US online grocery firm Instacart has rolled out a shopper in-app safety hub to support its shopper community. The safety hub is available for all shoppers now, with features rolling out over the coming weeks.

An Instacart shopper is a person paid by Instacart to shop for groceries at local stores the company is partnered with and then deliver those items to the customer who ordered them through the Instacart app. 

The in-app safety hub is designed to make it easier for shoppers to navigate the safety tools, resources, and guidelines available to them in the Shopper app. Offered in partnership with ADT, a new ‘Get emergency assistance’ button will connect shoppers with emergency services and share data such as GPS location to help them get aid when they need it. Shoppers can also access resources about third-party safety organizations, shopper injury protection, and guidelines on shopping and delivering safely. 

Instacart is also furthering its investment in keeping shoppers accounts secure. The company is introducing shopper ID verification, a new authentication method to help make sure shoppers accounts are valid. While shopping or delivering a batch, shoppers will be periodically prompted to take a photo of themselves, which will ensure that the person using the account is the same individual whose photo is on file. 

The company is also introducing an updated contactless delivery feature that will no longer require shoppers to scan a customers ID upon delivering alcohol or prescriptions. The shopper can simply review the ID and signature that the customer will scan from their own device, and verify that the ID matches the customer from a safe, six-foot distance. This new delivery option is rolling out to all customers and shoppers in the coming weeks.

“Shoppers play an important role, helping deliver customers their groceries and goods during this time of need,” said Instacart president, Nilam Ganenthiran. “The health and safety of the entire shopper community remains a top priority, and its critically important we continue to evolve our offerings for shoppers to ensure they have the personal protective equipment and resources they need inside and outside of the aisles to help keep them safe. These new features, safety tools, and resources were introducing today will help ensure shoppers have the support they need both during and long after the COVID-19 crisis.”