New Updates for a Smoother Delivery Experience

We’re always seeking to make the entire shopping experience easier and more seamless for shoppers and customers alike. Today, we’re announcing several updates designed to make delivery easier, safer, and more efficient. 

Seamless Drop-offs

We understand that not every delivery goes as planned, especially when customers aren’t available to receive their orders personally. To address this, we’ve introduced a new seamless drop-off process. For eligible orders, if you find yourself at a customer’s door with no answer after several minutes, you’ll be prompted to leave the order securely at the doorstep without needing to return the items to the store. 

After you’ve attempted to contact the customer and still haven’t received a response, you’ll be prompted to leave the order and take a photo of the location where you’ve placed it. We’ll automatically notify the customer of the drop-off, providing them with the photo and timestamp. This feature not only reduces the number of returns you may need to make, but also ensures that the delivery is completed without needless delays — and makes sure customers know exactly when and where their order was delivered.

Multi-Order Batch Confirmations

To help minimize the risk of mix-ups with multi-order batches, we’ve launched a new scanning feature within our app. From now on, some orders may require you to scan a unique item in that order before you finalize the delivery. This process ensures that the items in your delivery match the customer’s order accurately. It’s a simple step that can significantly reduce errors, improve customer trust, and save you from potential complications during your delivery rounds.

Pet Owner Communication

One of the top pieces of feedback we hear from shoppers about the delivery process is knowing if a home has pets, and if so, that they are safely secured during delivery. If we know there are pets at a customer’s home, we’ll tell you ahead of time, so you can prepare for the possibility of a pet being on the premises. We also notify the customer to secure their pets well before your arrival, ensuring your safety and making the delivery process smoother and stress-free.

“We’re deeply committed to ensuring shoppers have the best tools and support to shop and deliver efficiently and safely,” said John Adams, Vice President of Product at Instacart. “These new features — seamless drop-offs, multi-order confirmations, and enhanced communication regarding pets — are all designed with the well-being of shoppers and customers in mind. By streamlining the delivery process and boosting the accuracy of orders, we aim to make every delivery experience as smooth and stress-free as possible.”

These updates are rolling out over the coming weeks and are designed to help you deliver with greater ease and confidence. As always, your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to continuous improvements based on your needs.

Instacart

Instacart is the leading grocery technology company in North America, partnering with more than 1,400 national, regional, and local retail banners to deliver from more than 80,000 stores across more than 14,000 cities in North America. To read more Instacart posts, you can browse the company blog or search by keyword using the search bar at the top of the page.