Google Launches Ability To Book Appointments Directly From Google Search and Google Maps

Google has launched a new method for customers to book appointments, order food and reserve tables through Google Search and Google Maps.

The company explains that if a business has this feature enabled on its Google My Business dashboard, users will see a link to a third-party booking and ordering service, such as seamless.com. For eligible businesses, the links to booking options will appear automatically.

The initial partners that are being included are Grubhub, Eat24, Delivery.com, BeyondMenu and MyPizza.com. If a business has an existing relationship with one of these partners, action links to that partner will appear for that business.

Although this service is quite limited initially, Google has indicated its plans to gradually add more partners, and it’s expected that it will eventually involve many other sectors over time, which could include the ability to make appointments at auto dealerships for oil changes or other car maintenance.

If the service does become available to auto dealers, many questions will arise, such as whether or not a dealership’s existing CRM system will be able to be integrated to manage appointments directly, or if the dealer will have to manage the appointments that come through Google Search and Google Maps separately. At this point, it’s unclear how this will work, but regardless, it’s an interesting prospect. Certainly, it indicates Google’s continued efforts in being a dominant force when users are searching for a local business. If customers are able to make an appointment with an auto dealer directly from Google Search and Google Maps, it could increase the volume of their business and enhance the convenience for consumers, and it’s likely that we’ll see the auto industry and other sectors getting involved in the near future.

However, at least at this point, business owners are not able to add custom action links or request inclusion. Only businesses that have an existing relationship with one of Google’s content partners can be involved currently. For any businesses that have an action link but want it removed, Google’s merchant support staff will assist them in removing the link from their listing.

The new service is still in the early stages, but it shows great promise for both businesses and consumers. If a third-party partner gets involved to provide appointment booking for the auto industry, would you want your dealership’s listing to include this ability?