Google Extends UCP-Powered Direct Checkout to Canadian Shoppers in AI Mode and Gemini
TLDR
Google is bringing its UCP-powered direct checkout to AI Mode and the Gemini app for Canadian shoppers, with a Merchant Center integration planned for next year.
What this Google Ads rollout means for your site
- Status
- Rolling out
- Platform
- Google Ads, Google Search
- Affects
- UCP direct checkout, AI Mode, Gemini app, Merchant Center integration
- Who
- Canadian shoppers and merchants
- Effective
- Not specified in the source
- Action needed
- Not specified in the source
Optimixed Overview
Optimixed's original report on this story.
Google is expanding UCP-powered direct checkout in AI Mode and the Gemini app to Canadian shoppers, with a Merchant Center integration planned for next year. The announcement is covered by Search Engine Journal.
How we got here: earlier Google Ads coverage
On September 16, Google expanded Merchant Center's Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) with cart transfer and checkout testing. On September 22, it began automatically enabling native checkout for eligible products, and on September 28 it said it would adopt the UCP draft hotel booking specification for AI Mode. Google then added a UCP integration hub to Merchant Center on October 7 and rolled out Universal Cart across U.S. Search and Gemini on October 15. Now, Google is bringing its UCP-powered direct checkout to AI Mode and the Gemini app for Canadian shoppers, with a Merchant Center integration planned for next year.
Summary of earlier coverage
- Oct 15Google's Universal Cart now live across Search and Gemini app
Google's Universal Cart feature is now live on Search and Gemini, allowing checkout directly in the cart or a handoff to the merchant's site.
- Oct 7Google Merchant Center Rolls Out UCP Integration Hub in US
Google Merchant Center now includes an integration hub that lets US sellers onboard to the UCP program directly from their account.
- Sep 22Google automatically enables native checkout for Merchant Center users with compatible platforms
Google is automatically enabling native checkout for Merchant Center users whose e-commerce platforms support the Universal Commerce Protocol.
- Sep 16Google rolls out AI-powered performance insights in Merchant Center, simplifies UCP setup
Google made AI performance insights generally available in Merchant Center and eased Universal Commerce Protocol integration.