One year later, after millions had shown interest<\/span><\/a> via loyalty registrations, Starbucks took its online rewards (and <\/em>its tech) to the next level. In 2009, Starbucks launched its brand-new mobile app, simultaneously debuting an upgraded, \u201capp-only\u201d rewards program \u2014 the \u201cMy Starbucks Rewards<\/span><\/a>\u201d program we know and love today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As news of Starbucks\u2019 gold-starred mobile app success<\/span><\/a> spread, other coffee shops started hopping on the tech revolution train, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And, the result? <\/p>\n\n\n\n An absolute explosion<\/em> of coffee shop mobile app launches lasting over a decade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n New coffee shop apps are still<\/em> coming out regularly, even in 2024; New Brunswick’s favorite Neighbourly Coffee just launched its mobile app three weeks<\/em> ago! <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, while Starbucks might have inspired the coffee shop industry\u2019s 15-year mobile app revolution back in 2009\u2026 what\u2019s sustained<\/em> it for so long?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, to put it simply \u2014 success has. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t have to look hard to see the success mobile apps can generate \u2014 and have been <\/em>generating \u2014 for coffee shop and caf\u00e9 operators alike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just look at Starbucks (again). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Their mobile app has been downloaded 1.3 million times<\/span><\/a>, boasts over 33 million<\/span><\/a> active users, and facilitated a record-breaking 30% of transactions in Q1 2024<\/span><\/a>. The brand\u2019s exclusive, in-app features contribute impressive<\/em> amounts to their sales figures, too \u2014 annual revenue from custom beverage modifiers<\/span><\/a> amounted to over $1B last year<\/span><\/a> alone! <\/p>\n\n\n\n But that\u2019s not all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The best <\/em>part of this whole \u201cmobile app success\u201d thing is that it\u2019s not limited to giant, multi-national coffee chains like Starbucks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No matter how big (or small!) your coffee shop is, a custom-branded mobile app<\/span><\/a> can offer tons of game-changing benefits to you and your customers \u2014 and here are five of the greatest ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the greatest benefits of a coffee shop mobile app is convenience \u2014 in basically every<\/em> sense of the word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From an operator\u2019s perspective, a mobile app makes keeping up with menu changes and promotions a far lower lift. So, the next time you\u2019ve got a new menu item or a promo, you won\u2019t have to physically change a menu board or white out your paper menus. Tap a few buttons, make a few clicks, watch your menu update in real time\u2026 and that\u2019s it. <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n A mobile app helps your customers experience the same level of convenience too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mobile ordering means your customers can order from anywhere at any time, whether they\u2019re placing an order for their commute to the office or getting their caffeine fix before a weekend road trip. Plus, customizations are quicker-\u2019n\u2019-easier through a mobile app, helping you put the power of a perfectly customized beverage back in your customer’s hands (literally). <\/p>\n\n\n\n The second benefit of mobile apps is that they make building a community of loyal customers easier and more effective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, mobile apps make a great foundation for coffee shop loyalty programs<\/span><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Loyalty programs are a great way to reward your most devoted customers and incentivize them to come back more often\u2026 plus they\u2019ll reward you right back. McKinsey & Company suggests<\/span><\/a> loyalty programs can boost revenue by up to 25%! <\/p>\n\n\n\n And, for your customers, the most obvious benefits are the tangible rewards and the low-lift effort to get them. You offer your customers free items and discounts in exchange for visiting their favorite coffee shop \u2014 something they\u2019re probably already doing! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Loyalty programs can also create a sense of exclusivity and community for your customers, leading to a stronger sense of brand loyalty. And, considering that 7 in 10<\/span><\/a> consumers buy more from the places they\u2019re most loyal to, that\u2019s good news for your average order value (AOV), too! <\/p>\n\n\n\n A third benefit of coffee shop mobile apps is how much they improve customer experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Personalization \u2014 or a lack thereof \u2014 can make or break your customer experience, especially if that customer is a Millennial or Gen Zer<\/span><\/a>. But, with a mobile app, personalization is simplified and automated; in-app recommendations and customized deals are only a few clicks away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mobile apps also improve the ordering experience for your customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only does a mobile app reduce the time your customers spend waiting in line, but it can also empower them to make the experience their own. Whether they need to order ahead because of a jam-packed schedule or ask for an anxiety-inducing number of allergy modifications, a mobile app gives them the power to create their own top-tier experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, a better customer experience translates to a better bottom line for you, too \u2014 Sips Coffee, for example, sees a 20% higher AOV<\/span><\/a> in the app versus in-store! <\/p>\n\n\n\n A fourth benefit of coffee shop mobile apps is their ability to increase brand visibility and foster engagement from your customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since mobile apps are typically custom-branded<\/span><\/a>, one app download means your brand\u2019s colors, logos, images, and menu descriptions instantly earn a valuable home screen slot on your user\u2019s phones. And, considering the average American spends ~4.5 hours a day<\/span><\/a> on their phones, that\u2019s plenty of opportunity for your coffee shop\u2019s app to flash across their screens and<\/em> minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Engaging your customers \u2014 and keeping<\/em> them engaged \u2014 is easier with a mobile app, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Take push and in-app notifications, for example. These app-based notifications are a great way to capture customers’ attention while advertising the promos and discounts your customers crave (plus the 90% deliverability rate<\/span><\/a> push notifications have doesn\u2019t hurt, either). You can also leverage the power of personalization with app-based notifications, using data like order history and preferences to segment and tailor your messaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fifth (and final!) benefit we\u2019ll share about coffee shop mobile apps is how they can better inform business decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you create your own, custom-branded mobile app,<\/span><\/a> you gain access to a wealth of customer data that third-party apps don\u2019t share<\/span><\/a>; order history, customizations, purchasing trends, AOV, and more. And, when you\u2019re equipped with a regularly updated stream of customer data, you can make more informed business decisions about\u2026 well, everything.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Take purchasing history and customizations, for example. You could look at customers’ in-app purchasing history, pinpoint your busiest days and times, and use that information for dynamic pricing<\/span><\/a> experiments. Or, you could look at the number of customizations that excluded cutlery, using that data to inform new sustainability efforts<\/span><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Customers benefit from better-informed business decisions, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re using their app data to inform loyalty program upgrades or new-and-improved menu items, you\u2019re giving them more of what they already love\u2026 and who wouldn\u2019t want that? <\/p>\n\n\n\n At this point, your brain is probably stuffed to the brim with thoughts about mobile apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"Coffee](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Coffee-Shop-Mobile-App-Launches.png\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Convenience <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Starbucks](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Starbucks-Mobile-App-Pickup.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Loyalty & Community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Enhanced Customer Experience <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Increased Brand Visibility and Engagement <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Craver](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Craver-Push-Notifications.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5. Informed Business Decisions <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Start Your Own Coffee Shop Mobile App with Craver<\/h2>\n\n\n\n