Instacart launches B2B shopping platform
- Instacart launched a new B2B shopping platform.
- Instacart Business enables businesses to stock up on goods from other retailers.
- Partners include Costco Business Center, BJ’s Wholesale Club and Staples.
Instacart this week launched its latest solution for retailers: Instacart Business, a tool that allows businesses to order products from other merchants.
The delivery company detailed the business-centric platform in a Feb. 28 release. The new platform will give businesses access to an “affordable selection” of products from over 1,100 national, regional and local retailers, the release said. In total, the B2B platform offers goods from more than 80,000 individual stores across 14,000 cities in the U.S. and Canada, according to Instacart.
The company said the platform offers more than 1.5 million products, including bulk items from partners like Costco Business Center, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Staples and Restaurant Depot.
The platform has no monthly minimums or additional contracts, Instacart said. Additionally, the platform offers same-day delivery, and Instacart claims it will save retailers on shipping costs and other costs associated with sending employees to stores to shop.
Here’s how Instacart Business works, according to the release:
- Businesses can create a shopping list of products, which can be shared with team members.
- Companies can easily re-order previously purchased items.
- Auto-ordering will allow businesses to order products on a rolling basis.
- There are several delivery options, including same-day in as little as 30 minutes, discounted no-rush and long-distance options.
- Select businesses will have access to “credits,” which can be allocated to teams and locations.
“From stocking up on snacks in the office break room to getting last-minute supplies delivered to a family-owned restaurant, our affordable, convenient and flexible marketplace connects thousands of retailers to businesses nationwide, but with some new features tailor-made for this important community,” said Asha Sharma, Instacart COO, in the release. “This is just the first step, and we're excited to support local businesses with even more solutions over the long term that improve their operations and ultimately help them get back to business."
Instacart has gone all-in on technical solutions for retailers as its role shifts from a delivery company to a solution provider that offers delivery. As Retail Leader previously reported, Instacart last year streamlined technologies under its Connected Stores platform. New features included an updated Caper Cart (smart cart), electronic shelf labels and out-of-stock alerts. Then, in February, Instacart debuted another round of new technology solutions for grocers, including further updates to the smart cart, its ad tech, its order management system and its white-label e-commerce platform.