Today in the Connected Economy: Instacart, Delta Partnership Takes Flight

Today in the connected economy, Instacart and Delta Air Lines launch a partnership designed to let shoppers earn air miles, while Sezzle offers a buy now, pay later (BNPL) option at WellNow urgent care facilities. Plus, Ryder expands its COOP vehicle sharing platform, Zip updates its BNPL app, and Logicbroker’s Niki Antonelli talks to PYMNTS about fighting “supply chain fatigue.”

Instacart Launches Miles Deal With Delta

Instacart is working with Delta Air Lines to give customers the opportunity to earn miles by linking their SkyMiles and Instacart accounts. Instacart members who link their accounts can earn one mile for every dollar they spend on the platform, while Instacart Express members can earn 1.5 miles for dollar spent. Meanwhile, Delta customers can gain access to complimentary trials of up to 12 months of Instacart Express. When the trials are over, customers will be enrolled in a full-year Instacart Express membership.

Sezzle Brings BNPL to Urgent Care With WellNow Partnership

BNPL platform Sezzle has teamed up with WellNow Urgent Care to bring flexible payment options to healthcare. The collaboration makes Sezzle’s interest-free solution available at more than 100 WellNow clinics in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York and Ohio, letting patients get the healthcare they need right away, then pay their bills in four installments.

Ryder Expands COOP Vehicle Sharing Platform Across US

Truck and trailer sharing platform COOP by Ryder has expanded the reach of its offering in the U.S. after rolling out the program in nine states following its launch in 2018. While COOP said it will continue to focus on high-density transportation markets, the company will now let businesses list and rent vehicles anywhere in the nation.

BNPL Firm Zip Launches Showcase Feature

BNPL firm Zip has rolled out a feature on its app that lets retailers showcase their newest deals. The new feature provides shoppers with a “carousel” of offers and discounts on the app home screen, letting retailers promote seasonal deals and campaigns. Zip said the new feature is part of a series of measures meant to simplify shopping and help retailers forge stronger relationships with their customers.

Merchants Use Communication, Visibility to Relieve ‘Supply Chain Fatigue’

Pandemic-related supply chain issues have left merchants wary of the added complexity around maintaining stock, dealing with shortages and managing price increases. “We hear people talk about the global pandemic, the ‘Where is my order?’ — WISMO — the Zoom fatigue, and now people are talking about supply chain fatigue,” Niki Antonelli, senior director of Client Success at Logicbroker, told PYMNTS. To combat with this fatigue, successful retailers, marketplaces and brands are focusing on communication and visibility with their suppliers, customers and employees. It’s become particularly important that supply chain partners update each other on order status.