Universal Commerce Protocol — UCP

Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP)
The Future of Agentic Commerce

Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) is the open standard co-developed by Google, Shopify, Walmart, and Stripe that enables AI agents to discover, buy, and manage orders on behalf of your customers — without friction, without custom integrations, and without losing control of your brand or data.

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Explore
30+
Major companies backing UCP
$0
Cost to access — fully open standard
1B+
ChatGPT users who can shop via UCP
AI-First
Built for Google AI Mode, Gemini & agents
You Own
Your data, brand & customer relationship
Co-developed & endorsed by the world's leading commerce & technology companies
What Is UCP?

One Protocol. Every AI Commerce Channel.

Universal Commerce Protocol is the common language that allows AI agents — like Google's AI Mode, the Gemini app, and ChatGPT — to interact directly with your store. It handles product discovery, checkout, identity, and order management through a single, standardised interface.

Before UCP, connecting your store to each new AI channel meant building and maintaining a separate integration for each one. UCP replaces that complexity with a single protocol that works everywhere — and you remain the Merchant of Record, retaining full control over your customer relationships, pricing, and brand.

"Think of UCP as the universal plug socket for agentic commerce. Once you're connected, every AI surface can sell your products — without you rebuilding the wiring every time."

🤖
AI Agent
Customer asks Google AI Mode: "Buy me running shoes under £80"
⚡
UCP
Standard protocol translates intent → product search → checkout → order
🏪
Your Store
Order placed, payment processed, fulfilment triggered — you remain Merchant of Record
See It In Action

From AI Prompt to Completed Order

UCP handles the entire transaction lifecycle — checkout initiation, identity verification, dynamic pricing, and order confirmation — through a clean, standardised API that your store speaks once and every AI channel understands.

