Google Lens has introduced a new feature that enhances the in-person shopping experience by providing search results customized to the store a shopper is visiting. Announced on Tuesday, this update aims to combine the best of in-store and online shopping.
Key Features
- Store-Specific Results: Shoppers can take a picture of an item with Google Lens to access tailored information, including product details, reviews, price comparisons, and similar in-stock items at the store they’re browsing.
- Category Availability: Currently, the feature supports beauty products, toys, and electronics, with plans to expand into additional categories in the future, according to Lilian Rincon, Google’s VP of Product Management.
- Focus on In-Stock Items: The module exclusively displays information about items available in-store, excluding products that are only offered online.
Enhancing the Shopping Experience
The update is designed to bridge the gap between physical and digital shopping. According to a Google and Ipsos survey conducted in September, over 70% of Americans use their smartphones while browsing in stores.
“We all know there’s nothing like the magic of shopping in-store, especially during the holidays, but many people have come to rely on reading reviews,” Rincon explained.
For example, a shopper looking at a Play-Doh set can use Lens to quickly access reviews and price comparisons while viewing related items, all tailored to that specific store’s inventory.
Powered by AI
The feature uses Google’s Gemini generative AI model, though it’s integrated in a way that doesn’t highlight its AI origins. The focus is on creating a seamless, intuitive experience that aligns with how consumers already use their smartphones.
“It’s really about incorporating AI into everyday workflows to make it a much more useful and helpful tool for consumers,” Rincon noted.
Availability
The Lens update is available to all Google app users who have opted into sharing location data. It works at retailers that have provided inventory data to Google, enabling a streamlined, location-specific shopping tool.
Conclusion
Google Lens’s new functionality represents a significant step toward enhancing the brick-and-mortar shopping experience. By combining the convenience of online research with in-store availability, this feature offers a powerful tool for shoppers, especially during busy seasons like the holidays. With plans to expand its scope, Google Lens is poised to become an indispensable companion for modern-day shoppers.
Source: Marketing Dive
