Google’s Merchant Center Next started its rollout to all merchants in July 2024. This updated version, announced at Google Marketing Live in 2023, features an AI tool called Product Studio. This tool leverages generative AI to assist businesses in creating product imagery.
According to the Merchant Center post on X
Merchant Center Next, which was announced at GML 2023, has already started rolling out for new users and for many existing ones.
Starting this July, it is finally coming to all merchant accounts, with a refreshed user interface, reinvented complex features and new experiences. Users still on the classic Merchant Center are currently being notified when the new experience is ready for them
You can access their support FAQ’s here
Here’s a look at a portion of the email that was sent out to merchants touting the benefits of GMC Next…
Let’s have a look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Simpler Interface: The layout is more user-friendly, making it easier for new users to manage product information.
- Automatic Data Feed: Reduces the need for technical knowledge. Merchant Center Next can automatically pull product data from your website, minimizing manual feed uploads.
- Actionable Insights: Provides insights on top-selling products, brands, and performance improvements to help optimize your listings.
- Click Potential Metric: A new metric that predicts how often your product might be clicked on in Google Shopping results.
Cons:
- Less Control: The automatic data feed might not offer the same level of detailed control over your product details as manual uploads.
- Learning Curve for AI: The AI-powered features are new, and some merchants may need time to adjust and fully understand them.
- Data Refresh Frequency: Some users report that GMC Next might not update product data as frequently as desired, potentially causing delays in the appearance of new or updated products.
- Missing Feature: While GMC Next recently added Supplemental Feeds, it currently does not support Feed Rules.
For now you can still use the old version of Merchant Center, also called Classic Merchant Center. Although Google is transitioning all accounts to Merchant Center Next, it’s not an immediate switch
Here’s Google’s support page for switching between versions.