Californian online grocery firm Instacart has announced a way for shoppers to check out using mobile payments directly in the Shopper app. Mobile Checkout will be available for all shoppers in the coming months, so shoppers can tap their phone and pay at the register without needing to reach for their wallet.

Instacart Mobile Checkout is being offered in partnership with the Marqeta card-issuing platform. Using NFC technology, Mobile Checkout will be available anywhere credit cards are accepted through Google Pay or Apple Pay.

“We know that for many shoppers, convenience is key,” said Kevin Henrikson, vice president at Instacart. “We’ve heard from shoppers that they would like an easier way to pay with their phone, instead of relying on a physical payment card that can get lost or buried in their wallet. Mobile Checkout helps us address this feedback and improve the overall shopper experience. For new shoppers, it will also significantly shorten the timeframe before they can begin shopping. With a mobile payment option, new shoppers can go from signing up to their first shop in as little as a few hours.”

Shoppers can use Mobile Checkout to pay quickly and easily with just a tap. Instead of reaching for their wallet or purse, shoppers can use their readily available smartphone to check out, taking less time than a typical physical card.

If a shopper forgets their physical payment card at home, loses it while shopping, or finds it’s unable to swipe at checkout, they can use Mobile Checkout as a quick backup, instead of having to stop shopping for the day.

New shoppers can sign up and begin shopping in less than a day. Instead of waiting for their physical payment card to arrive in the mail, shoppers can simply sign up for Instacart and start shopping the moment their background check is cleared.

Using NFC technology through the Google Pay and Apple Pay platforms, Mobile Checkout is secure and keeps payment information confidential through tokenisation.

“We’re excited to partner with Instacart on Mobile Checkout, which is a great use of Marqeta’s modern card issuing platform to provide a seamless user experience for Instacart’s shoppers,” said Omri Dahan, chief revenue officer at Marqeta. “Marqeta’s platform is the first in the market to instantly issue cards into a mobile wallet, allowing Instacart shoppers to get their cards immediately and begin fulfilling orders, all while benefiting from a more secure way to pay.”

Mobile Checkout is available in select regions, and will be rolling out to all shoppers in the coming months.

Instacart’s same-day delivery and pickup services bring fresh groceries and everyday essentials to people and families across the USA and Canada in as fast as an hour. It has partnered with more than 350 national, regional and local retailers, including Albertsons, Aldi, Costco, Kroger, Loblaw, Publix, Sam’s Club, Sprouts, Walmart Canada and Wegmans to deliver from more than 25,000 stores across more than 5000 cities in North America. Its delivery service is available to more than 85% of US households and 70% of Canadian households.

The company’s enterprise technology also powers the e-commerce platforms of some of the world’s biggest retail players, supporting their white-label web sites, applications and delivery options.