In a move to find new sources of revenue, Google has unleashed a new search tool that specializes in product merchandise. Google Commerce Search will use data from product catalogs provided by retailers, who tend to lose customers because of their slow search function on its own website, according to Reuters.
The new relationship will save retailers money on communications and repairs, as Google's search engine has a faster and more cohesive function. The product is "cloud-based" which means the software will be hosted on Google's data center, not the retailer's. By maintaining the data within its own system, Google will generate revenue for leasing its service to retailers. The starting price is $50,000.
The new search product is one of the latest instances of Google's attempt to find new revenue streams. Yet, it is also a departure of sorts for the company, as it is aimed at corporate customers, and focuses away from its usual search- and advertising-based revenue strategies.
