Starbucks charts its digital future as CEO Schultz sets to depart

At its annual meeting with investors Wednesday, Starbucks executives outlined a bevy of initiatives involving new store formats, expanded food offerings and new premium coffee beverages -- but the other big story to come out of the coffee giant's corporate hobnobbing was how the company's use of technology has turned the brand into a digital innovation machine. Microsoft to PC makers: Let's make some Windows 10 ARM-based PCs The five upstarts that are leading the AI and machine learning revolution Microsoft has reclaimed its birthright: Windows 10 to overtake Windows 7 within a year Here are some best practices for preventing DDoS attacks Microsoft to PC makers: Let's make some Windows 10 ARM-based PCs Starbucks, which has one of the largest loyalty card programs, has doubled down on its use of technology and mobile apps as a way to boost sales and increase service speed. The coffee and tea retailer adopted a digital strategy early on and has become an example in how to successfully use technology in a retail setting. "Starbucks has been very successful in removing functional barriers and getting its digital and store operations team's to see the business from the customer's perspective," said Forrester principal analyst Nigel Fenwick. "They are a customer-obsessed company that uses digital capabilities as a means to create value for customers and thereby drive revenue growth."