DeskPanther, launched by Rad Coffee's co-founder, streamlines coffee shop operations with features for inventory management and communication.
DeskPanther, an operational software developed by Jade Valore, co-founder of Rad Coffee, made its public debut on September 8. This platform is designed to enhance the management of coffee shops by providing essential tools for tracking inventory, monitoring repairs, managing cash flow, and improving shift communication.
Initially implemented in Rad Coffee's three locations across Southern California in July, DeskPanther serves as a central hub where employees can report issues smoothly, while allowing owners to supervise operations across various sites.
This web-based application does not require downloads and is accessible on smartphones, tablets, or computers. Once added to a home screen, users gain immediate access to forms for inventory counts, out-of-stock notifications, maintenance requests, and other operational reporting needs.
Owners have the ability to customize these inventory forms based on categories, par levels, and item types, which helps differentiate inventory such as cases, boxes, tubs, bags, or sleeves. This capability is particularly useful for businesses that track products ordered at less frequent intervals.
One standout feature within DeskPanther is the digital shift “Notebook,” intended to replace traditional paper notebooks that are often forgotten or misplaced in coffee shops. This digital tool allows for the sharing of vital notes between shifts, encompassing details such as service technician updates, delivery information, and future events.
“We, as owners, shouldn’t depend on employees to always remember everything,” Valore stated in her interview. “They just need to write it down and submit it—no more sticky notes or texts. It’s another resource for them, reducing the need for micromanaging.”
DeskPanther also logs cash drops, manages team updates, and maintains shift records. Valore highlighted her favorite feature as the inventory-counting and ordering system, which generates supply lists based on individual location vendors and par levels. However, be aware that DeskPanther doesn’t integrate with other point-of-sale (POS) or payment systems.
“You can add a vendor, but it won’t automatically send orders. Owners like me still manage things personally,” Valore explained, noting that managing 20不同 vendors requires distinct ordering methods.
Valore’s entrepreneurial journey has been diverse, spanning filmmaking, beauty, and Airbnb management before opening Rad Coffee with her husband in 2015. The business began internal roasting in 2018, expanded with a new location in Covina in 2020, and a third outlet in Long Beach in 2022.
As Rad Coffee expanded, Valore recognized the limitations of utilizing many different applications for operations, such as scheduling and inventory management. “I’ve always loved technology and had nearly eight apps managing different functions,” she noted. “Exploring new AI tools made me realize I didn’t need a formal software degree to create my own product.”
AI-powered development aids facilitated much of the DeskPanther creation process, while Valore learned coding as she refined the platform. Currently, DeskPanther does not utilize AI within its operational workflows, according to its marketing information.
Valore perceives DeskPanther as a testimony to how AI-assisted development enables small business operators to create customized solutions without the risk of automating jobs away from the frontline. Her goal is for the platform to provide smaller establishments access to operational systems typically reserved for larger chains.
“I’m not trying to compete with the big players like 7Brew or Dutch Bros. That’s not attainable," Valore explained. “However, DeskPanther can still offer advantages to those in the industry.”
The subscription tiers for DeskPanther begin at $39 per month for a single shop or mobile unit. For two to three locations, the price lowers to $34 each, and for four or more, it drops further to $29 per unit. This flat-rate pricing model remains unchanged regardless of employee usage, and owners can monitor as many locations as needed from a single platform.
“My passion is to simplify operational processes and equip people with the necessary tools for success, whether they’re part of my team or utilizing a product I developed,” Valore said. “If an app is already in use, that’s great; however, was it developed by someone who has faced real challenges in the industry for over a decade? DeskPanther is distinctly different from other solutions, or I would be using them too.”
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