What Pointy was, why it is now called the Local Inventory app, who is eligible, how setup works with your POS, and how in-store product listings and Google reviews work together to win nearby shoppers.
Pointy by Google lets a physical store show the products it sells on Google Search and Maps, straight from its checkout, without building an online shop or typing in a catalogue. If you have searched for Pointy recently and found little about it, that is because the name has changed: Google now calls it the Local Inventory app.
This guide explains what Pointy was, how the Local Inventory app works today, which stores are eligible, how it compares with other ways to add products to your Business Profile, and why product visibility works best when your Google reviews are strong too.
Pointy was founded in Dublin in 2014 by Mark Cummins and Charles Bibby. Its first product, the Pointy box, plugged in between a store's barcode scanner and its point of sale, so every item scanned at checkout was listed online automatically. Google acquired the company in January 2020, reportedly for around $160 million. Google has since fully integrated the service: the Pointy app is now the Local Inventory app, and some POS app marketplaces still list it under the Pointy name. Products it adds appear in the "See what's in store" section of your Business Profile and in product searches on Google Search and Maps.
You install the Local Inventory app from your POS provider's app marketplace. Google lists Clover, Square, and Lightspeed among more than 20 compatible systems. Once connected, products you sell are matched against Google's database of manufacturer UPC and EAN barcodes and added to your Google Business Profile, with no manual catalogue to maintain. Google does not charge for the service. Items with barcodes you print yourself are not in that database, so Google suggests labelling them with both the manufacturer barcode and your own and scanning both at checkout. To manage the products afterwards, you need access to Google Merchant Center, which you can reach from the Products area of your Business Profile.
At the time of writing, Google's help centre says in-store products are available to businesses that are in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, or Australia; have a physical store that uses a wired barcode scanner or a compatible POS system; sell products with manufacturer UPC or EAN barcodes; and have a verified Business Profile. Some store types, such as gun and tobacco shops, are treated as sensitive and may have display restrictions. The feature is built for retailers selling packaged goods, such as pharmacies, hardware stores, bookshops, gift shops, and convenience stores. Restaurants, salons, clinics, and hotels are better served by menus, services lists, and booking links on their profiles.
There are three main ways to get products onto your Business Profile. The Product Editor in your Business Profile lets you add items one at a time, which suits small catalogues and goods without manufacturer barcodes, such as bakery items or handmade products. The Local Inventory app suits barcoded stock sold through a compatible POS, because it keeps listings updated as you sell. Merchant Center local inventory feeds suit larger or multi-store retailers that already manage product data, and they also unlock paid local inventory ads. Google can also add products from delivery partners such as Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats, and you can unlink those sources if you prefer.
A shopper who finds an item in stock nearby sees your rating, recent reviews, opening hours, and directions right next to it. If two stores carry the same product, the one with the stronger reviews usually gets the visit. That makes in-store product listings and review growth natural partners. Ask for reviews at the till with Google review QR codes, reply to reviews that mention stock or product range, keep your details accurate with our NAP consistency checklist, and keep your profile active with regular posts from Daily SEO Booster. Review Revolution does not connect to your POS or the Local Inventory app. It works alongside them on the reviews and profile activity that turn product searches into store visits.
Pointy gets your products found on Google. Your reviews decide whether shoppers choose your store over the one down the road.
Wherever your store is, Review Revolution helps you grow Google reviews, reply with AI, and keep your Business Profile active. Pair in-store product listings with Google reputation growth and explore more guides in our local SEO hub.
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Get startedWhat Pointy was, why it is now called the Local Inventory app, who is eligible, how setup works with your POS, and how in-store product listings and Google reviews work together to win nearby shoppers. Pointy by Google lets a physical store show the products it sells on Google Search and Maps, stra...
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