Agentic shopping is rapidly changing into mainstream.
Folks don’t simply need AI brokers to analysis merchandise anymore. They need brokers to truly purchase issues for them: evaluate choices, place orders, deal with funds, and full your entire transaction.
That’s the place issues began to interrupt.
At this time’s commerce stack is fragmented. Each service provider, platform, and fee supplier makes use of proprietary integrations. So even when an agent is wise sufficient to make choices, it struggles to behave at scale as a result of it has no widespread method to discuss to those techniques.
That is precisely the hole Google’s Common Commerce Protocol (UCP) is designed to repair.
UCP creates a standardized, safe means for AI brokers, retailers, platforms, and fee suppliers to speak. As a substitute of constructing customized integrations for each retailer or service, brokers can work together with commerce techniques via a shared protocol, making agent-driven buying lastly sensible, interoperable, and scalable.
What Is the Common Commerce Protocol (UCP)?
The Common Commerce Protocol is an open commerce customary that connects digital brokers with commerce techniques. It gives a typical framework for locating merchandise, managing carts, executing funds, and dealing with post-purchase duties. UCP doesn’t substitute current e-commerce platforms or fee techniques. As a substitute, it acts as a shared language that enables AI brokers, functions, retailers, and fee suppliers to work together easily.
The Core Concept Behind UCP
UCP is an answer primarily to an integration problem. Prior to now, every AI assistant or platform needed to depend on distinctive integrations with each service provider or commerce system. This methodology was not scalable.
- A uniform commerce actions set
- Unambiguous function definitions for brokers, retailers, and fee processors
- Versatile schemas relevant throughout sectors
- This methodology of working reduces the necessity for engineering dramatically and on the identical time permits faster innovation
Why UCP Issues?
At this time’s e-commerce ecosystem is extremely fragmented. Every purchasing channel akin to web sites, cell apps, and third social gathering platforms requires customized integrations with each service provider. In consequence, a retailer promoting throughout a number of channels should handle many advanced integrations. This problem grows as AI purchasing brokers grow to be a typical means for individuals to buy.
UCP solves this by introducing a single customary protocol that covers your entire purchasing journey, from product discovery to checkout and order administration. This simplifies integrations and permits the ecosystem to unlock a number of vital advantages.
- Unified integration: Reduces advanced N×N commerce integrations to a single integration level for AI brokers and interfaces.
- Shared language: Defines widespread schemas and APIs so all commerce techniques can talk constantly finish to finish.
- Extensible, modular design: Makes use of modular elements that may evolve with out breaking current integrations.
- Safety-first method: Ensures safe, tokenized funds with verified consumer consent for each transaction.
For purchasers, this implies smoother interactions and fewer deserted carts. Patrons can transfer rapidly from shopping or chatting to finishing a purchase order, usually with out re-entering particulars. As Google explains, UCP is designed so shoppers can confidently pay utilizing Google Pay, with fee and delivery info already saved in Google Pockets.
Additionally Learn: High 10 Agentic AI Chrome Extensions
Why Google Launched UCP?
The commerce has slowly however certainly migrated into the realm of chat and robots. At this time the customers demand AI techniques to behave as an alternative of merely informing. Google rolled out UCP to spearhead this variation whereas nonetheless holding the doorways open and the ecosystem steady. Agentic commerce is the time period used for AI techniques which can be able to independently doing industrial work. Such brokers are capable of:
- Search for and consider merchandise
- Regulate the choice in keeping with the consumer’s style
- Execute purchases in a protected method
- Deal with returns, give refunds, and provide help
How Common Commerce Protocol (UCP) Works?
UCP works by breaking the commerce journey into a transparent sequence of actions that AI brokers can observe. Every step represents a particular interplay, from discovering a product to finishing the transaction and dealing with what comes subsequent. Collectively, these steps outline how an agent strikes via a purchase order in a managed and predictable means. Let’s break this down and take a look at every step individually:
Step 1: Arrange the enterprise server and add pattern merchandise to your retailer
With the intention to make it simpler for companies to stand up and working, Google has arrange a pattern repository. The repository comprises a Python server that’s prepared for use for internet hosting Enterprise APIs, together with a UCP SDK that gives pattern product knowledge and reference implementations. These elements work collectively to assist the consumer visualize and perceive how a UCP-compliant enterprise server could be configured and examined.
