Google Lens for in-store and local shopping

Google is rolling out new in-store and local shopping features powered by Google Lens. This can help those who are currently in a store look at a specific product for better prices or options, more details about the product, or if other stores have it in stock.

How it works. All you need to do is take out the Google app, click on search and take a photo of the product you are looking at. Google will then show you paid and free search results from stores online and nearby, with their pricing and product information and reviews.

Google will show you product information, similar products in-stock, whether a store’s price is competitive to other stores both online and nearby.

What it looks like. Here are screenshots of the searcher’s flow:

More details. Google said is possible through the “major advancements” Google has made to its AI image recognition technology. “The Google Shopping Graph’s 45 billion+ product listings, in-stock inventory data from a range of retailers and our Gemini models to bring you an entirely new way to shop in-store,” Google wrote. Google added, “seventy-two percent of Americans say they use their smartphone while shopping in-store, and more than half say they’ve left a store empty-handed because they didn’t feel confident enough to buy.”

Availability. This feature is available to those using the Google app in the U.S. with their location services turned on and available to the Google app.

Why we care. This option may give searchers new ways for them to find your local stores or online store. So making sure your products are in Google Merchant Center, if not already, is probably a good idea.

The holidays are around the corner and soon people will start buying for the season.