UCP Checkout Flow
UCP Checkout
Single-tap purchase from any AI surface — no redirects, no re-entering card details
/** * UCP Checkout Initiation Request * Universal Commerce Protocol v1.0 * * Triggered when a buyer confirms a purchase * via an AI agent surface (Google AI Mode, * Gemini, ChatGPT, or any UCP-compatible agent) * * POST /ucp/v1/checkout/initiate * Authorization: Bearer {merchant_access_token} * Content-Type: application/json */ // ── REQUEST ──────────────────────────────── { "protocol": "ucp/1.0", "action": "checkout.initiate", "request_id": "req_3f8a91c2d4e7b", "timestamp": "2026-04-08T14:22:31Z", "agent": { "id": "google-ai-mode", "surface": "search.ai_mode", "version": "2.1.0", "locale": "en-GB", "capabilities": [ "native_checkout", "saved_payment", "real_time_inventory", "order_tracking" ] }, "cart": { "cart_id": "cart_9b2f4a1e", "currency": "GBP", "locale": "en-GB", "items": [ { "product_id": "prod_running_x42", "sku": "RNX-BLU-UK8-MENS", "name": "Pro Runner X — UK8 Blue", "quantity": 1, "unit_price": 7499, // £74.99 (minor units) "currency": "GBP", "variant": { "colour": "electric-blue", "size_uk": 8, "gender": "mens" }, "image_url": "https://cdn.your-store.com/rnx-blu.webp", "in_stock": true, "stock_count": 14 } ], "subtotal": 7499, "shipping": 0, // free delivery "tax": 1250, // £12.50 VAT (20%) "total": 7499, // inc. VAT "promotions": [ { "code": "WELCOME10", "type": "percentage", "discount": 10, "applied": false } ] }, "buyer": { "identity_token": "eyJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiIsInR5...", "payment_method_id": "pm_visa_4242_saved", "payment_provider": "stripe", "delivery_address_id": "addr_home_primary", "consent": { "terms_accepted": true, "marketing_opt_in": false, "accepted_at": "2026-04-08T14:22:29Z" } }, "merchant_config": { "merchant_id": "mer_bbs_client_001", "store_url": "https://your-store.com", "webhook_url": "https://your-store.com/ucp/hooks", "fulfilment_sla": "next_day", "returns_policy": "30_days_free" } } // ── RESPONSE (200 OK) ────────────────────── { "status": "checkout_ready", "checkout_id": "chk_7f3a9b2c1d", "expires_at": "2026-04-08T14:37:31Z", "merchant_of_record": "your-store.com", "confirmed_total": { "amount": 7499, "currency": "GBP", "formatted": "£74.99" }, "delivery": { "method": "next_day_dpd", "estimated_date": "2026-04-09", "cost": 0, "address_preview": "12 *** Road, London, SW*" }, "requires_confirmation": true, "confirm_endpoint": "/ucp/v1/checkout/confirm" } /** * UCP Order Confirmation Webhook * Universal Commerce Protocol v1.0 * * Fired by UCP to your store endpoint when * an order is confirmed, updated, or cancelled * by an AI agent surface. * * POST https://your-store.com/ucp/webhooks * UCP-Signature: sha256=abc123... * UCP-Webhook-ID: wh_4f9c2a1b * Content-Type: application/json */ // ── EVENT: order.confirmed ───────────────── { "event": "order.confirmed", "event_id": "evt_8c1f4a9b3d", "protocol": "ucp/1.0", "timestamp": "2026-04-08T14:23:04Z", "merchant_id": "mer_bbs_client_001", "order": { "id": "ord_9c4e1a82f5", "checkout_id": "chk_7f3a9b2c1d", "status": "confirmed", "placed_at": "2026-04-08T14:23:01Z", "channel": { "agent": "google-ai-mode", "surface": "search.ai_mode", "session_id": "sess_d2e8f1c9" }, "items": [ { "line_id": "line_001", "product_id": "prod_running_x42", "sku": "RNX-BLU-UK8-MENS", "name": "Pro Runner X — UK8 Blue", "quantity": 1, "unit_price": 7499, "line_total": 7499, "currency": "GBP", "tax_rate": "20%", "tax_amount": 1250 } ], "pricing": { "subtotal": 6249, // ex. VAT "tax": 1250, "shipping": 0, "discount": 0, "total": 7499, "currency": "GBP" }, "payment": { "method": "visa", "last_four": "4242", "status": "captured", "processor": "stripe", "transaction_id": "txn_3Pf8zR2eZvKYlo2N", "captured_at": "2026-04-08T14:23:02Z" }, "delivery": { "method": "next_day_dpd", "address": { "line1": "12 Maple Road", "city": "London", "postcode": "SW12 8AQ", "country": "GB" }, "warehouse": "london-south-hub", "tracking_number": "DPD7291837465", "tracking_url": "https://track.dpd.co.uk/DPD7291837465", "estimated_date": "2026-04-09" }, "buyer": { "buyer_id": "buyer_hashed_8f2a", "email_preview": "j***@gmail.com", "new_customer": false }, "merchant_of_record": "your-store.com", "customer_owns_data": true }, "actions_required": [ "trigger_fulfilment", "send_order_confirmation_email", "update_inventory" ], "retry_policy": { "max_retries": 3, "backoff": "exponential", "timeout_ms": 30000 } } ############################################### # UCP Identity Linking — OAuth 2.0 / PKCE # Universal Commerce Protocol v1.0 # # Creates a