Zepto, a quick commerce platform based in Bengaluru, has apologized after sending an inappropriate notification to a customer. The notification, which read, “I miss you, Pallavi, says i-pill Emergency Contraceptive pill,” sparked outrage and criticism on social media. Pallavi Pareek, a seasoned legal expert in workplace diversity and sexual harassment prevention, took to LinkedIn to voice her concerns about the message.
She stated that she had never ordered an emergency pill from Zepto and questioned the logic behind the notification. “Even if I did, you should know that this is not something that should be missing me or I should be missing it,” Pareek wrote. She also asked, “You want me to have a need of taking an emergency contraceptive?”
Pareek, who has two decades of experience advocating for the prevention of workplace sexual harassment and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, emphasized that messaging should be sensitive, humorous, or logical.
She drew the line at notifications that were flirty or sleazy. Despite her criticism, Pareek clarified that her post was not meant to vilify Zepto or its products.
Inappropriate notification sparks social outrage
She acknowledged that she loves the app and relies heavily on it daily. In response to the backlash, Zepto issued an apology on LinkedIn. The company admitted that they had messed up and understood how thoughtless and potentially harmful the message was.
“We understand how this was a misfire on many levels,” Zepto stated. They assured users that immediate action had been taken to rectify the issue, including updates to their processes and retraining of their team. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the role of artificial intelligence in marketing and the need for human oversight.
Commenters on Pareek’s post echoed her sentiments, with one user noting the challenge that arises when companies rely solely on AI. Zepto concluded their apology by stating, “We value your trust and well-being above all. This mistake won’t happen again.”
