Latest news with #Instacart
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Costco to extend hours for Executive Members starting Monday: See new hours
Costco's Executive Members will see new hours take effect at warehouses starting June 30. The retail warehouse giant told members in a June 11 email that its locations will open at 9 a.m. exclusively for its upper-level members, one hour earlier than for other members. The company also said its warehouses will remain open an extra hour on Saturdays for all members, closing at 7 p.m. The first Saturday with extended hours is July 5. Costco also added new benefits to the $130 dollar membership tier in the same announcement. Here are the new shopping hours at Costco Warehouses for Executive Members. No hot dogs, no TVs: Why Costco is building its first standalone gas station Costco's early executive membership shopping hours Costco executive membership benefits Costco Executive Members already receive the benefits of Gold Star membership, including warehouse access, Costco fuel access and a free household card. Executive Members also receive an annual 2% reward on qualified purchases, as well as discounts on Costco services. Costco revealed in the email that executive members will receive a monthly $10 credit for orders of $150 placed through the company's "Same-Day" service or Instacart.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Instacart amping up rewards programs for gig workers
Instacart announced Thursday new and updated rewards for its workers set to roll out during the summer. Starting in July, Instacart will roll out an updated system for determining reward tiers as part of its Cart Star shopper rewards program. Workers' shopping quality scores will play a key role in determining tiers alongside existing criteria that incorporate workers' completed orders and customer ratings. Instacart gig workers will advance through the tiers by completing orders rather than earning points, according to the announcement. Instacart is also adding perks to Cart Star, including priority batch access by tier and a free Instacart+ membership for Diamond Cart shoppers, the highest tier. Platinum and Gold Cart shoppers follow Diamond in the succession to receive priority access to batches. "Reliable access to batches is one of shoppers' top requests on our platform," Instacart said in the announcement, noting that Diamond Cart shoppers will continue to have early access to batches before stores open. Instacart noted that more rewards will begin rolling out for Cart Star shoppers on October 1. Instacart continues to add benefits for its workers as it looks to attract and incentivize the people who fulfill its online orders. The shopper quality score tool that will soon be determining Cart Star tier levels launched in April as a way to provide feedback to workers on the number and condition of items they selected and incorporate factors workers can control. The grocery delivery company is also introducing an Instacart Shopper Rewards Card powered by Branch that will include a Mastercard debit card and a business bank account. The card will enable Instacart's workers to more easily access and manage their earnings. They will have the option of automatically depositing their pay into their Shopper Rewards Account after every order "fee-free, meaning no more waiting for weekly direct deposits or paying Instant Cashout fees," according to the announcement. Cashback benefits for both gas and EV charging are also part of this initiative, with higher-tiered Cart Star workers gaining access to additional rewards. Similar to the incoming Cart Star rewards, Instacart's Shopper Rewards Card will begin rolling out in October. Copyright 2025 Industry Dive. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Costco Issues 'Warning' to Shoppers Ahead of June 30 Change
Costco is giving a new benefit to its highest tier of members next month, and the big announcement is coming with days to spare until the new change. Starting in a matter of days, Costco will open its warehouse stores one hour earlier for all of those who have the Executive Membership - the most expensive and highest tier of Costco's membership program. Previously, the perk of additional hours was only available at certain locations. The new change will affect all Costco locations, incentivizing shoppers who prefer to venture at at earlier time or with less crowds to do so under the more expensive membership. "Our Executive Members are our most loyal members, and we want to reward them for their commitment to Costco," the company said in an email, according to Business Insider. In addition to the earlier hours, Executive Members will also receive a $10 monthly credit for orders made through Instacart and up to $150 in savings on other services. Most Costco warehouses open at 10 AM and at 9:30 AM on Saturdays, but Executive Members will be able to shop at 9 AM on weekdays from June 30 onward. The pharmacy, optical center, and food court - among other specialized areas within the store - may not open at the earlier time, depending on the location and its staffing on that particular day. Executive Memberships