides store employees with video information about customer movement, age, and gender ratio in real time through CCTV cameras equipped with vision AI technology. Based on this, store employees can check each floor’s congestion and contamination level and utilize it for store operation. Partners can also check the number of visitors and gender ratio by time zone. Recently, Starbucks has been enhancing digital services to maximize work efficiency. Since March, the company has operated an inventory management automation system using AI· IoT technology at the Hwangudan branch in Jung-gu, Seoul. They plan to expand this to new and renovated stores starting from the second quarter. They are also developing a next-generation POS (Point of Sale) system. Starbucks plans to implement 32 payment and discount methods with a single button. The system will begin testing in June, and plans to expand to all stores in July and August.
Starbucks’ enhancement of digital services is analyzed to be influenced by IT expert Son Jung Hyun. Son, who joined Starbucks at the end of October 2022, is an IT expert who previously worked at Shinsegae I&C. Starbucks continues to show steady growth externally and internally based on digital technology. Last year, the company’s sales and operating profit increased by 12.9% and 14.2%, respectively, from the previous year, reaching $2.46 billion and $117.8 million.
As Starbucks celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, it is expected to introduce more new technologies with the goal of digital innovation. The approach is to expand the scope of AI applications to improve store management efficiency.
Lee Hwan Ki, the head of Starbucks’ data science team, stated that they expect partners’ convenience to improve with the application of various Starbucks AI systems that researchers are innovatively introducing. He added, “Through this, we plan to provide a convenient and pleasant store environment for customers visiting Starbucks.”
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