Configuring the enterprise server:
mkdir sdk
git clone https://github.com/Common-Commerce-Protocol/python-sdk.git sdk/python
pushd sdk/python
uv sync
popd
git clone https://github.com/Common-Commerce-Protocol/samples.git
cd samples/relaxation/python/server
uv syncUtilizing a flower store for example, Google performs the function of the enterprise for demonstration functions. As well as, we offer a easy product database based mostly on SQLite that comprises the catalog knowledge for the demo setting which is similar because the pattern knowledge. This configuration permits the builders to make use of lifelike product info for testing UCP workflows with out the necessity for an entire manufacturing database.
Step2: Put together your small business server to simply accept requests from brokers
Subsequent, begin the enterprise server that hosts the Enterprise APIs on port 8182 and connects to the demo product database. The server runs within the background so consumer functions and AI brokers can join with out interruption. Run the command beneath to launch the enterprise server:
uv run server.py
--products_db_path=/tmp/ucp_test/merchandise.db
--transactions_db_path=/tmp/ucp_test/transactions.db
--port=8182 &
SERVER_PID=$! Step 3: Uncover enterprise capabilities along with your agent
Companies expose a JSON manifest at /.well-known/ucp that lists their accessible companies and capabilities. This enables AI brokers to find options, endpoints, and fee configurations dynamically, with out counting on hard-coded integrations.
Now run the next command to let your agent uncover the enterprise companies and capabilities:
export SERVER_URL=http://localhost:8182
export RESPONSE=$(curl -s -X GET $SERVER_URL/.well-known/ucp)
echo $RESPONSE
Response:
{
"ucp": {
"model": "2026-01-11",
"companies": { "dev.ucp.purchasing": { "model": "2026-01-11", "spec": "https://ucp.dev/specs/purchasing", "relaxation": { "schema": "https://ucp.dev/companies/purchasing/openapi.json", "endpoint": "http://localhost:8182/" } } },
"capabilities": [
{ "name": "dev.ucp.shopping.checkout", "version": "2026-01-11", "spec": "https://ucp.dev/specs/shopping/checkout", "schema": "https://ucp.dev/schemas/shopping/checkout.json" },
{ "name": "dev.ucp.shopping.discount", "version": "2026-01-11", "spec": "https://ucp.dev/specs/shopping/discount", "schema": "https://ucp.dev/schemas/shopping/discount.json", "extends": "dev.ucp.shopping.checkout" },
{ "name": "dev.ucp.shopping.fulfillment", "version": "2026-01-11", "spec": "https://ucp.dev/specs/shopping/fulfillment", "schema": "https://ucp.dev/schemas/shopping/fulfillment.json", "extends": "dev.ucp.shopping.checkout" }
]
},
"fee": {
"handlers": [
{ "id": "shop_pay", "name": "com.shopify.shop_pay", "version": "2026-01-11", "spec": "https://shopify.dev/ucp/handlers/shop_pay", "config_schema": "https://shopify.dev/ucp/handlers/shop_pay/config.json", "instrument_schemas": [ "https://shopify.dev/ucp/handlers/shop_pay/instrument.json" ], "config": { "shop_id": "d124d01c-3386-4c58-bc58-671b705e19ff" } },
{ "id": "google_pay", "identify": "google.pay", "model": "2026-01-11", "spec": "https://instance.com/spec", "config_schema": "https://instance.com/schema", "instrument_schemas": [ "https://ucp.dev/schemas/shopping/types/gpay_card_payment_instrument.json"
], "config": { "api_version": 2, "api_version_minor": 0, "merchant_info": { "merchant_name": "Flower Store", "merchant_id": "TEST", "merchant_origin": "localhost" }, "allowed_payment_methods": [ { "type": "CARD", "parameters": { "allowedAuthMethods": [ "PAN_ONLY", "CRYPTOGRAM_3DS" ], "allowedCardNetworks": [ "VISA", "MASTERCARD" ] }, "tokenization_specification": [ { "type": "PAYMENT_GATEWAY", "parameters": [ { "gateway": "example", "gatewayMerchantId": "exampleGatewayMerchantId" } ] } ] } ] } },
{ "id": "mock_payment_handler", "identify": "dev.ucp.mock_payment", "model": "2026-01-11", "spec": "https://ucp.dev/specs/mock", "config_schema": "https://ucp.dev/schemas/mock.json", "instrument_schemas": [ "https://ucp.dev/schemas/shopping/types/card_payment_instrument.json" ], "config": { "supported_tokens": [ "success_token", "fail_token" ] } }
]
}
} Step 4: Invoke a checkout functionality along with your agent
Run this command on your agent to create a checkout session with the pattern merchandise:
