Instacart is stepping up its game with some exciting new features designed to make your shopping experience smoother and more reliable. By tapping into the power of AI, they’re aiming to improve inventory accuracy and keep customers happy. These updates promise real-time insights for everyone involved—whether you’re a shopper or a retail partner.
One standout feature is Store View. It’s a clever system where Instacart shoppers are encouraged to capture videos of store shelves. With the help of artificial intelligence and computer vision, Instacart analyzes these videos to get a clear picture of stock levels, so you’ll know if your favorite items are available before you even head to the store.
Instacart is also rolling out outward-facing cameras on their AI-equipped Caper Carts. These will provide up-to-the-minute inventory status, helping streamline your shopping trip with accurate product availability data.
Another handy feature is the Second Store Check. If something you want isn’t available at your chosen store, Instacart will send a second shopper to nearby stores to see if they can find it. This is a great way to make sure you get what you need without the hassle.
Store View is launching initially with select retailers, but don’t worry—it’ll be expanding throughout the United States and Canada later this year. The Second Store Check will also be coming your way in the next few months.
Daniel Danker, Instacart’s Chief Product Officer, shared, “With Store View, Second Store Check, and Caper Carts, we’re making online grocery more reliable, helping more customers get exactly what they want, and laying a foundation to help retailers and brands get better real-time insights through our technology in the future.”
Instacart’s CEO, Fidji Simo, emphasized the company’s dedication to meeting consumer expectations for convenience, variety, and speed. As part of this effort, they introduced new AI-driven tools on March 19 that offer personalized shopping recommendations based on your habits, health goals, and dietary needs. These include Smart Shop technology for relevant product suggestions, Health Tags for nutritional information, and Inspiration Pages featuring health tips and shoppable recipes.
