Instacart has begun a months-long rollout of products and enhancements that will benefit its shopper community of more than 600,000 individuals.
"Our goal is for every shopper on our platform to feel heard, respected, prioritized, and cared for as members of this important community. We look forward to building on these commitments as shoppers continue to help us invite the world to share love through food,” said Tom Maguire, vice president of operations and care at Instacart, in a statement.
Instacart's first commitment is to give shoppers support while they shop and beyond, providing them with the support and safety that makes their shopping experience as seamless as possible and protects them while they work. Secondly, Instacart is committed to giving shoppers the ingredients to earn on their terms, equipping them with information on the best way to earn, so they can earn what they need, when they need it.
Third, Instacart is committed to enabling and nurturing a community built on best intent, acting with consideration and compassion for the community and handling situations with attention, care, and concern to find the best possible outcome for everyone. Finally, Instacart is committed to delivering recognition and rewards for the best of the bunch, recognizing hard work and rewarding the strongest shoppers with impactful incentives to help them reach their personal goals.
New features include live phone support, enabling shoppers to call and speak with a representative directly through the Shopper app. This delivers on one of the most-requested features based on shopper feedback and research.
In addition, the company is launching a safety toolkit, giving shoppers immediate access to important safety functionality, including in-app emergency calling, incident reporting, and safety alerts, from one tap in the Shopper app.
Instacart is also unveiling its new in-app navigation feature, providing shoppers with an interactive map of the grocery store, including precise item locations and an even more intuitive shopping list, helping them navigate the store and find items efficiently. This feature is currently being piloted in more than 80 grocery store locations across North America, with more being added over time.
Related: Instacart Fuels Grocery Delivery Sales: Report; Little Giant, Instacart Launch EBT SNAP Partnership.