Dive Brief:
-
Google is launching a Google Now feature that notifies users when they are near a store that may have an item they’ve recently searched for.
-
Google Now is designed only for Android, can be added through a Google search update, and uses location services to access information.
-
The notification will give price information but will not tell whether the item is in stock at the store at that moment.
Dive Insight:
This Google Now feature could be revolutionary and quite a boon to both consumers and retailers, depending on how useful it is to consumers, of course. Two questions remain: Will people want the invasion of getting notifications based on simple searches? And will the lack of updated inventory information add to any frustrations?