Starting in March 2026, Google Merchant Center will update how it manages multi-channel products (items sold both online and in physical stores). Advertisers are being notified about the update by email.
Under the new approach, online product attributes will become the default. If your products differ between online and in-store (e.g. pricing, availability, or condition), you’ll need to create two versions using distinct product IDs and manage them separately.
This change may affect Local Inventory Ads and how your products appear across Google surfaces. Advertisers should review product data feeds to ensure correct segmentation before the transition.
Read the official help page: Update of multi-channel product system.
This news was spotted by Hana Kobzová.
