Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring, coffeephone
When I walk into a Starbucks, I should be able to SMS my order (using some sort of predetermined shorthand) to a certain phone number (posted helpfully just below the menu board) and automatically have the cost of the order added onto my wireless bill, then get an SMS notification when the drink is ready for me. This would eliminate waiting in lines to order, fishing for cash or having to dig out a credit card, and standing around near the drink-delivery counter. Plus, I could key in my order a few minutes before arrival, and it would be waiting for me when I got there.
I will sell this idea to Starbucks for the low, low price of US$10,000. If you are a Starbucks representative, please get in touch with me and we will negotiate payment details.
December 14th, 2004 at 12:50 am
I think the government should provide Starbucks with a record of all of your coffee purchases at other coffee shops. They could combine this with their internal database of your past selections. This could be fed through some sort of bayesian algorithm to determine your drink preferences at different times of the year and throughout the day.
A GPS unit in your car (by way of a government-run network provided as a subsidy to corporations important to the economy) would alert Starbucks to your location. They could automatically fix your drink, debit your account, and send you the SMS message telling you the drink is ready.
God bless convenience.
December 14th, 2004 at 2:07 am
You know, if this were an old-fashioned neighbourhood coffee shop instead of a mega-corp, they would get to know you and your preferences individually, and they’d call, “Hey, Ryan, the usual?” before you’ve even left the doorway. Same lack of lines, more personalized, less technology to break down.
December 14th, 2004 at 5:51 pm
SMS for Coffee
Ryan Freebern has a great idea for improving service at Starbucks. Forget waiting in line, just order via SMS, pay via SMS, and get an SMS message when your coffee is ready. He’s offering to sell the idea to Starbucks…
December 17th, 2004 at 11:21 am
Ryan, I’m sure something like this is coming.
I do sort of sympathize with Kris’ point. There’s a local diner I frequent and as soon as I walk into the door, one of the servers looks at me and says, “Diet Pepsi?” even before I sit down. :-)