Google has given the Merchant Center a major facelift, rolling out Google Merchant Center Next with several exciting upgrades to help retailers manage and display products more effectively on Google. The platform now offers enhanced features that simplify product listing, create engaging visuals, and provide valuable insights—all powered by AI. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest version, from user-friendly tools to key benefits and an improved interface.
What is Google Merchant Center Next?
Merchant Center Next is a new version of Google’s Merchant Center, designed to be a one-stop shop where retailers manage how their products show up across Google. Whether you’re listing products, tracking sales performance, or optimising product visibility, this upgrade brings together all your management tools into one intuitive interface.
Starting September 2024, all retail users will be upgraded to the new platform, and early results show a positive impact on merchant engagement and product additions. This means retailers have access to tools that make managing products easier, while also enhancing their reach and control over how items are displayed on Google.
Did You Know? : Did You Know? Google Merchant Center Next automatically pulls product data from your website, saving time and ensuring your listings stay accurate with minimal effort!
Key Features and Benefits
1. Simplified Product Management
The new Merchant Center Next platform is much easier to navigate, with an improved setup process and streamlined tools. From pre-populated product details to simplified website verification, Google has made it simpler for new merchants to get started.
- Product Status Overview: Instantly check product statuses, search for specific items, and control where they appear.
- Add-On Customisation: Advanced users can add features like loyalty programs to suit their specific needs.
2. Product Studio with AI-Powered Content Creation
Creating standout product imagery has never been easier with Product Studio, an AI-powered tool that lets merchants design customised product assets. You can:
- Animate static images, remove backgrounds, and increase resolution with ease.
- Tailor images to align with your brand’s style, making products more appealing to shoppers.
- 80% of merchants find Product Studio boosts efficiency, and more than one-third of generated images are downloaded or published.
3. One-Stop Analytics Tab
Data-driven decision-making is a core focus of Merchant Center Next, so Google’s introduced a new analytics tab that consolidates all retail data in one place. Retailers can now view:
- Pricing Reports: Get insights on competitive pricing.
- Competitive Visibility: See how you rank against similar products in the market.
- Popular Products: Discover trending items and track retail-specific search trends.
This one-stop analytics view allows businesses to make informed choices with minimal effort and maximum clarity.
4. Personalised Shopping Experience for Consumers
Google’s AI now provides a more customised shopping experience on Google Shopping by offering tailored product suggestions. The improved Google Shopping home page includes shoppable videos, a personalised feed, and the ability to pick up where you left off. Shoppers can also access a new “Deals” page to find curated discounts and deals from various brands.
5. Quick Tips for Getting Started
Ready to dive into Merchant Center Next? Here are some tips to help you hit the ground running:
- Explore the Overview Page: Start with the Overview page to get a snapshot of key insights.
- Use the Products Tab: Experiment with AI image tools in Product Studio and start generating product imagery that resonates.
Advanced Settings: For added control, check out advanced features like supplemental data sources and feed rules.
6. Automatic Updates for Real-Time Product Information
Merchant Center Next syncs changes like pricing and availability directly from your website in near real-time, ensuring that your Google listings stay accurate. This minimises discrepancies and provides up-to-date information for customers, especially useful during high-traffic times like holiday shopping.
Need Help? : Whether you’re transitioning to Google Merchant Center Next or looking to optimise your product listings, we’re here to make it easier. Contact us today for expert guidance, tailored solutions, and a seamless experience
What’s Next for Merchant Center Users?
All Google Merchant Center users will be automatically upgraded to the new experience by September, giving retailers plenty of time to explore and adjust before the holiday season. If you’re new to the Merchant Center, you can expect a much smoother onboarding experience, and current users can look forward to a more productive, streamlined platform.
With Google Merchant Center Next, retailers can spend less time on maintenance and more time on growth, armed with better insights, faster tools, and a platform built with AI.
A Guide to Google Merchant Center Next
Introduction to Google Merchant Center Next
Google Merchant Center Next is the updated version of Google’s platform for listing products online. It offers e-commerce businesses an efficient way to showcase products across Google surfaces, from Shopping ads to free listings on Search and YouTube. This new iteration includes streamlined tools to make product listing and management simpler and more effective, giving businesses of all sizes access to Google’s extensive reach.
Key Features and Benefits
- Improved User Interface: Merchant Center Next provides an updated, user-friendly interface, making it easier to navigate and manage products. With a simpler layout, you can locate key sections like product data, performance, and diagnostics without much hassle.
- Automated Data Extraction: Unlike its predecessor, Merchant Center Next can automatically pull product information from your website, saving time on data entry. This feature uses structured data on your website to populate attributes like price, availability, and item description, keeping listings accurate with less manual work.
- Enhanced Reporting and Insights: The new platform brings advanced reporting tools that offer insights into performance trends, competitive benchmarks, and demand. You’ll get data-driven guidance on how to improve visibility and reach your target audience effectively.
- Unified Inventory View: Managing both online and in-store inventory is easier with Merchant Center Next, which unifies all products under a single dashboard. This feature is especially helpful for multi-location businesses, allowing centralized control over local and global inventory.
- Automatic Item Updates: Merchant Center Next includes automatic item updates, which adjust product details like pricing and availability based on real-time data from your website. This feature minimises mismatches between sites and listings, keeping your offers consistent across platforms.
Setting Up and Connecting Google Merchant Center Next
- Account Setup: If you’re new to Google Merchant Center, start by creating an account on the Google Merchant Center Next website. Set your preferences for language, country, and primary selling platform.
- Connecting Google Business Profile (GBP): For businesses with physical stores, connect your Google Business Profile to list in-store products and improve local search visibility. To connect, select the “Linked Accounts” option under Settings and follow the steps to link your Google Business Profile.
- Uploading Product Data: You can add products manually, via spreadsheet uploads, or through Google’s Content API. Use structured data or scheduled feeds to automate regular updates. For many e-commerce platforms, third-party integration tools can streamline the feed management process.
- Enabling Automatic Item Updates: Activate automatic item updates to let Google update prices and availability based on your website’s information. This setting ensures that even if you change prices on your site, listings stay consistent.
Pros and Cons of Google Merchant Center Next
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Simplifies product data management | ❌ Transiting from the old interface may take time |
| ✅ Enhanced insights and reporting | ❌ Limited control over automated updates |
| ✅Unified dashboard for multi-channel sales | ❌ Learning curve for advanced features |
| ✅ Saves time with automated data extraction | ❌ Dependency on Google’s crawl rate |