cost $130 per year, and gives members a free Costco membership card valid at all locations around the globe. Members also receive an annual 2% benefit on select purchases, perks on Costco travel and other benefits. Costco's Gold Star Membership costs $65 annually, effectively cutting the cost in half over the course of a calendar year. Members do lose out on the extra benefits, but they still earn the same membership card that's valid at every Costco warehouse around the world. The membership prices are up across the board from their previous status. Gold Star was once $60 while the Executive Membership was once $120, price increases that come as the chain admits prices on certain goods will increase due to impeding tariffs. These items mostly include food imported from other countries, and Costco will increase prices in America to retain the same profit margins from before the implementation of those tariffs. Costco Issues 'Warning' to Shoppers Ahead of June 30 Change first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 26, 2025
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
AI Impact Summit 2025: Editors Recap 5 Main Takeaways of Event
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. There is no doubt that artificial intelligence is going to impact every industry worldwide. During Newsweek's AI Impact Summit in Sonoma, California, leaders from various businesses gathered to better understand AI use cases and the best ways to implement, govern and scale AI tools. Day three of the summit had the shortest programming, but it offered some of the most important insights gathered from the entire event. To close out, Newsweek's Editorial Director of Nexus Gabriel Snyder and contributing editor Marcus Weldon shared the five main takeaways they learned from the panels and discussions over the last three days. AI Puts a Premium on Curiosity and Automates the Mundane "So one example for this one was our entertainment panel and how the filmmakers are using AI to automate the mundane development process and create more quickly," Snyder said. Weldon also added that in the health care panels, conversations explored how drug discovery and clinicians can explore pathways to come up with new treatment plans. Sonoma, CA - Newsweek's Marcus Weldon and Gabriel Snyder present their top five takeaways from the AI Impact Summit at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Sonoma, CA - Newsweek's Marcus Weldon and Gabriel Snyder present their top five takeaways from the AI Impact Summit at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. NICK OTTO AI Has to Humanize Health Care and Personalize Engagement in General "Not only were many of the health care panelists talking about how ambient scribes and other AI tools were letting doctors be with their patients and bringing back the human touch into health care. But we also heard that from the representatives from Denver and Charlotte and how they're using AI to make city services more humanized," Snyder said. "And I think that's really interesting balance. When we think of AI, we think of it as a machine. It obviously is, but it's often by doing those mundane tasks and that we talked about first, it's opening up more space and energy for things that are uniquely human. And I think that's a really critical thing to keep in mind with all of these applications." Instacart's Daniel Danker spoke during his panel Tuesday about personalizing the shopping experience to take the cognitive load off users to start planning not only shopping lists but meal plans. In a Wednesday panel, Sears KAIros CEO Srini Kandala said call centers using AI agents have better access to materials to provide better recommendations for customers. AI Has the Power to Democratize Expertise and Also Value Unique Human Expertise "So there's a danger in that democratizing expertise, that it means that everyone will think of themselves as an equivalent expert," Weldon said. "I think it raises the foundational level." He said the average level of knowledge is going up by interaction with these systems and, on top of that, the unique human creativity remains because we understand the world in a certain way that can't be replicated by machines. Synder added that the "critical ingredient" for problem solving is always going to be the human expertise, saying – "there is no substitute for that." Sonoma, CA - Newsweek's Marcus Weldon and Gabriel Snyder present their top five takeaways from the AI Impact Summit at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. This marked the end... Sonoma, CA - Newsweek's Marcus Weldon and Gabriel Snyder present their top five takeaways from the AI Impact Summit at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. This marked the end of the 2025 Summit. More NICK OTTO AI Adoption Should Focus on the End-to-end Value Created; Efficiency and Cost Savings Are Byproducts Snyder said this theme came up several times during the summit, including in the return on investment discussion that morning. "I think the thing that I really learned here was the importance of always thinking about the accuracy of and the measurement of these tools, that