STARBUCKS REDUCED RELIANCE ON MICROSOFT AND IBM SOFTWARE WITH AI

On 9 July, with the help of artificial intelligence, Starbucks was developing in-house tools to replace some of the software applications currently purchased from suppliers such as Microsoft and IBM. According to an internal presentation, Starbucks is building a self-study programme to replace the Microsoft Inventory Tracking System and the IBM Maintenance Management Tool. Some of the Starbucks self-study software may be launched by the end of next year after the test results are available. Over the years, enterprises have been constrained by technology suppliers because of concerns about business interruptions and the complexity of self-building tools. Today, AI is changing this pattern, making it easier to develop applications from scratch, while businesses are promoting the use of the technology by their employees. The CEO of Starbucks, Anand Varadarajan, told his staff at an internal forum earlier this year that Starbucks spent about $400 million a year on software alone. There are clear opportunities for reduction in software expenditure. Kim Xian