Today in the Connected Economy: Instacart Unveils ‘Connected Store’ Concept

Today in the connected economy, Instacart debuts a bundle of next modular technologies, dubbed “Connected Stores” and designed to combine the best of online and in-store shopping.

Also, Amazon and Google move deeper into the world of voice commerce, and Communications-Platform-as-a-Service (CPaaS) company Clickatell teams up with the Central Bank of Nigeria on its digital currency project.

Instacart Adds New Modules to Unite Online, in-Store Grocery Shopping

Grocery technology company Instacart has unveiled a bundle of six new, modular technologies that grocers can add to the existing Instacart Platform offerings to give their customers an experience that marries the best of online and in-store shopping.

The bundle, dubbed “Connected Stores,” is designed to offer customers the convenience, speed, and personalization that they get online with the inspiration and discovery that they find when shopping in brick-and-mortar stores.

“The launch of Connected Stores is another exciting step for Instacart as we partner with retailers to help invent the future of grocery,” Instacart CEO Fidji Simo said in the announcement.

Amazon, Google Hear Consumers, Crank Up Volume of Voice Commerce Touchpoints

The movement to expand voice commerce and smart home applications has grown louder in 2022 as Amazon brings Alexa deeper into connecting consumers with sellers via the ongoing debut of new tools and capabilities.

At its annual Amazon Accelerate conference for independent sellers last week, the company showed off a slew of new sellers’ tools, including a new Alexa skill that lets the system answer product queries with ads connecting consumers with independent seller pages.

“When customers pose questions to Alexa, including queries related to a product’s features or compatibilities, Alexa responds with helpful answers provided by brands from those product categories,” according to a recent company announcement.

Clickatell Partners With Central Bank to Bring Nigerians eNaira Banking

Communications-Platform-as-a-Service (CPaaS) firm Clickatell is working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to roll out a USSD channel for the country’s eNaira central bank digital currency (CBDC).

The move lines up with Nigeria’s goal of advancing financial inclusion and ensuring that all of its citizens have access to basic banking.

Launched in last year by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, the eNaira was Africa’s first CBDC. The country wanted it to increase remittances, encourage cross-border trade and assist the government with welfare payments.