Skip to main content

2024_09_0 Release Notes

Release date: September 17, 2024

The release notes describe changes to Storefront for this release, including new features and enhancements. In addition to these changes, Instacart continually updates the platform to improve accessibility, performance, and stability and to ensure the best user experience for your customers.

New features​

There are no new features that are available for both Storefront and Storefront Pro.

Enhancements​

The following enhancements are available in this release.

Duplicate collections​

In Instacart Platform Portal, you can now duplicate collections. Duplicated collections can be used as a starting point for a new collection. When you duplicate a collection, the products and details from the original collection are copied and you can choose to edit the new collection.

The following image shows the Duplicate option in the Collections tool:

Shows the Collections tool with a list of collections, each featuring columns for "Name," "Collection ID," "Last Updates," and "Products." The collections listed include "Deli-cious," "Deli Salads," and "Deli Meat". A row menu is shown on the "Deli-cious" collection, showing the following options: "Analytics," "Edit," "Duplicate," "Preview," "Copy Collection ID," and "Delete." The "Duplicate" option is highlighted.

The following image shows the Duplicate Collection option when you view a collection:

Shows the collection page for a "Deli Meat" collection. The interface includes buttons for "Delete Collection," "Copy Collection ID," "Preview," "Duplicate Collection," and "Edit". The "Duplicate Collection" button is highlighted. Collection details are shown below the buttons.

For more information, see Manage collections.

Enhanced product details page design​

Implemented the following design enhancements to the product details page to make it easier for customers to find product information:

  • Implemented a full screen design.
  • Increased the product image size.
  • Increased the product name font size.
  • Moved the product rating information above the product name.
  • Moved the product information and attributes above the Auto-order item and Add to list options.
  • Redesigned the badge style for stock levels.

The following table illustrates the changes on mobile:

BeforeAfter
Shows the product details page for Dave's Killer Bread. It is Organic, Thin-Sliced, 20.5 oz, and priced at $6.63, with a rating of 4.8 stars from 199 reviews. The product is labeled as a bestseller and is in stock, with options to auto-order or add to a list. There is an "Add to Cart" button at the bottom.Shows the product details page for Dave's Killer Bread. It is Organic, Thin-Sliced, 20.5 oz, and priced at $6.63 ($0.32/oz). It has a 4.8-star rating from 199 reviews and is in stock. The bread is whole grain, cholesterol-free, organic, and vegan. Options include viewing details, ingredients, and nutrition, with an "Add to Cart" button at the bottom.

For more information, see Product details page.

Collections with as little as one product (Storefront Pro 5)​

Collections with as little as one product can now appear in standard product carousels on your storefront. Previously, collections with fewer than four products would not appear on desktop browsers, and collections with fewer than two products would not appear on mobile.

The following example shows a standard product carousel with a collection that contains one product:

Shows a standard product carousel with a single product collection. The carousel includes an item tile for a 12 oz bag of coffee.

For more information, see Product carousel.

Target campaigns to customers by loyalty membership (Storefront Pro 5)​

In Instacart Platform Portal, you can now define a segment that targets campaigns to customers based on their loyalty membership. This enhancement enables you to target customers by loyalty membership when creating offer discount and drive awareness campaigns.

The following image shows the Loyalty membership option in Instacart Platform Portal:

Shows a user interface for setting audience criteria for a campaign. The dropdown menu is labeled "Define a segment" with no rules currently defined. A section allows the user to add rules by clicking "+ Add rule." Options include categories for "Account," "Locations," and "Orders." Checkboxes under "Account" include "Loyalty membership" and "Email id." The "Locations" category includes "Store id," while "Orders" includes "Number of orders" and "Days since last order." There are "Cancel" and "Save" buttons at the bottom. The "Loyalty membership" option is highlighted.

For more information, see Create an offer discount campaign and Create a drive awareness campaign.

Schedule campaigns for specific days of the week (Storefront Pro 5)​

You can now schedule drive awareness and search page marketing campaigns for specific days of the week. For example, you might want to run a Game Day Snacks campaign that appears on your storefront every Monday, Thursday, and Sunday throughout the football season.

The following image shows the Active days option set to Monday, Thursday, and Sunday:

Shows a selection interface for choosing active days of the week. There are two main options: "All days of the week" and "Specific day(s) of the week." The "Specific day(s) of the week" option is selected. Below are checkboxes for each day: "Mon," "Tue," "Wed," "Thu," "Fri," "Sat," and "Sun." Monday, Thursday, and Sunday are selected.

For more information, see Create a drive awareness campaign and Create a search page marketing campaign.

Featured collection carousels in search page marketing campaigns (Storefront Pro 5)​

In Instacart Platform Portal, you can now configure search page marketing campaigns to display featured collection carousels. Then, when customers search using any of the configured search keywords, the featured collection carousel displays. For example, you might want the featured collection carousel for Thanksgiving deals to display when customers search for thanksgiving.

Previously, you could only configure search page marketing campaigns to display secondary banner carousels.

