Instacart’s New CEO Shows Us Its Future And Challenges Looming

Marketplaces
Written By Rick Watson

Instacart announced its new CEO Fidji Simo and with that firmly cast its lot in with 3 concepts in terms of direction:

  1. The best user data model of shoppers looking for quick home delivery (think how much FB knows about you - this is the plan).

  2. The most feature-rich and targeted retail media platform.

  3. The easiest to use app in the industry. By all accounts, there is a giant big blue sucking sound coming from Instacart which has attracted a lot of Facebook and LinkedIn employees - some of the best app and advertising technology minds in the industry right now.

What's not on the list from these companies, however?

  • Micro-fulfillment centers (where is the talent??)

  • a Clear plan how to introduce the next generation of native brands.

  • a Clear plan for truly unique selection.

  • Any clear plan to replace its grocery store partners. (this is something that has been an industry worry for some time, personally I think you can put it to bed).

  • Any clear plan for curbside for these struggling grocers?

If I'm Walmart and Kroger and goPuff and other "quick commerce upstarts", the path forward is pretty clear.

  1. Invest in logistics and local inventory.

  2. Streamline costs and delivery times.

  3. Invest in your stores to improve the experience.

Rick Watson

Rick Watson founded RMW Commerce Consulting after spending 20+ years as a technology entrepreneur and operator exclusively in the eCommerce industry with companies like ChannelAdvisor, BarnesandNoble.com, Merchantry, and Pitney Bowes.

Watson’s work today is centered on supporting investors and management teams incubating and growing direct-to-consumer businesses. Most recently, in partnership with WHP Global, Rick was a critical resource in architecting the WHP+ platform, a new turnkey direct to consumer digital e-commerce platform that powers AnneKlein.com and JosephAbboud.com.

Watson also hosts a weekly podcast, Watson Weekly, where he shares an unbiased, unfiltered expert take on the retail sector’s biggest players.

In the past year alone, Rick has spoken at many in-person and virtual events as well as podcasts on topics ranging from retail/ecom to supply chain/logistics and even digital grocery including CommerceNext IRL, ASCM Connect, and Retail Innovation Conference.

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/
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