Start and end TIMES for Insta-Shop batches (AND evaluation start times)

Here's a nice new feature that will give you better control over your Insta-Shops programs!  Now in the batch settings, you can:

  • Set batch start and end TIMES (not just dates), and
  • Set the EVALUATION start time

What's the evaluation start time?

The evaluation start time is when the shopper can unlock the survey and begin filling it out.  This is useful in situations where you want to get your shops on the map so that shoppers can claim them, but you don't want shoppers to actually do the shop until later.  

How does it work? 

To understand how it all works, let's use an example.  You have a fast-food shop that you want done after noon on July 20th (the evaluation start time).  Because you have a lot of shops to fill, you want to put your shops on the map on July 18th at 9 am (the batch start time).  You want to remove the pins at the end of the day July 25th (the batch end time), and you will allow shoppers four hours from the time that they claim the shop to the time that they complete it and submit the evaluation.
  • The pins appear on the map on July 18 at 9 am.
  • A shopper claims a shop on July 18 at 10 am.  The shopper cannot fill out the form until July 20 at noon, and has until July 20 at 4 pm to complete the shop and submit the evaluation (the evaluation start time plus four hours).
  • A shopper claims a shop on July 20 at 1 pm.  The shopper can fill out the form immediately, and has until July 20 at 5 pm to complete the shop and submit the evaluation.
  • At midnight on July 25, all remaining pins go off the map.  Any shoppers who have already claimed shops but have not submitted them can still submit them, as long as they are within the four hours allowed from the time they claimed the shop.  For example, if a shopper claims a shop on July 25 at 10 pm, they have until July 26 at 2 am to complete the shop and submit the evaluation.

NOTE: all times are US/Eastern. Please make adjustments for your local time zone.

Released 6/30/16