Reminds me of working at amazon doing prime deliveries and using an Android app where you can create flow charts to automate grabbing hours. The difference is amazon at the time didn't care. We even reported what we were doing as a bug, and recommended a queue system instead, yet we only got automated responses not mentioning the issue at all.
This automation included an annoying screen refresh, where you hit back and then reenter to see if the button is lit up to get hours. I remember feeling terrible sitting in the warehouse waiting for an order and seeing others clicking back and forth as fast as they can the entire time, all while my phone was silently, with the screen disabled, 'scanning' for hours.
I think they consider the warehouse drivers like what I used to do temporary, till they get their drone fleets up.
Regarding instacart, and these systems in general, a queue system is just the most fair option. Your take home pay shouldn't be reduced to how well you can click a touch screen or whether you happen to be aware of app automation. It doesn't even seem to benefit the platform itself, just degrade the experience of the driver's.
>I think they consider the warehouse drivers like what I used to do temporary, till they get their drone fleets up.
Why even bother with drones when you can pay a person $8/HR with zero benefits thanks to collusion with lawmakers to bust unions and stall the minimum wage?
Drones likely will be cheaper than that because of improved quality- fewer errors, faster, better tracking, less fuel, etc.
Same deal with fast food workers who make minimum wage. Automation will improve quality even though people are so cheap. Being able to perfectly make tacos or big macs or whatnot and remove scheduling challenges will be a plus.
There are lots of systems better than first-come first-serve for logistical systems. Hiring someone with a background in queueing theory and financial market microstructure would be a good starting point for Instagram (EDIT: Instacart). It would likely improve customer outcomes, too, to boot.
> take home pay shouldn't be reduced to how well you can click a touch screen or whether you happen to be aware of app automation
Could not agree more. I attempted to do Instacart at one point, and noped out as soon as I saw this asinine, medieval, 'race to grab an order before someone else' bullcrap. I am not playing that stupid game.
If a large number of drivers are using automation software, Instacart should announce it to everyone and provide basic instructions on how to do this so the playing field is leveled. Make it part of the job. Or, better yet, get rid of this awful mess and institute a more fair system.
This automation included an annoying screen refresh, where you hit back and then reenter to see if the button is lit up to get hours. I remember feeling terrible sitting in the warehouse waiting for an order and seeing others clicking back and forth as fast as they can the entire time, all while my phone was silently, with the screen disabled, 'scanning' for hours.
I think they consider the warehouse drivers like what I used to do temporary, till they get their drone fleets up.
Regarding instacart, and these systems in general, a queue system is just the most fair option. Your take home pay shouldn't be reduced to how well you can click a touch screen or whether you happen to be aware of app automation. It doesn't even seem to benefit the platform itself, just degrade the experience of the driver's.