Agentic looking is shortly turning into mainstream.
Individuals don’t simply need AI brokers to analysis merchandise anymore. They need brokers to truly purchase issues for them: examine choices, place orders, deal with funds, and full the complete transaction.
That’s the place issues began to interrupt.
At this time’s commerce stack is fragmented. Each service provider, platform, and cost supplier makes use of proprietary integrations. So even when an agent is sensible sufficient to make selections, it struggles to behave at scale as a result of it has no widespread option to discuss to those programs.
That is precisely the hole Google’s Common Commerce Protocol (UCP) is designed to repair.
UCP creates a standardized, safe manner for AI brokers, retailers, platforms, and cost suppliers to speak. As a substitute of constructing customized integrations for each retailer or service, brokers can work together with commerce programs by way of 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 normal that connects digital brokers with commerce programs. It gives a standard framework for locating merchandise, managing carts, executing funds, and dealing with post-purchase duties. UCP doesn’t substitute present e-commerce platforms or cost programs. As a substitute, it acts as a shared language that permits AI brokers, purposes, retailers, and cost suppliers to work together easily.
The Core Thought Behind UCP
UCP is an answer primarily to an integration problem. Up 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 position definitions for brokers, retailers, and cost 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 very fragmented. Every buying channel akin to web sites, cellular apps, and third get together platforms requires customized integrations with each service provider. Because of this, a retailer promoting throughout a number of channels should handle many complicated integrations. This problem grows as AI buying brokers change into a standard manner for individuals to buy.
UCP solves this by introducing a single normal protocol that covers the complete buying 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 complicated N×N commerce integrations to a single integration level for AI brokers and interfaces.
- Shared language: Defines widespread schemas and APIs so all commerce programs can talk persistently finish to finish.
- Extensible, modular design: Makes use of modular parts that may evolve with out breaking present integrations.
- Safety-first strategy: Ensures safe, tokenized funds with verified consumer consent for each transaction.
For patrons, this implies smoother interactions and fewer deserted carts. Patrons can transfer shortly from looking or chatting to finishing a purchase order, typically with out re-entering particulars. As Google explains, UCP is designed so customers can confidently pay utilizing Google Pay, with cost 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 programs to behave as an alternative of merely informing. Google rolled out UCP to spearhead this variation whereas nonetheless maintaining the doorways open and the ecosystem secure. Agentic commerce is the time period used for AI programs which might be able to independently doing industrial work. Such brokers are in a position to:
- Search for and consider merchandise
- Regulate the choice in response to the consumer’s style
- Execute purchases in a secure method
- Deal with returns, give refunds, and supply assist
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 by way of a purchase order in a managed and predictable manner. 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 operating, Google has arrange a pattern repository. The repository incorporates a Python server that’s prepared for use for internet hosting Enterprise APIs, together with a UCP SDK that gives pattern product information and reference implementations. These parts work collectively to assist the consumer visualize and perceive how a UCP-compliant enterprise server will 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 position of the enterprise for demonstration functions. As well as, we offer a easy product database primarily based on SQLite that incorporates the catalog information for the demo atmosphere which is similar because the pattern information. This configuration permits the builders to make use of reasonable product info for testing UCP workflows with out the necessity for an entire manufacturing database.
Step2: Put together your small business server to just 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 purposes and AI brokers can join with out interruption. Run the command under 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=$! Step 3: Uncover enterprise capabilities along with your agent
Companies expose a JSON manifest at /.well-known/ucp that lists their accessible providers and capabilities. This permits AI brokers to find options, endpoints, and cost configurations dynamically, with out counting on hard-coded integrations.