secure, auditable link between # an AI agent and your merchant store without # ever sharing customer credentials. # # Uses standard OAuth 2.0 with PKCE extension # for maximum security across agent surfaces. ############################################### # ── STEP 1: Generate PKCE verifier ────────── # Client-side, before redirecting to auth server code_verifier = "dBjftJeZ4CVP-mB92K27uhbUJU1p1r..." # 43–128 random chars code_challenge = BASE64URL(SHA256(code_verifier)) # ── STEP 2: Authorization Request ─────────── GET /ucp/v1/auth/authorize ?client_id=google-ai-mode &response_type=code &scope=checkout+order_management+returns+profile.read &redirect_uri=https://agent.google.com/ucp/callback &state=x7fK9mN3pQ2rL8wT &code_challenge=E9Melhoa2OwvFrEMTJguCHaoeK1t8URWbuGJSstw-cM &code_challenge_method=S256 &ucp_version=1.0 # ── STEP 3: User consents in your store UI ─── # Your store shows a branded consent screen # listing exactly what the agent can access: # ✓ Initiate checkouts on your behalf # ✓ View your orders and delivery status # ✓ Manage returns and refunds # ✗ Never: passwords, payment card data # ── STEP 4: Auth code returned ─────────────── GET https://agent.google.com/ucp/callback ?code=SplxlOBeZQQYbYS6WxSbIA_4f2b9e7c &state=x7fK9mN3pQ2rL8wT &iss=https://your-store.com/ucp # ── STEP 5: Exchange for access token ──────── POST /ucp/v1/auth/token Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded grant_type=authorization_code &code=SplxlOBeZQQYbYS6WxSbIA_4f2b9e7c &redirect_uri=https://agent.google.com/ucp/callback &client_id=google-ai-mode &code_verifier=dBjftJeZ4CVP-mB92K27uhbUJU1p1r... # ── RESPONSE ───────────────────────────────── { "access_token": "eyJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIi...", "token_type": "Bearer", "expires_in": 3600, "refresh_token": "rt_8fK2mN9pQ1rL7wT3xV...", "scope": "checkout order_management returns", "merchant_id": "mer_bbs_client_001", "ucp_version": "1.0", "audit_trail_id": "aud_9c2f1a8b" } # ── REVOCATION (anytime) ────────────────────── POST /ucp/v1/auth/revoke { "token": "rt_8fK2mN9pQ1rL7wT3xV...", "token_type": "refresh_token", "reason": "user_requested" } # ✓ 200 OK — access immediately revoked # ✓ Audit log updated with revocation event # ✓ Agent loses all access — no re-auth needed /** * UCP Product Feed — Structured Listing * Universal Commerce Protocol v1.0 * * Your product data must conform to UCP's * product schema so AI agents can accurately * surface, compare, and sell your items. * * Feed format: JSONL (one product per line) * Encoding: UTF-8 * Prices: ISO 4217 minor units (pence, cents) * Update freq: Real-time via webhook OR hourly pull */ // ── PRODUCT OBJECT SCHEMA ────────────────── { "schema_version": "ucp/product/v1", "merchant_id": "mer_bbs_client_001", "updated_at": "2026-04-08T12:00:00Z", "product": { "id": "prod_running_x42", "gtin": "0123456789012", "mpn": "RNX-42-2026", "brand": "ProRunner", "title": "Pro Runner X Training Shoe", "description": "Lightweight performance running shoe with responsive foam midsole. Designed for road and light trail use. Available in 6 colourways.", "category_path": "Clothing > Footwear > Running Shoes", "google_category": 187, // Google taxonomy ID "images": [ { "url": "https://cdn.your-store.com/rnx-blu-hero.webp", "role": "hero", "width": 1200, "height": 900 }, { "url": "https://cdn.your-store.com/rnx-blu-sole.webp", "role": "detail", "width": 800, "height": 800 } ], "variants": [ { "sku": "RNX-BLU-UK7-MENS", "colour": "electric-blue", "size_uk": 7, "size_eu": 41, "price": 7499, "currency": "GBP", "in_stock": true, "stock_count": 22 }, { "sku": "RNX-BLU-UK8-MENS", "colour": "electric-blue", "size_uk": 8, "size_eu": 42, "price": 7499, "currency": "GBP", "in_stock": true, "stock_count": 14 }, { "sku": "RNX-BLU-UK9-MENS", "colour": "electric-blue", "size_uk": 9, "size_eu": 43, "price": 7499, "currency": "GBP", "in_stock": false, "stock_count": 0, "restock_eta": "2026-04-15" } ], "shipping": [ { "country": "GB", "service": "Standard — 3-5 days", "price": 0, "currency": "GBP" }, { "country": "GB", "service": "Next Day DPD", "price": 499, "currency": "GBP", "cutoff_time": "14:00 GMT" } ], "returns": { "accepted": true, "window_days": 30, "cost": 0, "method": "royal_mail_freepost" }, "ai_hints": { "short_summary": "Lightweight road running shoe, responsive foam, wide toe box, ideal for daily training runs up to marathon distance.", "best_for": ["road running", "daily training", "half marathon"], "avoid_if": ["trail running", "wide feet > 2E"], "compare_with": ["prod_rival_x38", "prod_pace_elite"] } } }
Benefits