these are not investments that you set and forget, that there is an active element of making sure that they're doing what you're expecting, that you're catching the things that it shouldn't be doing and that that element is as important as whatever you're doing on the front end to build," he said. Weldon added that most people agree that efficiency and cost savings will happen, but shouldn't be the goal. The goal should be about value creation. In the panel with Oklahoma CTO Rob Teel and Banjamin Maxim, the chief innovation officer at Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, the panelists stressed the importance of focusing on the "why" we are doing something and then executing "how" in order to drive efficiencies. Responsible AI Is About Transparency and Privacy But Also Continuous Validation and Verification Weldon said transparency means many things when dealing with AI tools: It means disclosing what the data is based on, announcing the presence of AI, protecting privacy and continuous validation and verification. "For everything we generate, we need to validate," he said. "So this idea of constantly testing, evaluating, verifying that the answer is valid, which is a form of transparency, and then bounding that for each personalized context." Sonoma, CA - Michigan State University Federal Credit Union CIO Benjamin Maxim and State of Oklahoma CTO Rob Teel speak with Newsweek contributor Chuck Martin in the "Navigating the Regulatory Maze: Enhancing AI Governance, Privacy... Sonoma, CA - Michigan State University Federal Credit Union CIO Benjamin Maxim and State of Oklahoma CTO Rob Teel speak with Newsweek contributor Chuck Martin in the "Navigating the Regulatory Maze: Enhancing AI Governance, Privacy and Cybersecurity" panel during the AI Impact Summit at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. More NICK OTTO Earlier that morning, there were three panel discussions about how to measure return on investment, measure success and ensure regulatory compliance. Dr. Girish N. Nadkarni of Mount Sinai highlighted how AI can boost both patient and clinician experience in health systems – increasing returns for follow-up care for patients and decreasing burnout that will lead to greater employee retention. With these great improvements to operations, Nadkarni did note that there should be measures for ROI and safety and ethical standards. "I truly believe we are going to get to a point in health care where AI is going to become a part of the care team and not using AI will open up liability," he said. "I think there is something to be said about the health system that wants to use AI in a safe, effective, ethical and responsible manner." Sachi Desai from Climate talked about using automation to help farmers with crop growth, while Maxim and Teel shared how they are each working with partners in both the public and private sectors to innovate and comply with necessary regulations. Newsweek will host the New Destinations Summit in London on July 3 and the Women's Global Impact Forum at the office in New York City on August 5. To learn more about Newsweek's upcoming programming, visit the Events page here.
Time Business News
4 days ago
- Business
- Time Business News
Same-Day Delivery Service: Meeting Modern Demands in a Rapid World
In the digital age, convenience is king. Customers no longer want to wait days or weeks to receive their orders—they want their purchases fast, often within hours. This growing expectation has driven the rise of the same-day delivery service, a logistics solution that allows consumers to receive products on the very day they purchase them. What was once a luxury is rapidly becoming the new norm, revolutionizing retail, e-commerce, healthcare, and countless other industries. This blog explores the evolution, advantages, key players, and future of same-day delivery services, and why it's become an essential offering in today's fast-moving economy. A same-day delivery service guarantees that a product or package will be delivered to the customer on the same calendar day it was ordered. Typically, there's a cut-off time—orders placed before a certain hour (often early afternoon) qualify for same-day delivery, while those placed later may roll over to the next day. The service is usually offered by: Retailers and e-commerce platforms Courier and logistics companies Gig economy platforms Grocery and food delivery services From online shoppers ordering electronics to pharmacies delivering prescriptions and restaurants sending out meals, same-day delivery plays a critical role in meeting the instant gratification demands of modern consumers. In the early 2000s, express delivery meant waiting two or three business days. Only premium customers or those paying hefty fees could expect faster service. However, as technology advanced and consumer expectations shifted, the concept of same-day delivery began to emerge. Amazon Prime Now was one of the first large-scale experiments in same-day delivery, offering ultra-fast shipping options to members in select cities. Since then, companies like Walmart, Target, Instacart, Uber Eats, and FedEx have expanded their