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Google Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP)

The Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) is an open standard (open source) developed by Google that aims to standardize digital commerce across different platforms and AI interfaces. It serves as a technical "language" that enables seamless communication between online merchants, payment providers and AI agents.

Core functions and goals

  • Agentic commerce: UCP forms the basis for AI agents (such as the Google Gemini app or the AI mode of Google Search) to carry out complex purchasing processes autonomously - from product search to final checkout.

  • Standardization: It replaces proprietary interfaces with a uniform data model for products, inventories and transactions, which reduces technical fragmentation in e-commerce.

  • Direct purchase (seamless checkout): Users can make purchases directly within an AI interface without having to leave the original platform. The merchant remains the "merchant of record".

  • Security: The use of tokenization and cryptographic proof of user consent ensures a high level of data security.

Significance for the market

With the introduction of the UCP, Google is responding to the shift towards "Agentic Commerce". Retailers who implement this protocol increase their visibility in AI-supported search environments and minimize friction losses in the purchasing process, which leads to higher conversion rates.

Sources:

  • Google for Developers: Getting started with Universal Commerce Protocol on Google

  • Google Blog: Under the Hood: Universal Commerce Protocol

  • Smarketer Glossary: Google Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP)

  • Burgdigital: Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) - Google Standard for Agentic Commerce
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