Why UCP Changes Everything for Your Business

Five pillars that make UCP the most important commerce standard of the next decade.

🌐

One Integration, Every AI Channel

Connect once to UCP and your products become purchasable across Google AI Mode, Gemini, ChatGPT, and any future AI commerce surface — without rebuilding integrations each time.

🏪

You Stay Merchant of Record

Unlike marketplace models, UCP keeps you in full control. You own the customer relationship, set your prices, apply your business rules, and process payments under your own brand.

🔒

Secure by Design

Built on OAuth 2.0 — the same standard used by banks and enterprise software. AI agents never access your customer credentials. Every interaction is auditable and revocable.

💳

Frictionless Payments

Customers pay with their existing saved wallets — Stripe, PayPal, Visa, Klarna, and more. No re-entering card details. One tap from AI prompt to confirmed order.

📦

Full Order Lifecycle

Real-time webhooks keep AI agents updated on order status, shipping tracking, and returns — so customers get answers without calling your support team.

🚀

Future-Proof Architecture

UCP is extensible and community-driven, built to grow with emerging commerce patterns — voice, visual, autonomous agents. Early adopters gain a structural advantage before competitors catch up.

Practical Use Cases

What UCP Actually Means for Your Business

No jargon. Here's what Universal Commerce Protocol looks like in practice — across retail, tech platforms, and ecommerce.

1

A customer asks Google AI: "Buy me a birthday gift under £50"

Google's AI searches your product catalogue via UCP, finds a relevant item, presents it to the customer, and completes the purchase in one conversation — the order lands in your system as normal.

2

A Shopify merchant sells across every AI surface from one dashboard

Because Shopify natively supports UCP, merchants automatically get AI-commerce capability without any technical work — their existing product data and checkout flows work across every AI channel.

3

A SaaS platform adds "Buy with AI" to its vendor marketplace

Tech platforms integrate UCP once into their marketplace infrastructure. Every vendor listed gains instant AI commerce capability. The platform retains its fee structure. Vendors stay Merchant of Record.

4

A customer says "Track my order" to the Gemini app

UCP's order management hooks pass real-time fulfilment data to AI agents — so customers can check delivery status, request returns, or modify orders through natural conversation, not customer service calls.

5

An enterprise retailer replaces 7 separate AI integrations with one

Rather than maintaining individual integrations for Google Shopping, ChatGPT, Gemini, and each new AI surface, a UCP implementation serves all of them — reducing dev overhead and keeping data consistent.

6

A fintech builds an agentic payment wallet using UCP + AP2

Universal Commerce Protocol's Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) layer allows payment providers to become a recognised wallet option across every UCP-enabled commerce interaction — reaching high-intent shoppers at the moment of purchase.

BBS UCP Implementation

We Handle the Complexity. You Get the Sales.

UCP implementation requires deep API knowledge, OAuth 2.0 configuration, webhook architecture, and ecommerce platform expertise. BBS brings all of that so your team doesn't have to.

🔍 Step 01

Audit & Discovery

We review your existing commerce stack, data feeds, checkout flows, and platform to map the fastest route to UCP compliance.

🔧 Step 02

Protocol Integration

We implement the UCP endpoints — checkout, identity linking, order management, and webhooks — on your platform of choice.

🧪 Step 03

Testing & Validation

End-to-end testing across AI surfaces — Google AI Mode, Gemini, and ChatGPT Shopping — verifying checkout, payments, and order flows.

🚀 Step 04

Launch & Monitor

Go live with confidence. We monitor performance, handle API updates, and ensure your UCP implementation stays current as the protocol evolves.

Platforms We Support
✓ Shopify & Shopify Plus ✓ WooCommerce / WordPress ✓ Custom REST APIs ✓ Headless / JAMstack
What's Included
✓ UCP checkout endpoint ✓ OAuth 2.0 identity linking ✓ Order management webhooks ✓ Product feed compliance
Standards Used
→ REST & JSON-RPC → OAuth 2.0 / PKCE → MCP transport binding → Agent Payments (AP2)
Go Further

UCP Works Best Alongside These Services

UCP gets your products purchasable through AI. These services make sure AI finds them in the first place.

Ecommerce

ChatGPT Shopping

Get your product feed listed and optimised in ChatGPT Shopping — the fastest-growing AI commerce surface, now with 1 billion weekly users.

→ AI Search

AI Search & GEO Optimisation

Ensure your brand is cited and trusted by AI search engines — the first step to appearing in AI-driven product recommendations.

→ Web Development

Web Design & Development

Need a new storefront built UCP-ready from day one? We build on Shopify, WordPress, and custom platforms with agentic commerce baked in.

→

Ready to Open Your Store
to Every AI Agent?

Tell us about your commerce stack and we'll map out a UCP implementation plan tailored to your business, platform, and timeline.