export RESPONSE=$(curl -s -X POST "$SERVER_URL/checkout-sessions" -H 'Content material-Sort: utility/json' -H 'UCP-Agent: profile="https://agent.instance/profile"' -H 'request-signature: check' -H 'idempotency-key: 0b50cc6b-19b2-42cd-afee-6a98e71eea87' -H 'request-id: 6d08ae4b-e7ea-44f4-846f-d7381919d4f2' -d '{"line_items":[{"item":{"id":"bouquet_roses","title":"Red Rose"},"quantity":1}],"purchaser":{"full_name":"John Doe","e-mail":"[email protected]"},"foreign money":"USD","fee":{"devices":[],"handlers":[{"id":"shop_pay","name":"com.shopify.shop_pay","version":"2026-01-11","spec":"https://shopify.dev/ucp/handlers/shop_pay","config_schema":"https://shopify.dev/ucp/handlers/shop_pay/config.json","instrument_schemas":["https://shopify.dev/ucp/handlers/shop_pay/instrument.json"],"config":{"shop_id":"d124d01c-3386-4c58-bc58-671b705e19ff"}},{"id":"google_pay","identify":"google.pay","model":"2026-01-11","spec":"https://instance.com/spec","config_schema":"https://instance.com/schema","instrument_schemas":["https://ucp.dev/schemas/shopping/types/gpay_card_payment_instrument.json"],"config":{"api_version":2,"api_version_minor":0,"merchant_info":{"merchant_name":"Flower Store","merchant_id":"TEST","merchant_origin":"localhost"},"allowed_payment_methods":[{"type":"CARD","parameters":{"allowedAuthMethods":["PAN_ONLY","CRYPTOGRAM_3DS"],"allowedCardNetworks":["VISA","MASTERCARD"]},"tokenization_specification":[{"type":"PAYMENT_GATEWAY","parameters":[{"gateway":"example","gatewayMerchantId":"exampleGatewayMerchantId"}]}]}]}},{"id":"mock_payment_handler","identify":"dev.ucp.mock_payment","model":"2026-01-11","spec":"https://ucp.dev/specs/mock","config_schema":"https://ucp.dev/schemas/mock.json","instrument_schemas":["https://ucp.dev/schemas/shopping/types/card_payment_instrument.json"],"config":{"supported_tokens":["success_token","fail_token"]}}]}}') && echo $RESPONSE As quickly because the checkout session is created, your agent will acquire entry to a checkout id issued by the server that may additional be used for making updates to the checkout session:
RESPONSE:
{
"ucp": { "model": "2026-01-11", "capabilities": [ { "name": "dev.ucp.shopping.checkout", "version": "2026-01-11" } ] },
"id": "cb9c0fc5-3e81-427c-ae54-83578294daf3",
"line_items": [ {
"id": "2e86d63a-a6b8-4b4d-8f41-559f4c6991ea",
"item": { "id": "bouquet_roses", "title": "Bouquet of Red Roses", "price": 3500 },
"quantity": 1,
"totals": [ { "type": "subtotal", "amount": 3500 }, { "type": "total", "amount": 3500 } ]
} ],
"purchaser": { "full_name": "John Doe", "e-mail": "[email protected]" },
"standing": "ready_for_complete",
"foreign money": "USD",
"totals": [ { "type": "subtotal", "amount": 3500 }, { "type": "total", "amount": 3500 } ],
"hyperlinks": [],
"fee": { "handlers": [], "devices": [] },
"reductions": {}
} Step 5: Apply reductions to the checkout request along with your agent
Run this command to allow your agent to use reductions to the checkout session, utilizing the checkout id from the earlier step:
export CHECKOUT_ID=$(echo $RESPONSE | jq -r '.id') && export LINE_ITEM_1_ID=$(echo $RESPONSE | jq -r '.line_items[0].id') && export RESPONSE=$(curl -s -X PUT "$SERVER_URL/checkout-sessions/$CHECKOUT_ID" -H 'Content material-Sort: utility/json' -H 'UCP-Agent: profile="https://agent.instance/profile"' -H 'request-signature: check' -H 'idempotency-key: b9ecd4b3-0d23-4842-8535-0d55e76e2bad' -H 'request-id: 28e70993-e328-4071-91de-91644dc75221' -d "{"id":"$CHECKOUT_ID","line_items":[{"id":"$LINE_ITEM_1_ID","item":{"id":"bouquet_roses","title":"Red Rose"},"quantity":1}],"foreign money":"USD","fee":{"devices":[],"handlers":[]},"reductions":{"codes":["10OFF"]}}") && echo $RESPONSE | jq Your agent will obtain the next response with the low cost utilized:
RESPONSE:
{
"ucp": { "model": "2026-01-11", "capabilities": [ { "name": "dev.ucp.shopping.checkout", "version": "2026-01-11" } ] },
"id": "cb9c0fc5-3e81-427c-ae54-83578294daf3",
"line_items": [ {
"id": "2e86d63a-a6b8-4b4d-8f41-559f4c6991ea",
"item": { "id": "bouquet_roses", "title": "Bouquet of Red Roses", "price": 3500 },
"quantity": 1,
"totals": [ { "type": "subtotal", "amount": 3500 }, { "type": "total", "amount": 3500 } ] } ],
"purchaser": { "full_name": "John Doe", "e-mail": "[email protected]" },
"standing": "ready_for_complete",
"foreign money": "USD",
"totals": [ { "type": "subtotal", "amount": 3500 }, { "type": "discount", "amount": 350 }, { "type": "total", "amount": 3150 } ],
"hyperlinks": [],
