Today, eBay.com.au and Google have announced the launch of a new personalised shopping experience set to enhance the Christmas shopping experience on Australia’s largest online marketplace.
Available today, Australian consumers will be able to use Google Assistant to access eBay’s breadth of products, by simply saying ‘Ask eBay’ or ‘Talk to eBay’ in order to search for the perfect gift. Sixty million listings ranging from tech to home categories offered by eBay.com.au are now available for voice searches on Google Home devices as well as compatible Android and iOS smart phones. Additionally, a new ‘What’s it Worth’ function has been added, allowing Aussie shoppers to ask what something is worth on eBay, potentially turning everyday items around the house into cash for the gift-giving season.
Tim MacKinnon, managing director of eBay’s Australia and New Zealand markets says, “eBay has a long history of being the first to market with new innovations here in Australia, and our latest collaboration with Google is no exception. eBay built this technology from the ground up and it’s the perfect example of how artificial intelligence is helping to make a truly personalised shopping experience. As of today, we are bringing the best of eBay to your home with Google Assistant, making shopping as simple as a conversation.”
Marking its 18th year in Australia this year, eBay has transformed from an auction house to a retail powerhouse that now boasts more than 40,000 Australian businesses and over 11 million unique Aussie visitors every month. So far in 2017, more than 239 million hours have been spent browsing, searching comparing and purchasing products on eBay.com.au.
“Working with Google is the next innovative step for us, as partnerships have always been a large part of the eBay business,” explains MacKinnon.
“Already we have 80 of the 100 largest Australian retailers on the platform with everyone from Myer to Woolworths, and this new partnership expands our technological capabilities to provide even greater access for consumers.”
Ask eBay on Google Assistant
eBay’s collaboration with Google is among one of the first brands to take advantage of the multi-surface switching capability, which allows you carry a voice conversation on Google Assistant over to your phone, seamlessly. This means when a consumer tells Google that they want to purchase an item on eBay, they can easily switch to their compatible Android and iOS smart phone and purchase the item with confidence and convenience.
The ability to switch from a voice platform like Google Home Mini to your phone offers a unique personal shopping experience that you can start in your kitchen, living room or your car and continue on your phone—wherever you are, whenever you need it.
“We are the only marketplace in Australia that has this multi-surface switching capability, supported by the years of structured data we have accumulated around the Australian shopping experience. As we look to the future of shopping, powerful voice interfaces like Google Assistant will drive seamless and personal shopping experiences for consumers among all platforms.
“We are looking at the future of retail here, and we are excited to be at the early stages of this new commerce frontier, bringing the eBay shopping and selling experience closer to our customer’s everyday lives. Integrating voice capability to the shopping experience makes it even easier for Australians to check eBay for the best deal.” said MacKinnon.
Google Assistant is available on your Google Home Mini and Home devices, as well as via Google Assistant apps on Android and iOS smart phones. You can talk to eBay on devices with Google Assistant, including Google Home Mini, in Australia, just by saying “Hey Google, ask eBay.” or “Hey Google, let me talk to eBay.”
Google Home Mini devices are available on this page.
-ENDS-
About eBay Marketplaces
eBay is one of the world’s largest online marketplaces, connecting people with the things they need and love virtually anytime, anywhere. eBay has 170 million active buyers globally and more than 1 billion live individual and merchant listings at any given time. With mobile apps available in 190 countries, eBay delivers a personalized shopping experience and seamless access to inventory from down the street and around the world. Tailored shopping experiences customize buying and selling; and eBay provides variety and choice for sellers by enabling them to offer goods through online, mobile and local channels to consumers around the world. For more information, visit ebay.com.