Google is introducing new shopping features that transform how consumers discover and compare products both in-store and online.
Key features:
- Google Lens now provides in-store product price comparisons.
- Google Maps enables local product inventory searches.
- Expanded buy now, pay later options.
- Expanded virtual card protections.
Why we care. Google’s new shopping features, powered by AI and integrated across platforms like Lens and Maps, offers more touch points for influencing purchasing decisions. However, the enhanced price transparency and local inventory insights could drive competitive pressure, reshaping how and where consumers convert.
This evolution could require you to shift campaign strategies for products that aren’t competitive.
By the numbers. According to Google internal data:
- 20 billion monthly visual searches via Lens.
- 45+ billion product listings in Shopping Graph.
- 72% of shoppers use smartphones while in-store.
Big picture. Google is leveraging AI to bridge digital and physical shopping, empowering consumers with instant price and availability insights.
What’s next. These features could significantly impact how consumers make purchasing decisions, potentially pressuring retailers to become more competitive.
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About the author
Anu Adegbola has been Paid Media Editor of Search Engine Land since 2024. She covers paid search, paid social, retail media, video and more.
In 2008, Anu’s career started with
delivering digital marketing campaigns (mostly but not exclusively Paid Search) by building strategies, maximising ROI, automating repetitive processes and bringing efficiency from every part of marketing departments through inspiring leadership both on agency, client and marketing tech side.
Outside editing Search Engine Land article she is the founder of PPC networking event – PPC Live and host of weekly podcast PPCChat Roundup.
She is also an international speaker with some of the stages she has presented on being SMX (US), SMX (Munich), Friends of Search (Amsterdam), brightonSEO, The Marketing Meetup, HeroConf (PPC Hero), SearchLove, BiddableWorld, SESLondon, PPC Chat Live, AdWorld Experience (Bologna) and more.