Customer story • 8 min read
Instacart is the leading online grocery platform in North America. Instacart shoppers offer same-day delivery and pickup services to bring fresh groceries and everyday essentials to busy people and families across the U.S. and Canada.
17,000
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As the future of work continues to evolve, Instacart understands the importance of providing a dynamic and adaptable environment for its employees. They recognize that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work when it comes to enabling employees to excel in their roles. To address this challenge, Instacart introduced a hybrid work environment that offers in-office, flex, and remote work options, empowering teams and employees to choose the work model that best suits them.
However, creating a collaborative culture where every employee feels engaged and successful presented a new set of challenges. Jamie Lancaster, Employee Experience Programs Lead at Instacart, and his team led various programs ranging from remote to in-person. These initiatives included weekly virtual fitness classes and supporting Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) in their community, as well as organizing in-person gatherings for new hires and large company events. However, organizing these events successfully required effective logistics management and communication.
Prior to implementing a solution, more than half of Instacart's workforce had not met their colleagues in person due to the company's rapid growth over the past year. This highlighted the importance of providing opportunities for meaningful connections and fostering a sense of community within the organization. Instacart realized that relying solely on Google Calendar was not scalable and sought a better solution to streamline event planning and communication processes.
Instacart was looking for a comprehensive solution to streamline event planning and communication, enabling them to create a high-impact and collaborative culture where every employee feels engaged, productive, and successful. After evaluating various options, Instacart chose Epoch, an all-in-one platform that integrates with Slack.
Epoch has helped Instacart create a culture of inclusion and community by providing an easy-to-use platform that meets employees where they already are. The Slack integration has become the central hub for culture and programs, allowing employees to access event information and engage with the community effortlessly.
“Epoch has helped us create a culture of inclusion and community. We evaluated other solutions, but knew that in order for this to be successful, it had to be easy to use. Epoch’s Slack integration was the right fit for our team. It meets our employees where they already are, and is becoming our central hub for culture and programs," says Jamie.
With Epoch, every team at Instacart, from Executive Assistants to ERGs to the Workplace team, now has a comprehensive view of internal communications and scheduled events. This eliminates the problem of scheduling conflicts and ensures that employees can fully engage in the programs they are interested in.
Epoch's integration with Slack, email, and Google calendar has allowed Jamie and his team to pre-schedule internal communications, including reminders and announcements, on existing platforms. This ensures that employees receive timely information and stay engaged with the community. Epoch has become the go-to platform for new employees to find their community and get a sense of Instacart's culture.
With over two years of virtual events, Jamie has found that sending physical gifts and kits to pair with virtual events significantly enhances the employee experience and fosters a deeper connection among participants. However, executing this experience requires efficient coordination, including chasing after employees for forms and budgeting to ensure the right number of kits are ordered.
Epoch has helped streamline this process by providing data and survey capabilities. Jamie can easily collect employee preferences, track RSVPs, and manage budgeting, ensuring that the right number of kits are ordered and delivered to the participants.
“At orientation for new employees, Epoch is one of the first places employees are pointed to in order to find their community and get a sense of Instacart’s culture," says Jamie.
Epoch serves as the central hub for Instacart employees to have easy access to the company's culture, communities, and programs. Jamie expresses excitement about having all company-wide events on Epoch, making it the standard platform for employee engagement. By streamlining communication and providing a single place for employees to connect, Epoch ensures that everyone can easily participate in Instacart's various cultural activities and programs, from large events to micro-events.
Jamie is particularly excited about Epoch's content library, which will serve as a repository for recorded content and the upcoming Instacart podcast. This feature enables employees to access and revisit valuable content at their convenience. The content library not only facilitates knowledge sharing but also contributes to the overall engagement and development of employees.
Instacart aims to empower internal communities and teams to create opportunities for connection and collaboration. Epoch plays a crucial role in this regard by providing a platform that enables teams to organize events and activities for their respective communities. This empowerment fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among employees, leading to a more engaged and connected workforce.
Epoch has also facilitated gatherings in cities where Instacart had a limited presence. Jamie acknowledges the significance of these gatherings in allowing employees from different locations to meet and connect with each other. By providing a platform for such gatherings, Epoch has played a pivotal role in strengthening relationships within the organization and fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie among employees.
Employee Experience Programs Lead at Instacart
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