"fee": { "handlers": [], "devices": [] },
"reductions": {
"codes": [ "10OFF" ],
"utilized": [ { "code": "10OFF", "title": "10% Off", "amount": 350, "automatic": false, "allocations": [ { "path": "subtotal", "amount": 350 } ] } ]
}
} Key Elements of the Common Commerce Protocol
A UCP server, which is usually the service provider backend, reveals a number of companies. Each service corresponds to particular capabilities that may be distinguished among the many practical areas akin to product discovery or checkout. Widespread examples embody ucp.purchasing.catalog, ucp.purchasing.checkout, and ucp.purchasing.orders. Retailers go for the capabilities they require, whereas the AI brokers will talk with the retailers as per the enabled capabilities.
Capabilities an Core Service
Extensions: Capabilities additionally allow using extensions to supply specialised features. Extensions give retailers the choice so as to add options like coupon reductions or refined success strategies with out having to alter the first schemas.
Discovery
Every UCP enabled enterprise gives a manifest at https://
Transports
UCP will not be restricted to a particular transport. The identical functionality payloads can transfer over REST, JSON RPC, or agent native protocols like Mannequin Context Protocol (MCP) and Agent2Agent (A2A) and even non-native ones.
Funds
UCP is built-in with numerous fee suppliers via its pluggable fee handlers which embody Stripe, Google Pay, and Store Pay. The fee tokens are encrypted and routed throughout checkout.
Collectively, these elements empower UCP to transform AI purchasing dialogues into precise transactions. The conventional transaction is as follows:
- The agent will get the service provider’s UCP manifest
- It determines the related capabilities (for example, checkout)
- It calls these APIs together with the consumer’s order particulars and chooses a fee handler
- UCP takes care of all the things else (counting any reductions or success choices that have been mentioned)
Advantages for the Commerce Ecosystem
- Retailers and Retailers: UCP lets retailers promote throughout AI-driven purchasing surfaces with out dropping management over branding, knowledge, or checkout. They continue to be the Service provider of Report whereas reaching customers via Google Search AI Mode, chatbots, and voice assistants utilizing a single integration.
- AI Platforms and Brokers: AI platforms like Google AI Mode, Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot can provide commerce options with out constructing customized integrations for every retailer. A unified API hurries up service provider onboarding and permits scalable agent-driven commerce.
- Builders: UCP is open supply and developer pleasant, with clear documentation, SDKs, and reference implementations. Builders can construct utilizing acquainted instruments like REST and JSON and undertake solely the capabilities they want.
- Cost Suppliers: Cost suppliers can combine as soon as and work throughout many retailers utilizing UCP’s modular, tokenized fee move. This removes the necessity for platform-specific integrations.
- Shoppers: UCP permits customers to browse and purchase straight via AI assistants with out switching between apps or web sites, making a quicker and extra seamless purchasing expertise.
Conclusion
The Common Commerce Protocol may reshape digital commerce within the AI period. It brings AI brokers, retailers, and funds collectively below one customary whereas preserving service provider management and enabling seamless purchasing throughout chat, search, and voice. As AI assistants affect extra buy choices, UCP goals to maintain commerce open, safe, and scalable.
What’s your tackle agent-driven purchasing? Share your ideas within the feedback beneath.
Howdy! I am Vipin, a passionate knowledge science and machine studying fanatic with a powerful basis in knowledge evaluation, machine studying algorithms, and programming. I’ve hands-on expertise in constructing fashions, managing messy knowledge, and fixing real-world issues. My purpose is to use data-driven insights to create sensible options that drive outcomes. I am wanting to contribute my abilities in a collaborative setting whereas persevering with to be taught and develop within the fields of Information Science, Machine Studying, and NLP.
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