Your Weekly Digest of the Gig Economy | Week of June 17, 2024
Hello and welcome to Gig Pulse, your premier weekly newsletter dedicated to bringing you the latest and most impactful news from the gig economy. Gig Pulse is here to keep you informed and ahead of the curve.
In this edition we dive into Uber’s regulatory set back in California, Doordash’s alcohol delivery expansion and RiteAide’s expanded partnership with Instacart. Plus, the latest developments at HopSkipDrive, Kyte and Metropolis.
Happy reading!
Rideshare news:
A federal appeals court in California ruled against Uber’s challenge to California AB5, a law aimed at classifying transportation gig workers as employees instead of independent contractors. This decision marks a significant setback for Uber as it tries to manage costs. Passed in 2019, AB5 intended to grant app-based workers, such as those for Uber, Lyft, and Postmates, employee benefits including minimum wage and workplace protections. Although Uber initially succeeded in challenging the law, the recent ruling from an 11-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reverses that decision, stating that the law fairly regulates all independent contractors, not just transportation gig workers.
HopSkipDrive announced three new safety features to enhance rapid support, provide access to in-vehicle ride recordings, and improve communication with parents and caregivers. Building on the company’s proprietary safety technology, these features follow the recent launch of Proactive Ride Intervention, the industry’s first real-time, proactive safety solution, supported by HopSkipDrive’s innovative Safe Ride Support team and technology.
Meal and Food Delivery:
DoorDash announced the expansion alcohol delivery from select stores including Food Lion, Hannaford, Giant Food, and others. Additionally, DoorDash introduced new advertising options for brands to connect with consumers interested in purchasing and enjoying alcohol responsibly.
Also… DoorDash and Wing have launched a drone delivery partnership in the U.S., starting in Christiansburg, VA. Select local consumers can order from Wendy’s® via the DoorDash marketplace and receive deliveries by drone. This follows their 2022 drone delivery pilot in Australia, now expanded to three locations in Queensland with over 60 merchants, marking Wing’s first integration within another marketplace.
Rite Aid announced an expanded partnership with Instacart, allowing customers to use Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards for SNAP as an online payment option for eligible items on its Instacart storefront. This service is available at over 1,400 Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs locations nationwide, offering essential items and same-day delivery for SNAP beneficiaries, enhancing convenience and access to needed products
General Delivery News:
BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. is partnering with Roadie, a UPS company. BJ’s is now able to provide same-day delivery for big-ticket items such as patio sets, grills, and TVs. Members in participating ZIP codes can order these products online for a fee.
Empower Healthcare Solutions and DispatchHealth® have partnered to provide Empower members with urgent medical care at home. This initiative aims to improve healthcare accessibility and lower costs for members in Central Arkansas.
Logistics, Travel, etc:
Kuehne+Nagel held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new fulfillment and distribution center in EZDubai, an e-commerce zone in Dubai South near Al Maktoum International Airport and connected to Jebel Ali Port. This center will serve as a trade hub for the region, offering customers efficient logistics solutions and exempting them from customs clearance procedures within the bonded logistics corridors.
Spotnana is enhancing its platform by adding more low-cost carriers through a connection with corporate travel distributor Kyte. This integration will provide access to budget flight options, including additional services and bundles from major low-cost airlines like EasyJet and Ryanair, which recently partnered with Kyte as its first non-GDS distribution partner.
Metropolis has significantly increased its parking capacity by acquiring Chicago-based SP Plus Corp. in May. The $1.8 billion deal, financed through $1.05 billion in series C preferred stock and $550 million in term debt primarily from Eldridge Industries LLC and 3L Capital, will enable Metropolis to serve a consumer base of 50 million. Additionally, Metropolis secured a $175 million revolving debt facility from PNC Bank, National Association, to support the acquisition.
CPG companies can now use new clickable ads on YouTube to enable product purchases for delivery via Instacart, thanks to a partnership between YouTube and Instacart. Clorox and Publicis Media are among the first to pilot this technology. This new ad capability builds on Instacart’s existing relationship with Google, established in January, which allowed Instacart CPG partners to use Google Shopping Ads to reach consumers. The partnership aims to inform CPG companies about shopping activity occurring outside the Instacart platform.
