Safeguarding the Spark Driver platform for delivery drivers like you

By Nav Chadha , Vice President, Walmart On-Demand Delivery

Drivers, how you experience the Spark Driver platform is of the utmost importance to us, and we take your safety and trust seriously. With each app update, we’re aiming to give you new features that improve both your experience and earning potential.

We’ve listened to drivers like Ann Nesbitt and Mattie McCroskey about features that matter most to them, including flexibility, earning potential, offer experience, efficient communication with customers, and effective bot prevention on the platform. I learned a lot from their stories, and I want to talk directly about the role our technology plays each time you log into the app.

We are continuously working to improve the platform and have adopted a number of features over time. While we continue to leverage previously-shared safeguards, like regular monitoring of criminal and motor vehicle records and a third-party user verification tool designed to ensure drivers are who they say they are, we want to address your feedback by sharing a little about other features that are part of our platform security program.

Are you who you say you are?

Our goal is to ensure that only authenticated drivers have access to the Spark Driver app. Our multi-step verification process continues to evolve, and now includes enhanced insurance verification measures, including a combination of tech and manual review, increased facial recognition checks, improvements to account security, federal database checks, and more.

We hope you like taking selfies. Last fall, we rolled out a cutting-edge third-party identity verification tool nationwide, and you may have noticed that these identity checks are happening more frequently and are now required every time you log into the app or from another device.

Additionally, a strategic subset of Walmart stores are requiring a manual driver identity verification check at pickup.

Fighting Fraud

Our recently updated Terms of Use include guidelines to ensure everyone is agreeing to play by the same rules. Fraudulent activities such as fake GPS apps, simulation software, and using airplane mode to start trips are being addressed through measures intended to detect and prevent these behaviors.

We have also taken multiple steps to prevent unauthorized use of your driver account. While you’re keeping your password secret and frequently changing it, we’re working hard to increase the security of your account by adding more password requirements, including multi-factor authentication and mandatory resets, as well as an improved alert system designed to block users from using multiple devices.

Bot Prevention Strategy

Our bot prevention system and integrated fraud prevention tools are part of an effort to create fair access to offers on the platform. We’ve added even slicker tech aimed at preventing orders from being accepted by users attempting to deploy bots to scoop up orders. This multi-layered enhancement means you can focus on doing what you do best – delivering top-notch service to customers.

We take reports of account sharing and bot use seriously and encourage you to reach out to Spark Driver support with any concerns or email us at report2sparkdriver@walmart.com. Once we receive reports, our team looks into them and takes appropriate action, including the deactivation of drivers who have violated the Terms of Use. Drivers also have the opportunity to appeal their deactivations. Steps to do so can be found on the sparkdriverapp FAQ section.

Our commitment to you

All these features are designed with independent contractors like you in mind. We want to keep the platform secure, so you continue to have the opportunity to earn on your own schedule. I learned from drivers’ stories, like that of Brenda Flowers in Acworth, Georgia, how important this flexibility is to cater to the unique needs of each driver’s family.

We are not done making the app better. We will continue to update it, while closely monitoring for fraudulent activity, to improve your experience.

Remember, you can personally take action by regularly logging out, reporting any questionable behavior, keeping your passwords private, and updating them frequently.

As always, thank you for choosing Spark Driver as the platform to build your business as an independent contractor. The services you provide are appreciated, and you’re making a difference in the lives of those you are delivering to.