Starbucks locations across the country will soon reopen, with most stores offering pickup and drive-thru service but keeping seating areas closed for now.
Kevin Johnson, chief executive officer of Starbucks, said in a statement that more than 85 percent of the coffee chain’s U.S. locations will reopen by Saturday (May 8) but with new safety protocols and hours of operation. Over 90 percent of locations will open by early June with the same modifications.
Johnson said Starbucks will continue to offer a “third place” for customers, which is especially needed amid the stay-home mandates prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. The third place concept revolves around giving people a comfortable environment outside of homes and offices.
“We think of the third place as a mindset — a feeling of comfort that uplifts customers everywhere, and in every way, they experience Starbucks,” Johnson said. “And the third place has never been more relevant than now, as communities seek to reconnect and heal.”
Starbucks closed over 50 percent of locations across the U.S. and Canada due to the coronavirus pandemic. On March 20, the only locations that remained open were the ones with drive-thrus and those stores closed all seating areas. As a result, sales dropped an average of 25 percent per location.
“After seven weeks of sheltering at home in the U.S., we have embraced an approach of monitoring, rapidly adapting to, and even shaping, the ‘now normal,’” Johnson said. “With health and safety prioritized, we are defining the future of Starbucks to meet evolving customer expectations and societal change.”
The CEO said the reopening approach stems from lessons learned in China, where some 98 percent of Starbucks locations have reopened with new protocols.
“We have adapted these protocols for the U.S. and our goal is to exceed the standards outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a safe experience,” he said.
He added that there will be more emphasis on cleaning and sanitizing procedures across all stores in the U.S. and Canada.
The reopening will include drive-thru service, mobile ordering for contactless pickup and delivery. Some locations will also offer curbside pickup and grab-and-go through the café.
“The third place experience created by Starbucks partners in our stores is extended and enhanced by the digital relationships we have with our customers. Our Starbucks App will enable new features, including optimizing for curbside pick-up, entryway handoff, improved drive-thru experiences, voice ordering through Siri and the ability for everyone to earn stars that can be redeemed for rewards,” he said.
Mobile ordering is becoming more popular, with almost 50 million people expected to be using food delivery apps by 2021. The April Mobile Order-Ahead Tracker by PYMNTS explores the latest digital ordering developments, including measures that restaurants and delivery apps are taking to continue operating during the pandemic, how some of these steps have backfired and how quick-service restaurants (QSRs) are battling the uptick in fraud attempts.
The intersection of technology, leadership and regulation is reshaping B2B in profound ways.
CFOs are stepping into more strategic roles, leveraging advanced tools to drive transformation. Meanwhile, technological integration is streamlining operations across sectors, from construction to travel.
Most crucially, B2B payments continue to evolve with the need for speed and efficiency, while regulations aim to create a more transparent and interconnected financial system.
For those firms able to identify the trends, 2025 is sure to be a pivotal year.
Read more: The Five Not-So-Obvious Things That Will Change the Digital Economy in 2025
Digital advancements are reshaping business operations, particularly in back-office functions. PYMNTS covered how artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a critical tool for addressing bottlenecks, automating processes, and improving decision-making. Companies are investing in AI solutions to streamline tasks like accounts payable and receivable, data analysis and forecasting.
On Tuesday (Jan. 7), Fazeshift, an accounts receivable-focused AI agent, announced it had raised $4 million in seed funding.
In the construction sector, platforms like Knowify are integrating with tools like Intuit’s Enterprise Suite to offer solutions for project management and financial oversight. This integration demonstrates how technology can bridge the gap between operational and financial functions.
The travel industry is also benefiting from technology. Visa’s partnership with Qashio to develop B2B travel payment solutions, announced Monday (Jan. 6) illustrates how digital tools can enhance spend management, offering businesses greater control and visibility over travel expenses. Virtual cards and advanced expense management tools are becoming essential in a world where business travel is rebounding.
We covered here how real-time data and payment solutions are transforming liquidity management, allowing businesses to optimize cash flow and reduce risk. This shift is evident in the rise of virtual cards, which offer suppliers and buyers streamlined payment with enhanced security features.
Suppliers are playing a crucial role in driving virtual card acceptance, recognizing the benefits of faster payments and reduced administrative burdens. Payarc’s collaboration with AllPack Fulfillment, announced Tuesday (Jan. 7) is a prime example of how partnerships can bolster payment processing, enabling businesses to meet the demands of commerce.
Real-time data is also becoming indispensable for financial decision-making, while real-time payments are shifting traditional dynamics.
Jim Colassano, senior vice president, RTP Business Product Management at The Clearing House, said the ability to send money instantly, 24/7/365, has been gaining wide embrace across a variety of use cases and business users.
“The feedback that we get, not only from consumers, but also from the business community, is that when you see it,” he said of instant payments, “when you actually experience it, both from an origination standpoint and from a receiving standpoint, you want to do more, you want this to be the payment mechanism that you would like to use.”
As highlighted in a recent report, leveraging real-time insights can improve liquidity performance, allowing businesses to adapt to changing market conditions with agility and confidence.
All these advancements are having an impact on senior leadership, too. The role of the CFO is no longer confined to managing financial reports and ensuring regulatory compliance.
PYMNTS looked into why CFOs are expected to act as strategic leaders, guiding their organizations through complex challenges. Apple’s CFO transition, for instance, highlights the shifting expectations placed on financial leaders. With Apple’s emphasis on technological innovation, the new CFO will need to integrate financial strategy with broader business objectives, ensuring the company’s continued dominance in a competitive market.
CFOs are also adopting new playbooks to meet their transformation goals. A recent report on CFO strategies underscores the importance of choosing the right approach — whether building internal capabilities, buying third-party solutions, or forming strategic partnerships. This flexibility allows businesses to adapt to evolving needs while leveraging technology.
As cross-border commerce grows, so does the need for standardized financial systems. The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has been at the forefront of promoting the adoption of ISO 20022, sharing on Tuesday the next steps it will take for the adoption of global messaging standard. ISO 20022 is designed to enhance the efficiency and interoperability of cross-border payments. This initiative is crucial for businesses operating in a globalized economy, where seamless transactions are essential.
Regulations are also addressing challenges in merchant onboarding and risk management. New beneficial ownership rules, for instance, aim to improve transparency and reduce fraud, though they pose hurdles for businesses navigating these requirements. As organizations adapt to these changes, they must strike a balance between compliance and efficiency.
In the EU, Thursday (Jan. 9) was the deadline for compliance with Europe’s Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) instant payment framework requiring financial institutions and payment service providers to be capable of receiving instant payments. SEPA Instant doesn’t just affect payment timelines but could spur a paradigm shift in treasury operations, with operational upgrades that could also extend to ERP and financial management systems.