Saudi Arabia: Over the past three decades, barns Café has become a household name in Saudi Arabia, with over 800 branches across the Kingdom. While rooted in a deep passion for authentic coffee experiences, Barnes is now charting a new course—one that blends its rich tradition with cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovations.
In line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the global shift toward smart retail, barns has emerged as a pioneer in integrating AI across its operations—from enhancing customer experiences to streamlining backend processes.
AI Meets Coffee: From Beans to Bots
The journey began with a simple question: How can technology enhance the way people enjoy their coffee? barns answered with bold initiatives:
Computer Vision in Branches: barns introduced AI-powered cameras to monitor barista performance, improve quality control, and gather real-time analytics on customer flow and service speed. This innovation reduced human auditing efforts and increased efficiency across branches.
Mohamed Al Zain – CEO, Barn’s Cafe
Drive-Thru Optimization:
With over 90% of branches operating as drive-thrus, barns deployed AI to track waiting times and car flow. These insights help adjust staffing and improve service during peak hours.
Avatar Project – AI Barista:
In a pilot phase, barns is testing a conversational AI avatar capable of receiving orders through voice or text, guiding customers through the menu, and offering recommendations based on preferences—all without human interaction. This represents a major step toward personalized coffee experiences.
Eng.Amer Al-Kathiri , Head of Artificial Intelligence solutions at barns cafe and
Eng.Ahmad Faraj
AI in Finance & HR: barns has implemented Robotic Process Automation (RPA) for invoice processing, reducing human error and accelerating payment cycles. In recruitment, AI tools now screen candidates, analyze CVs, and recommend the best matches—ensuring better hiring decisions.
Barns cafe -First coffee chain to test Coffee Drone delivery in Saudi Arabia
The Future Is Brewing
barns is also investing in self-service machines, AI-powered coffee grinders, and even drone delivery concepts—turning futuristic ideas into reality. The company’s booth at recent exhibitions tells this story, visually transporting visitors from the origins of coffee to a bold, tech-driven future.
By embracing AI not just as a tool, but as a strategic partner, Barnes is redefining what it means to be a coffee brand in the digital age. It’s not just about serving coffee anymore—it’s about crafting intelligent experiences that are efficient, consistent, and delightful.
As we look ahead, barns remains committed to innovation that respects tradition, empowers people, and delivers excellence—one cup at a time.
