Instacart Connect Transactions

Send your point of sale (POS) transaction information to Instacart to help ensure the accuracy of financial records and alleviate the burden of manual reconciliation. Instacart uses the transaction information to audit orders for mismatches and adjusts customer invoices to reflect the correct information.

When a customer makes an online payment, the e-commerce platform captures the transaction. After a shopper picks the items and makes a payment at the store, the point of sale (POS) system captures another transaction for the same order. There might be mismatches between these two distinct transactions for the same order. For example, the customer makes an online payment for 2 lb of apples, but the shopper picks and makes an in-store payment for 2.1 lb of apples.

You can send your POS transaction information to Instacart by using the Transaction API or by uploading files. Instacart uses the information to match POS transactions against online transactions and audit orders. For more information, see Reconciliation.

Transaction API

The Transaction API is a single endpoint that encapsulates all POS transaction information. Use the API to send your transaction information within 10 minutes of purchase to support close to real-time reconciliations.

Example flow

In the following example, the retailer uses the Transaction API to send POS transaction information to Instacart:

1. The customer places an order.
2. The shopper picks items and checks out in-store at the POS system.
3. The retailer’s POS system scans and collects item-level data, such as price, weight, and item count. The system also collects order-level data, such as the BIN, transaction timestamp, total, subtotal, and taxes.
4. The retailer uses the Transaction API to send POS transaction information to Instacart within 10 minutes of the system saving the transaction.
5. Instacart matches the POS transactions against online transactions and identifies mismatches. Matching occurs at the order-level and item-level. Instacart leverages transaction information, such as the BIN, timestamp, total, subtotal, and taxes, to reconcile the order.
6. If Instacart receives the transaction information before finalizing the invoice, Instacart adjusts the invoice within the delivery window. For example, Instacart adjusts an invoice to reflect the correct weight.
7. If required, Instacart warns or deactivates shoppers based on violations.

For instructions on how to use the Transaction API, see Send transaction information with the Transaction API.

File upload

You can prepare your transaction information in CSV or TXT files, and then upload the files to Instacart through the designated SFTP server. This approach requires less upfront integration.

Example flow

In the following example, the retailer uploads a file with POS transaction information to Instacart through SFTP:

1. The customer places an order.
2. The shopper picks items and checks out in-store at the POS system.
3. The retailer’s POS system scans and collects item-level data, such as price, weight, and item count. The system also collects order-level data, such as the BIN, transaction timestamp, total, subtotal, and taxes.
4. The retailer uploads a file with POS transaction information through SFTP.
5. Instacart matches the POS transactions against online transactions and identifies mismatches. Matching occurs at the order-level and item-level. Instacart leverages transaction information, such as the BIN, timestamp, total, subtotal, and taxes, to reconcile the order.
6. Instacart uses the tax amounts to compute invoices, which Instacart provides to retailers in states with marketplace facilitator taxes.
7. If required, Instacart warns or deactivates shoppers based on violations.

For instructions on how to prepare and upload your files, see Upload transaction information.