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Syed, a Pakistani driver, has been with InstaShop for three years. “These days I’ve been delivering about 40 orders a day, from supermarkets, pet shops, butcheries and pharmacies.” On his motorbike, he says, an average customer delivery takes 15 minutes.

He has had fond experiences with many – the regulars know his name and often offer water. “I remember that one delivery during Ramadan right after iftar, he offered me dates. It was a truly thoughtful gesture.”

For Kim, an InstaShop picker from the Philippines, the app’s growth during the Covid-19 lockdown has kept him busy, at large chains as well as baqalas, or small groceries. On a daily basis, he probably picks up nearly 1,000 products.

“Users tend to place bigger orders in large supermarkets – sometimes it takes up to 20 minutes to gather everything. For small orders, it can be up just a few minutes.” The most popular products Kim picks are canned food, water packs, bread and disinfectant soap. “In the morning I see many users ordering fresh milk, eggs and vegetables while in the evenings I tend to pick frozen items and snacks such as chips.”

A recent addition to the team – he joined just two weeks ago – Kim is grateful to be doing his bit to help UAE residents stay safe by staying home.

The InstaShop management ensure that both Kim and Syed have masks and gloves available, and both are grateful for the extra manpower hired to deal with the burgeoning demand.