Inventory accuracy is one of those operational fundamentals that doesn't make news when it's working and makes very bad news when it isn't. In May 2026, Starbucks learned that lesson in a very public way. The company retired its Automated Counting program across North America after a nine-month rollout intended to automate inventory stock counts, with an internal newsletter confirming the termination. The AI tool, developed by NomadGo, repeatedly struggled with accuracy, miscounting milk and syrup products and in some cases failing to recognize basic items like syrups. Starbucks announced that employees would return to manual inventory counts, stating the decision aimed to "standardize how inventory is counted across coffeehouses as we continue to focus on consistency and execution at scale."
It's a story worth paying attention to, not because AI tools can't add value in retail and warehouse environments, but because it illustrates something that operations managers have always known: when inventory counting goes wrong, the consequences are immediate, expensive and very hard to explain. The companies that get inventory right aren't necessarily the ones chasing the newest technology. They're the ones that choose partners with a proven methodology, the right tools and the operational experience to back it all up.
That's why companies across retail, grocery, convenience and warehouse operations keep choosing Datascan. Here's what drives that decision.
1. Proven Accuracy When It Matters Most
The Starbucks story is instructive because it shows what happens when the counting technology isn't ready for the complexity of a real operating environment. Workers reported having to recount every scan the AI performed, which means the tool didn't eliminate counting labor, it added to it. That's the opposite of what inventory technology is supposed to do.
Datascan's approach is built on counting methodology that has been refined across thousands of counts in real retail and warehouse environments. The technology, whether handheld scanners, RFID capability or the DART Connect software platform, is designed to deliver accurate results without requiring staff to verify every scan after the fact. Accuracy isn't a feature to be marketed, it's the baseline expectation, and Datascan's track record across a wide range of client environments is what gives operations managers confidence before a count begins rather than anxiety about what they'll find when it's done.
2. A Full-Service Option That Covers Every Variable
One of the most common sources of inventory counting failure isn't the technology. It's the gaps between the technology and everything else the count requires. Staffing shortfalls, inadequate training, equipment that arrives unprepared and no one available to troubleshoot when something goes sideways mid-count are all problems that derail counts that look fine on paper.
Datascan's full-service option eliminates those gaps by covering the entire process as a single integrated package:
- Pre-qualified, vetted supplemental staffing trained on client-specific software and devices
- Customized training sessions built around each client's actual workflows
- Equipment supply including handheld scanners and RFID technology
- Real-time monitoring and results so issues are caught during the count rather than after
- 24/7 technical support throughout every count
For operations that have experienced the frustration of a count that fell apart because one piece of the process wasn't ready, full-service is the answer. Everything is covered, and there's a dedicated Customer Success Manager accountable for making it work.
3. Flexibility Across Every Count Type
Different operations have different counting needs, and a vendor that only handles one type of count forces clients to piece together additional solutions for everything else. Datascan supports the full range of count formats that retail and warehouse operations run:
- Wall-to-wall physical inventory counts
- Cycle and category counts
- Warehouse and distribution center counts
- Shipping and receiving counts
- Quick counts and item look-up
- Carton audit counting, merchandise receipt, transfers and markdowns
That flexibility matters because counting needs change. An operation that runs annual wall-to-wall counts today may add a monthly cycle counting program next year as their shrinkage data gets more sophisticated. A warehouse that starts with shipping and receiving counts may expand into full physical inventory. Datascan grows with those needs rather than requiring clients to find a new partner every time their counting requirements evolve.
4. Technology That Works on Hardware You Already Own
One of the friction points that slows inventory technology adoption is the assumption that new software requires new hardware. For operations that have already invested in device infrastructure, the prospect of replacing it to accommodate a vendor's proprietary system is a cost and logistical burden that often kills otherwise good decisions.
