Google is purchasing pointy, a Dublin based startup that helps locals sell their products online.
Pointy allows sellers to either use an app or a special bar code scanner. It keeps up-to-date inventory information on in-store products. A shopper can purchase e a product online and pick it up in-store, rather than going with a larger retailer like Amazon or Walmart.
The purchase will help google extend deeper to retailers since it already does inventory listings for nearby brick-and-mortar stores.
“Google is committing to help small businesses grow and thrive in the online world. One of the challenges small merchants face is getting their in-store inventory information online in a way that is easy to manage and reliably up to date. Since organizing the world’s information is core to what we do, we’ve been working to make it easier for local merchants to better showcase their products to interested shoppers on Google” said Peter Chane Senior Director, Local SMB Products.
He added, “Today, we’re excited to announce that we’ve entered into an agreement to acquire Pointy, The deal is subject to customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the coming weeks”.
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Google’s partnership with Pointy: what this means for locals
Merchants will simply plug a small box into their barcode scanner or install the Pointy app on their point of sale system.
There are no direct customers to deal wit. Retailers will have the advantage of having less manpower at their stores. Customers will only come in to pick their items.
With the code in place, products they sell will directly surface into the “See what’s in store” section of their business profile on Google Search.
As a key partner Pointy is, helping thousands of local merchants display this data within Google. This means their products get access to thousands of other google customers. High chances are that they will have a huge customer margin who will show interest in their product.
Google is looking forward to working with Pointy to help even more local retailers bring their product inventory online.
No pressure. Oftentimes retailers get the pressure of making sales and end selling wrong prices. Or either some customers get so manipulative to appoint you to accept their price offer.
By joining forces, the two companies believe that they will be able to help people discover local stores and products on a much larger scale.
