Shopify Inc. and Google LLC Launch Universal Commerce Protocol
Shopify Inc. and Google LLC developed the Universal Commerce Protocol to allow AI agents to discover and complete transactions with merchants across various categories.
The tech companies Shopify Inc. and Google LLC have developed the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), a common framework designed to enable AI agents to discover, communicate with, and transact with merchants. This initiative supports the growth of agentic commerce, a model where AI agents manage the entire purchase process on behalf of shoppers.
Shopify Inc. reports a significant surge in AI-driven activity, with traffic to its stores growing eight times year-on-year and orders from AI-powered searches increasing nearly 13 times. These AI-led journeys are producing higher-value customers, featuring conversion rates nearly 50% higher and average order values 14% higher than traditional shopping journeys.
Deann Evans, Managing Director of EMEA at Shopify Inc., stated that for AI-based transactions to go mainstream, merchants must move beyond simple product discovery. She argues that businesses must establish structured data infrastructure for pricing, inventory, and checkout rules to support these automated transactions.
