.webp)
UCP Settings Live in Microsoft Merchant Center
Are you doing everything you can to make your online store UCP ready? Universal Commerce Protocol, or UCP, is essentially a universal translator that allows AI assistants to securely talk to any online store’s inventory and checkout system, enabling you to buy things from around the web without ever having to leave the AI Chat. Google Merchant Center has UCP settings coming soon and Microsoft has recently launched theirs. Here are some actionable steps you can take today to make your products in Microsoft Merchant Center eligible for AI shopping experiences.
Within Microsoft Merchant Center, you will want to visit the settings section. Here, you will find the UCP settings option. Once you toggle this, you will see additional options: return policy and customer support. Some accounts in beta will also see the Copilot Checkout Option referenced in the below image (taken from this article: https://about.ads.microsoft.com/en/blog/post/april-2026/win-across-all-three-eras-of-the-web).
If you toggle on the return policy section, you will see the ability to add your return policy URL, return window and restocking fee with a provided link to your returns policy url.
Once you add a return window, you will be prompted to add the amount of days an item is eligible for a return. Though, you can also select the option for lifetime returns:
Under the restocking fee section, you will be prompted to select either a fixed fee or a percentage and the relevant amount.
If you toggle on the “customer support” section, you will be prompted to fill out the below fields.
All of these fields are things that we have already seen within Google Merchant Center. Though, in GMC, we have not yet seen the UCP settings update. The returns policy is located within Products > Shipping & Returns while customer support information is located within the Business Details section of the account. It is unknown if Google is utilizing this already populated information in GMC for UCP.
Making updates for UCP readiness is important because it removes friction points for users shopping via AI agents and helps make your product more visible within AI chats and overviews. Staying ahead of the curve with UCP updates is essential for future-proofing your e-commerce strategy. By proactively aligning your store with these evolving protocols, you not only eliminate friction for customers shopping through AI assistants but also secure a competitive edge in visibility. Early adoption ensures your inventory is primed for the next generation of discovery, positioning your brand to thrive as AI-driven commerce becomes the standard.
