Instacart has introduced new savings features for its AI-powered Caper Carts, enhancing the omnichannel shopping experience.
Building on Caper Cart’s real-time budgeting capabilities, these new updates turn the cart’s screen into a more powerful savings tool with the introduction of Electronic Benefits Transfer for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (EBT SNAP) item eligibility tracking, on-cart loyalty sign-up, omnichannel savings and improved product recommendations.
“Caper Carts are transforming everyday grocery trips into a more affordable, rewarding and personalized experience for customers. With the ability to track EBT SNAP eligibility, access digital coupons and sign up for loyalty programs directly on the cart, we’re giving customers powerful new ways to save right in the aisle,” said David McIntosh, chief connected stores officer at Instacart.
“Retailers are also seeing how Caper Carts drive omnichannel purchases, grow basket size and strengthen loyalty. In just the last year, we’ve nearly tripled the number of stores with Caper Carts spanning nearly 100 cities across 15 states, underscoring the growing demand to bring digital convenience into the grocery aisles.”
EBT SNAP tracking
Caper Carts are the first smart carts to offer EBT SNAP tracking on the digital screen, helping customers easily see which items are EBT SNAP-eligible as they add items to their cart. Customers can track EBT SNAP and non-EBT SNAP running totals in real time, reducing surprises at checkout. When customers are ready to checkout, they can visit the store’s checkout area, scan the barcode displayed on the cart’s screen at the register and finalize their payment with their EBT SNAP card.
Instacart first began accepting EBT SNAP online in 2020 and was the first online grocery platform to offer EBT SNAP acceptance online in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Today, Instacart reaches nearly 98 percent of EBT SNAP households, offering delivery and pick-up services from more than 30,000 stores.
Loyalty program sign-up
Caper Carts make it easier for customers to save with Cart Cash, a rewards capability that lets customers earn cash back by clipping exclusive coupons and completing shopping milestones, like making an in-store purchase three times in a month. Customers can then redeem their Cart Cash at checkout at the end of their shop. Customers unlock access to Cart Cash by joining a retailer’s loyalty program, which they can do right on the Caper Cart’s screen by entering their phone number or scanning a QR code.
Once loyalty accounts are linked, customers gain access to enhanced Caper Cart features designed to streamline the shopping experience. These features include “Buy It Again,” which surfaces previously purchased items to help build baskets and access to a digital shopping list that allows customers to save coupons and products for later in their trip.
Recommendations, discovery and omnichannel savings
With new omnichannel savings features, customers can discover additional deals before, during and after their grocery shop.
- Before the trip, customers who opt in will soon receive email and text reminders highlighting promotions and discounts. In the future, these same offers will be available via Instacart’s in-store mode. In-store mode is a feature in the Instacart app and in Instacart Storefront-powered apps that transforms the app into an in‑store navigation and discovery companion.
- In the aisles, Caper Cart’s screen helps customers discover real-time savings and personalized product recommendations. Customers can spot location-based deals based on their proximity to eligible items, along with recommendations based on previously purchased items, popular picks and complementary pairings.
- After checkout, customers receive special discounts redeemable on the retailer’s Instacart-powered e-commerce site or on the retailer’s Instacart app store, helping customers maximize their budgets even further on future delivery or pick-up purchases.
Caper Carts are available across U.S. and international retailers, including Coles, Kroger, Schnucks and Wakefern. The new savings features are available at select retailers, including McKeever’s and some supermarket banners that are part of the retailer-owned cooperative Wakefern Food Corp.
“When customers shop with Caper Carts, our Wakefern members want to provide them with a convenient way to access their EBT SNAP benefits. Caper Carts offer convenience and discretion, letting customers monitor their running grocery bill as they shop,” said Christopher McCrae, digital customer and loyalty at Wakefern Food Corp.
“We’ve heard first-hand from customers that they love how easy it is to access coupons and shop at their own pace with Caper Carts. We continue to expand our Caper Cart footprint across more Wakefern member stores, as we believe every customer deserves a seamless, personalized shopping experience.”
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