same-day capabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated this trend, as more people turned to online shopping and home delivery out of necessity. Today, same-day delivery is not just a perk—it's a competitive advantage. Customers appreciate the speed and reliability of same-day deliveries. It creates a sense of instant reward and builds trust in the brand. A happy customer is more likely to become a repeat buyer. In saturated markets, offering same-day delivery can set a business apart. Companies that can fulfill orders quickly gain an edge over competitors who still rely on traditional shipping methods. Retailers and fulfillment centers can move products more efficiently when goods are sold and delivered on the same day. This reduces warehousing costs and minimizes overstock issues. Modern logistics technologies allow real-time route optimization, tracking, and communication, helping businesses run more efficiently and reducing delivery failures. Same-day delivery can reduce shopping cart abandonment. When customers know they'll get their products quickly, they're more likely to complete the transaction. 1. E-commerce and Retail: Retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart use same-day delivery to keep pace with consumer demands and stay ahead of the competition. 2. Food and Beverage: Services like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and SkipTheDishes provide same-day (often under-an-hour) delivery of meals, groceries, and drinks. 3. Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: Pharmacies and health platforms offer urgent medication delivery, benefiting patients with limited mobility or those in remote areas. 4. Floral and Gift Delivery: Florists and gift shops use same-day delivery to meet last-minute gift needs, especially around holidays and special occasions. 5. B2B Deliveries: Office supplies, equipment, and business documents often need same-day handling for operational continuity. The behind-the-scenes mechanics of same-day delivery involve a combination of tech, logistics, and manpower: Order Placement: A customer places an order before the cut-off time. Inventory Allocation: The system checks local inventory to fulfill the order from the nearest warehouse or store. Courier Assignment: A driver (independent or in-house) is assigned in real-time to pick up and deliver the order. Delivery Route Optimization: Software calculates the fastest, most efficient route for timely delivery. Customer Tracking: The customer can monitor the order through real-time updates and receive confirmation upon delivery. While the benefits are clear, same-day delivery comes with challenges that companies must navigate: High Operational Costs: Faster delivery often means smaller batch sizes and more trips, increasing fuel and labor costs. Logistics Complexity: Coordinating inventory, warehouses, drivers, and orders in real time can be difficult, especially at scale. Urban vs. Rural Access: While major cities enjoy full access to same-day delivery, rural and remote regions often miss out. Environmental Impact: Increased delivery frequency can lead to a higher carbon footprint unless mitigated through green logistics solutions. Workforce Dependence: Relying on gig workers or contract couriers raises concerns over labor rights, pay, and job security. Several major companies dominate or contribute to the same-day delivery space in Canada, the U.S., and globally: Amazon Prime Now / Amazon Fresh FedEx SameDay UPS Express Critical Instacart Uber Eats and Uber Direct DoorDash Drive Canada Post's Same-Day Service (in select cities) Local courier startups like GoFor, Trexity, and Swyft Each of these players offers different services tailored to consumers, small businesses, or enterprise clients. The future of same-day delivery is bright, with innovations on the horizon that will further improve speed, sustainability, and accessibility: Drone Deliveries: Companies like Amazon and Alphabet (Google's parent company) are testing drones to bypass traffic and reach customers faster. Autonomous Vehicles and Robots: Delivery bots and self-driving vans may soon be a common sight in urban centers. Green Logistics: Electric vehicles and bicycle couriers are becoming more common to reduce environmental impact. Hyperlocal Fulfillment Centers: Micro-warehouses located within neighborhoods will help meet same-day promises without cross-city transit. In a world where speed and convenience define the customer experience, same-day delivery service has gone from a luxury to a business necessity. It's transforming how companies operate, how customers shop, and how goods move within and between cities. While challenges persist, the opportunities far outweigh the limitations. For consumers, it's about instant gratification. For businesses, it's about staying competitive. And for the logistics industry, it's the dawn of a new era. Same-day delivery is not just a trend—it's the future of modern commerce. Whether you're a startup, a retail giant, or a service provider, now is the time to embrace the power and potential of same-day delivery. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
