Google Launches New Tools to Help Canadian Restaurants

Need to Know 

• With Google’s new tool updates, restaurants can update their free Google My Business listing to include important information such as updated hours and changes to delivery options. 
• Updates will appear directly on the restaurant’s business profile on Google Search and Maps, making it easier for customers to stay up to date while searching for restaurants. 
• In addition to updates, businesses can also create a COVID-19 post on their business profile to share processes they’ve implemented to keep customers and staff safe. 
• According to Google, keyword searches for “takeout” increased +180% in April compared to numbers from January 2020. Search interest for the word “delivery” increased 130% from March to April, compared to the 30 days prior.

Analysis

With many dine-in restaurants and bars having to close their doors to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, business owners are looking for new ways to serve customers. Google’s new communication focused tools aim to help agile restaurants deliver key information to customers while they search on Google. 

Google’s free Google My Businesses feature has been updated in Canada to allow for restaurants to add pertinent information like changes to hours, curb-side delivery, and contactless pickup. The multinational tech giant has also updated its business profile features to allow Canadian businesses to post COVID-19 updates on safety precautions and sterilization procedures. 

“Google My Business helps restaurants not only be found online, but also connect with customers and let them know important updates like revised store hours, alternative service options, and new safety measures implemented during COVID-19,” said John Kiru, Executive Director of the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas.

Added attributes appear directly on the restaurant’s business profile and are visible in Google Search and Map when customers are searching for dining options. In addition to search updates, Google made things easier for merchants by ditching merchant fees, making it free for merchants to sell through Google Shopping. 

Platforms that feature retailers and restaurants have been changing and updating rapidly to account for the new normal when it comes to shopping and eating out.

In response to the changing retail landscape and consumer behavior, e-commerce giant Shopify has also made significant changes to its platform. Shop, a one-stop shopping app allows shoppers to browse local businesses, make purchases, and track deliveries all within the app – making it easier for consumers to support small businesses. 

Google also recently pledged $800 million to small-and-medium-sized businesses, health organizations, and front-line workers experiencing challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.