Now run the next command to let your agent uncover the enterprise providers and capabilities:
export SERVER_URL=http://localhost:8182
export RESPONSE=$(curl -s -X GET $SERVER_URL/.well-known/ucp)
echo $RESPONSE
Response:
{
"ucp": {
"model": "2026-01-11",
"providers": { "dev.ucp.buying": { "model": "2026-01-11", "spec": "https://ucp.dev/specs/buying", "relaxation": { "schema": "https://ucp.dev/providers/buying/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" }
]
},
"cost": {
"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", "title": "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", "title": "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 in 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]"},"forex":"USD","cost":{"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","title":"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","title":"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 $RESPONSE As quickly because the checkout session is created, your agent will acquire entry to a checkout id issued by the server that may additional be used for making updates to the checkout session:
RESPONSE:
{
"ucp": { "model": "2026-01-11", "capabilities": [ { "name": "dev.ucp.shopping.checkout", "version": "2026-01-11" } ] },
"id": "cb9c0fc5-3e81-427c-ae54-83578294daf3",
"line_items": [ {
"id": "2e86d63a-a6b8-4b4d-8f41-559f4c6991ea",
"item": { "id": "bouquet_roses", "title": "Bouquet of Red Roses", "price": 3500 },
"quantity": 1,
"totals": [ { "type": "subtotal", "amount": 3500 }, { "type": "total", "amount": 3500 } ]
} ],
"purchaser": { "full_name": "John Doe", "e-mail": "[email protected]" },
"standing": "ready_for_complete",
"forex": "USD",
"totals": [ { "type": "subtotal", "amount": 3500 }, { "type": "total", "amount": 3500 } ],
"hyperlinks": [],
"cost": { "handlers": [], "devices": [] },
"reductions": {}
} Step 5: Apply reductions to the checkout request along with your agent
Run this command to allow your agent to use reductions to the checkout session, utilizing the checkout id from the earlier step:
export CHECKOUT_ID=$(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}],"forex":"USD","cost":{"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",
"forex": "USD",
"totals": [ { "type": "subtotal", "amount": 3500 }, { "type": "discount", "amount": 350 }, { "type": "total", "amount": 3150 } ],
"hyperlinks": [],
"cost": { "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 providers. 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.buying.catalog, ucp.buying.checkout, and ucp.buying.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 the usage of extensions to offer specialised capabilities. Extensions give retailers the choice so as to add options like coupon reductions or subtle achievement strategies with out having to vary 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 varied cost suppliers by way of its pluggable cost handlers which embody Stripe, Google Pay, and Store Pay. The cost tokens are encrypted and routed throughout checkout.
Collectively, these elements empower UCP to transform AI buying dialogues into precise transactions. The traditional transaction is as follows:
- The agent will get the service provider’s UCP manifest
- It determines the related capabilities (as an illustration, checkout)
- It calls these APIs together with the patron’s order particulars and chooses a cost handler
- UCP takes care of every part else (counting any reductions or achievement choices that have been mentioned)
Advantages for the Commerce Ecosystem
- Retailers and Retailers: UCP lets retailers promote throughout AI-driven buying surfaces with out dropping management over branding, information, or checkout. They continue to be the Service provider of File whereas reaching customers by way of 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 supply commerce options with out constructing customized integrations for every retailer. A unified API hurries up service provider onboarding and allows 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 cost circulation. This removes the necessity for platform-specific integrations.
- Shoppers: UCP allows customers to browse and purchase immediately by way of AI assistants with out switching between apps or web sites, making a sooner and extra seamless buying expertise.
Conclusion
The Common Commerce Protocol might reshape digital commerce within the AI period. It brings AI brokers, retailers, and funds collectively beneath one normal whereas preserving service provider management and enabling seamless buying throughout chat, search, and voice. As AI assistants affect extra buy selections, UCP goals to maintain commerce open, safe, and scalable.
What’s your tackle agent-driven buying? Share your ideas within the feedback under.
Whats up! I am Vipin, a passionate information science and machine studying fanatic with a robust basis in information evaluation, machine studying algorithms, and programming. I’ve hands-on expertise in constructing fashions, managing messy information, and fixing real-world issues. My aim is to use data-driven insights to create sensible options that drive outcomes. I am desperate to contribute my abilities in a collaborative atmosphere whereas persevering with to study and develop within the fields of Information Science, Machine Studying, and NLP.
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