Instacart is introducing two new features designed to give shoppers on its platform more opportunities to earn. The company is launching “queued lots”, which give buyers the option to accept another lot before completing the lot they are currently buying. Once buyers have completed delivery of their current lot, they can begin buying their next lot. Instacart says the new feature gives shoppers the ability to shop on their own schedule and optimize their time whenever they choose to shop.
The company is also launching “multi-store add-on orders,” which give shoppers the ability to add separate customer orders from nearby retailers, in addition to where they currently shop.
For example, say you are currently buying a batch at a grocery store, a nearby liquor retailer may offer you an additional order. You can then purchase the new liquor order before delivering both orders to customers, allowing you to complete two orders simultaneously, without having to cross town a second time. Instacart says shoppers will get more time to complete the entire multi-store bundle. The new option is designed to eliminate travel time to and from customers’ homes before purchasing additional orders.
“Our goal is to create a platform that is as flexible as shoppers need it to be,” said John Adams, vice president of Shopper and Product Fulfillment at Instacart. “Our priority is to help shoppers get the most out of their time on the Instacart platform, which is why we’re introducing these new features that increase the time shoppers can spend earning.”
Instacart’s new updates are likely part of its attempts to appease shoppers, some of whom have gone on strike in the past over the company’s low wages and lack of communication.
