I think google still does this, but yes it’s probably very half-assed.
I think the real product there would be a universal inventory system for all stores. And small stores like local hardware stores might not have comprehensive inventory, so then you get in to things like inventory scanning robots.
Point being there’s several layers of missing pieces (I believe, I know next to nothing about retail) that make the top layer hard or impossible. Google for example is probably plugging in to APIs for a few large stores like target and Walmart and skipping all the little ones.
I guess another option is a store network that is a franchise model of one company. All the products come from that company but franchise owners decide what they actually stock and carry. So they could be a hardware store or a home goods store etc but it’s all one centralized system underneath. Each store has a standard fulfillment system so you can pick up in store or get things shipped.
Alternatively it would be nice to see an Amazon style store but everything is vetted as decent quality. Problem is it’s just hard to keep up with the flow of new goods from overseas showing up on Amazon and if you’re going to vet items for quality that’s going to add overhead. I guess that’s basically what stores like Target do.
I think the real product there would be a universal inventory system for all stores. And small stores like local hardware stores might not have comprehensive inventory, so then you get in to things like inventory scanning robots.
Point being there’s several layers of missing pieces (I believe, I know next to nothing about retail) that make the top layer hard or impossible. Google for example is probably plugging in to APIs for a few large stores like target and Walmart and skipping all the little ones.
I guess another option is a store network that is a franchise model of one company. All the products come from that company but franchise owners decide what they actually stock and carry. So they could be a hardware store or a home goods store etc but it’s all one centralized system underneath. Each store has a standard fulfillment system so you can pick up in store or get things shipped.
Alternatively it would be nice to see an Amazon style store but everything is vetted as decent quality. Problem is it’s just hard to keep up with the flow of new goods from overseas showing up on Amazon and if you’re going to vet items for quality that’s going to add overhead. I guess that’s basically what stores like Target do.