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Gig economy It is one of Silicon Valley’s greatest tricks of the past decade. With smartphones, cars, bags, and bicycles, workers can register and register-transport passengers, do housework, take care of pets, and deliver groceries.Company, including Uber, liftAnd DoorDash, praised the flexibility that the model provides for workers who are tired of shifts. It also allows companies to cleverly avoid paying the benefits traditionally provided by employment in the United States: health care, paid vacation and workers’ compensation.Last year, these companies funded a successful California voting program Incorporate gig economy principles into the lawThe states of Massachusetts, Illinois and New York are also making similar efforts.
But a new business that aroused the anger of capitalism in American cities including New York and Chicago this fall has abandoned the script. Many “instant delivery” startups — Jokr, Buyk, 1520, Fridge No More, Gorillas, Getir — promise to deliver ultra-fast convenience store-style products directly to the doorsteps of urban residents. The two companies stated that the order will arrive 30, 20, 15 or even 10 minutes after the customer clicks the “Buy” button on the app. Delivery couriers mainly ride electric bicycles, not odd jobs or contractors—they are employees.
“If we don’t have employees, it will be difficult for us to guarantee 10-minute grocery delivery,” said Adam Wacenske, head of Gorillas’ US operations. This German start-up company has been established for 18 months and has more than $1 billion in funding. It is a strong veteran in the field of instant delivery. He said that Gorilla employees can get medical benefits and paid leave, and most of them are full-time employees. The company said that couriers can get the equipment they need for free, including electric bicycles, reflective vests and rain gear.
These startups usually rent small stores in densely populated urban areas and store 1,000 to 2,500 products in each mini-warehouse-which is different from companies that tend to operate virtually, such as DoorDash, UberEats, Instacart, and Shipt. In the storefront, workers and employees complete orders by stocking, picking, and packing items. These orders are often smaller than typical weekly or biweekly grocery store shipments. The courier is on standby at any time to deliver them to the destination. DoorDash and another courier company, GoPuff, both operate similar convenience goods warehouses, but they only employ warehouse workers, and delivery personnel still work as independent contractors.
These companies have benefited from the surge in funding for food and beverage delivery businesses, which have raised $16 billion in 2021 as of 2021. According to CB InsightsJackie Tubbs, an analyst at CB Insights who studies the industry, said that cash allows some companies to subsidize takeaway groceries, making them cheaper than customers paying in stores.
Jordan Berke, the founder of Tomorrow Retail Consulting, who ran Walmart’s e-commerce business in China, said that these companies are replacing travel to convenience stores, gas stations and small supermarkets. They are based on the theory that nothing is too fast in terms of delivery. They grew rapidly during the pandemic, when some people tried to avoid leaving their homes. Burke hopes that many of these customers will stick to it. “What we see is that instant access to what we need is an experience that never looks back,” he said.
Not all employees are happy. In Berlin, gorilla workers complained about lack of wages and claimed that the company’s jackets and rain gear did not adequately protect them from the weather. Some German gorilla workers who participated in the “Wildcat” strike-without union approval and no legal protection-Reportedly fired After bringing several warehouses to a standstill.The deadlock has caused workers and labor experts to question whether the new model is just Odd jobs in new clothes“We are very proud to ensure that the experience of our employees in the warehouse, company headquarters and riders is top-notch,” Wacenske said.
In the United States, employees of New York-based Buyk complained about arrears of wages on online forums, and some said they had resigned because of this. “The vast majority of issues regarding payroll have been resolved,” Chief Executive James Walker said. “As a very fast-growing startup, I can’t say that we don’t have the troubles of growth.”
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