The following image shows an example of a featured collection carousel for Thanksgiving deals that displays on the thanksgiving search results page:

Shows a storefront with a "Thanksgiving deals" section and search results for "thanksgiving." The "Thanksgiving deals" section features a roasted turkey image and deals on organic products like Applegate Organics Hot Dog Uncured and Organics Chicken Sausage. The search results list 38 products. The "Thanksgiving deals" section is highlighted.

For more information, see Create search page marketing campaigns.

Redesigned creatives destination property (Storefront Pro 5)​

In Instacart Platform Portal, the destination property for creatives has been redesigned. The new design simplifies the process for selecting a destination type and searching for destinations such as collections and content pages.

The following image shows the new design:

Shows a screen titled "Destination" asking, "Where would you like to link to?" There are three options displayed in a row: a green document icon labeled "1", a link icon labeled "2", and a prohibition symbol labeled "3".

The following destination types are available:

  1. Storefront destinations. You can search for and select default pages, content pages, collections, departments, and flyers.
  2. Web address (URL). You can enter a web address (URL) and specify the link behavior.
  3. No destination. You can choose no destination for the creative. The creative will not be clickable.

The destination property is found on the properties pane when creating or editing the following creatives:

The following table illustrates the changes for different destination types:

BeforeAfter
Previously, you could select a content page as the creative destination.
Shows a menu for selecting a destination type with five radio button options: Collection, Page, Authentication, External URL, and None (not clickable). The option "Page" is selected with a green circle. Below the options, there is a dropdown menu displaying "In Store Deals."		Now, content pages and default pages are grouped together under the Default & content pages option. You can search for and select the content page you want to set as the creative destination.
Shows a destination menu asking, "Where would you like to link to?" It includes three icon buttons for selecting link types. Below, there's a dropdown menu labeled "Select destination type" with the option "Default & content pages" chosen. Another dropdown labeled "Search default & content pages" is set to "In Store Deals."
Previously, you could select the Authentication page as the creative destination.
Shows a menu for selecting a destination type with five radio button options: Collection, Page, Authentication, External URL, and None (not clickable). The option "Authentication" is selected with a green circle, while the others have empty grey circles.		Now, content pages and default pages are grouped together under the Default & content pages option. You can select the Log in / Sign up page to set as the creative destination.
Shows a destination menu asking, "Where would you like to link to?" It includes three icon buttons for selecting link types. Below, there's a dropdown menu labeled "Select destination type" with the option "Default & content pages" chosen. Another dropdown labeled "Search default & content pages" is set to "Log in / Sign up."
Previously, you could select a collection as the creative destination.
Shows a menu for selecting a destination type with five radio button options: Collection, Page, Authentication, External URL, and None (not clickable). The option "Collection" is selected with a green circle. Beneath the options, there is a text field labeled "Start typing a collection name..." and a button labeled "Create a new collection" with an external link icon.		Now, you can select Departments & collections as the destination type. You can search for and select the department or collection you want to set as the creative destination.
Shows a destination menu asking, "Where would you like to link to?" It includes three icon buttons for selecting link types. Below, there's a dropdown menu labeled "Select destination type" with the option "Departments & collections" chosen. Another dropdown labeled "Search departments & collections" is set to "Produce."
Previously, you could enter an external URL as the creative destination.
Shows a menu for selecting a destination type with five radio button options: Collection, Page, Authentication, External URL, and None (not clickable). The option "External URL" is selected with a green circle. Below is a text field containing the URL "https://external.url" with a note stating that without "https://", it will be treated as a relative link. There is also a dropdown button labeled "Open URL in Same Tab."		Now, you can enter a web address (URL) and specify the link behavior.
Shows a destination menu asking, "Where would you like to link to?" The link icon is selected. A text field asks for "What's the web address (URL)?" and contains "https://external.url." Below, options for opening the URL are provided: "Same tab (web)" selected with a green circle, indicating it opens in a webview for native mobile, and "New tab (web)," which opens in an external browser for native mobile.
Previously, you could select None (not clickable) as the creative destination.
Shows a menu for selecting a destination type with five radio button options: Collection, Page, Authentication, External URL, and None (not clickable). The option "None (not clickable)" is selected with a green circle. The menu is titled "Destination," and it prompts users to choose a type.		Now, you can select the no destination tab. The creative will not be clickable.
Shows a destination menu asking, "Where would you like to link to?" Three icon buttons allow for selecting link types, with the "No Destination" icon selected. A message below states, "You’ve selected No Destination. Your creative will not be clickable."

Upload recipe files (Beta)​

You can now use STFP to upload your recipe file to the upload location. Instacart removes the uploaded file from the upload location as soon as Instacart starts processing it. You will receive an automated email within an hour confirming the upload. The recipes will be displayed in recipe placements on your storefront the following day by 7:30 AM Pacific Time.

Previously, you shared your recipe file with an Instacart representative.

For more information, see Upload recipe files.

Beta

This feature is currently restricted to retailers who partnered with us in its development. For more information, contact your Instacart representative.

Removed capabilities​

The following capability was removed this release:

  • (Beta) The meal_types field from the recipe specifications, which was deprecated on July 25, 2024. You can use the tags field instead. For more information, see Manage your recipe files.
    Beta

    This feature is currently restricted to retailers who partnered with us in its development. For more information, contact your Instacart representative.

Last updated on