Mimicking the contactless delivery practice that has become not only popularized, but also required, in many parts of China, Instacart has sped up the rollout of its “Leave at My Door Delivery” feature. The feature had been in the testing phase, but Instacart decided on March 5 to launch the drop-off service option more broadly in response to widespread consumer interest, which is growing on the back of consumer fears about the coronavirus.
Under this option, customers have their groceries dropped at their door at a designated time rather than waiting for a representative to hand-deliver the items. Drop-off delivery is a way to limit contact with people who might carry the virus as well as a way to limit the spread from people who are self-quarantined and concerned that they have it.
However, even after the virus outbreak subsides, contactless delivery is likely to remain a popular option because it gives customers more flexibility and reduces the likelihood of missing a delivery altogether. If you are ordering perishables on a warm day, you will still want to time your deliveries carefully so your ice cream won’t melt – but you also won’t miss out on your delivery completely if you end up stuck in traffic.
For more information, see The Freedonia Group’s Global E-Commerce report as well as Global Food E-Commerce and Online Grocery Shopping from Packaged Facts, our sister publication.