Google buys Pointy to bring SMB store inventory online
3Reported today on Search Engine Land
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Google buys Pointy to bring SMB store inventory online
Google is acquiring Irish startup Pointy, the companies announced Tuesday. Pointy has solved a problem that vexed startups for more than a decade: how to bring small, independent retailer inventory online.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Pointy had raised less than $20 million so it probably wasn't an expensive buy for Google. But it could have a significant impact for the future of product search.
Complements local inventory feeds. This acquisition will help Google offer more local inventory data in Google My Business (GMB) listings, knowledge panels and ads especially. It complements Google Shopping Campaigns' local inventory ads, which are largely utilized by enterprise merchants and first launched in 2013.
Numerous companies over the last decade tried to solve the challenge of how to bring small business product inventory online. However, most failed because the majority of SMB retailers lack sophisticated inventory management systems that can generate product feeds and integrate with APIs.
Pointy POS hardware
Source: Pointy
How Pointy works. The company created a simple way to get local store inventory online and then showcase that inventory in organic search results or paid search ads. It utilizes a low-cost hardware device that attaches to a point-of-sale barcode scanner (see image above). It's compatible with multiple other POS systems, including Square.
Once the device is installed, it captures every product sold by the merchant and then creates a digital record of products, which can be pushed out in paid or organic results. (The company also helps small retailers set up local inventory ads using the data.) Pointy also creates loc