delivering logistics insights at instacart...i economics, logistics and data supply & demand...
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Delivering Logistics Insights at Instacart
Eric Rynerson
Senior Data Scientist
Instacart
# T C 1 8
Agenda
Personal Introduction
Instacart Overview
Logistics at Instacart: Systems and Goals
Logistics at Instacart: Metrics and the Efficiency Frontier
Example: Realtime Staffing
Example: Cancelation forecast
I Economics, Logistics and Data
Supply & Demand Engineering, Logistics, Shopper Incentives
Student Retention, Operational Efficiency
Logistics, Customer Retention, Operational Efficiency
Mathematical Economics
Agenda
Personal Introduction
Instacart Overview
Logistics at Instacart: Systems and Goals
Logistics at Instacart: Metrics and the Efficiency Frontier
Example: Realtime Staffing
Example: Cancelation forecast
Instacart Overview: Customer view
Instacart Overview: Shopping for a customer
We deliver millions of orders on a few hours’ notice
Agenda
Personal Introduction
Instacart Overview
Logistics at Instacart: Systems and Goals
Logistics at Instacart: Metrics and the Efficiency Frontier
Example: Realtime Staffing
Example: Cancelation forecast
Our logistics systems aim to meet unpredictable demand with maximum consistency and efficiency
Shopper Locations During Delivery
San Francisco Austin Boston Miami
Marketplace forecast estimates scale of demand
Supply Planning system provides advanced notice
Realtime systems adjust targets and pricing leadingup to shifts, delivery windows
Agenda
Personal Introduction
Instacart Overview
Logistics at Instacart: Systems and Goals
Logistics at Instacart: Metrics and the Efficiency Frontier
Example: Realtime Staffing
Example: Cancelation forecast
What missed opportunity looks like for us
Supply < Demand: Lost DeliveriesSupply > Demand: Idleness
The Efficiency Frontier describes the set of best-case scenarios we face. Moving the curve is a goal of our team
We use Tableau to view the real Efficiency Curve
Single city’s results over 2+ week period demonstrates range of outcomes
Difference in outcomes is due to imperfect forecasts and targeting
Tradeoff between utilization and availability is reliable
Dashboard audience includes range of stakeholders working on efficiency
Data Scientists
Machine Learning Engineers
Software
Engineers
Product Managers
Agenda
Personal Introduction
Instacart Overview
Logistics at Instacart: Systems and Goals
Logistics at Instacart: Metrics and the Efficiency Frontier
Example: Realtime Staffing
Example: Cancelation forecast
Realtime signals used to revise demand forecastclose to shift hour
Realtime Signals Generate Improved Forecast
Scaling tools allow short-term staffing changes
Upscaling usually entails asking shoppers already on a shift if they can extend it
Downscaling entails communicating anticipated slowness to shoppers
Both are to be used sparingly!
Realtime demand forecasts means better, earlier signals
Realtime staffing provided opportunity to move the frontier
City/day randomization used to create A/B test to measure impact before rollout decision
(see our blog for details)
Full rollout shown in this presentation for simplicity
Week before launch of new model shown alone in dark blue at right
Realtime staffing → improvement in tradeoff
Light blue:
Week prior to launch
Dark blue:
Week after launch
Higher utilization with the same or better availability!
Improvement in Efficiency Frontier itself
(up and to the right)
Agenda
Personal Introduction
Instacart Overview
Logistics at Instacart: Systems and Goals
Logistics at Instacart: Metrics and the Efficiency Frontier
Example: Realtime Staffing
Example: Cancelation forecast
We forecast cancelation to staff appropriately
Shoppers often cancel their shift at the last minute so we overstaff proportionately
Cancelation forecast bias meant we were overstaffed more often than not
High availability of delivery windows, but poor utilization
Fixing the bug allowed us to make the desired tradeoff
Forecasted cancelation
Actual cancelation
Staffed over target
Removed cancelation bias --> lateral shift
Only lateral movement along frontier
This is due to improved ability to hit target
No change in Efficiency Frontier itself
Higher shopper utilization comes at expense of lower availability for customers
No order left behind; no shopper left idle
L E AR N M O R E O N O U R B L O G !
https://tech.instacart.com/no-order-left-behind-no-shopper-left-idle-24ba0600f04f
Space, Time and Grocerieshttps://tech.instacart.com/space-time-and-groceries-a315925acf3a
Leveraging Elastic Demand for Forecastinghttps://tech.instacart.com/leveraging-elastic-demand-for-forecasting-6278b45f805f
Please complete the
session survey from the
Session Details screen
in your TC18 app
Thank you!eric@instacart.com
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