Since Instacart was founded in 2012, the company has relied on a batch model in which orders are placed in bulk and then delivered to customers in one go. However, the company has been facing increased competition from Amazon and Walmart, both of which offer delivery in smaller batches. As a result, Instacart has been discontinuing its batch model in favor of a “scan and go” system in which customers order items from a list and have them delivered to their doorstep. In the past, Instacart has argued that the batch model is more efficient because it allows the company to keep more inventory in stock.
However, the company has now decided that the Scan and Go system is more efficient because it reduces the amount of time that customers spend waiting for their orders. In addition, the Scan and Go system allows customers to order items that they might not be able to find in stock on the main menu.