Datascan's DART Connect software runs on Android devices version 4.4 or later as well as enterprise devices including Symbol, Motorola and Zebra scanners, which means clients can deploy it on hardware their staff already knows how to use. For retail environments where count-day pressure is already high, removing the variable of unfamiliar hardware makes the entire process more reliable. For warehouse operations managing large SKU databases and high transaction volumes, compatibility with enterprise-grade scanning hardware ensures the system performs at scale without compromise.
5. Real-Time Visibility Throughout the Count
A count that produces results only after it's finished gives managers no opportunity to identify and correct problems while there's still time to do something about them. Discrepancies discovered after a wall-to-wall count is complete may require a partial recount, which costs time and labor that the original count was supposed to save.
Datascan's platform delivers real-time results and adjustments throughout the count, which means managers can monitor progress, identify anomalies and make corrections as the count is happening. The mobile monitoring app extends that visibility off the floor, so leadership doesn't have to be physically present on the count floor to stay informed. For multi-location operations managing counts across several sites simultaneously, that real-time visibility is the difference between controlled execution and reactive problem-solving after the fact.
6. Data Analytics That Turn Count Results Into Decisions
Collecting accurate inventory data is only part of the problem. The other part is understanding what the data means and what to do with it. Count results that require a dedicated analyst to interpret before they're actionable don't serve the managers who need to make ordering, staffing and shrinkage reduction decisions in real time.
Datascan's enhanced data analytics platform presents count results in a format that's readable without specialized technical knowledge and actionable without a delay. The scorecard feature lets operations evaluate performance against benchmarks specific to their business rather than generic industry averages. The inventory accuracy module provides multi-perspective insight that supports shrinkage reduction and omnichannel fulfillment optimization. The productivity analysis tools compare labor hours, task durations and productivity levels across counts so managers can see clearly where efficiency gains are available. Over multiple count cycles, that intelligence compounds into meaningfully better operational decisions.
7. Support That Doesn't Disappear After Onboarding
The relationship a lot of technology vendors offer looks strong during the sales process and thins out considerably once the contract is signed. Questions that were answered quickly during evaluation take days to get a response. Issues that surface during a live count have nowhere to go because the support infrastructure isn't built for real-time problem-solving.
Datascan's Technical Assistance Center is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. That's not a marketing claim, but a structural commitment to being available when inventory counts happen, which is frequently overnight, on weekends and during periods when a business's own IT and operations support is running lean. Every client also works with a dedicated Customer Success Manager who knows their account, understands their counting program and is accountable for outcomes rather than just available to take calls. For operations where a count going sideways at 2am has real financial consequences, that level of support is not optional.
8. A Track Record Built Across Real Operating Environments
The Starbucks situation is a reminder that inventory technology that works in a demonstration environment doesn't always hold up in the complexity of a real store or warehouse. Products look different on a shelf than in a training dataset. SKU counts are larger, lighting conditions are variable, staff are moving quickly and the margin for error is low because the count results feed directly into financial reporting, replenishment decisions and vendor compliance.
Datascan has built its track record across exactly those environments, serving retail, grocery, convenience and warehouse clients at scale and across diverse operational contexts. The case studies, client relationships and institutional knowledge that come from years of real-world counting experience are what separate a proven partner from a promising technology that still has things to learn on your time and at your expense.
Inventory accuracy is too important to treat as a testing ground. The companies that choose Datascan choose it because the methodology is sound, the technology is proven, the support is real and the results hold up when it counts.
Accuracy Is Too Critical to Leave to Chance
Inventory tracking isn't the place to experiment with unproven technology or fragmented counting methods. As major brands have learned the hard way, inaccurate data disrupts fulfillment, drains labor hours, and directly impacts your bottom line. Securing reliable count data requires an approach where advanced software, vetted staffing, and real-time data analytics work together seamlessly. Datascan delivers exactly that: a battle-tested, fully integrated partnership built to handle the realities of your retail or warehouse floor without the growing pains.
Ready to eliminate the guesswork and take complete control of your inventory accuracy? Reach out to Datascan today.
