The Coles store in Sydney’s Broadway became the first supermarket in Australia to use Google Business Photos.  Google’s Streetview inside Coles allowed online viewers to see  360-degree interior imagery of the refurbished Broadway store. You could click through from the street and check out the key features of the store. But the shoppers remained incognito – all faces were blurred.

Google launched indoor maps with the stated aim of allowing visitors to spend less time searching for building directories.  They were mapping airports, malls, stadiums and transit hubs. Google Business View is designed to give potential visitors/customers a virtual tour of stores, restaurants and hotels. “These immersive, virtual experiences inspire greater confidence among prospective guests and patrons,” they said.

In launching the new Google Streetview inside Coles, the retailer announced: “From today you will be able to click through from the street into the store and be able to tour all the new features, such as the in-store barista, Coles Kitchen, patisserie and market-style fresh produce section, onto the fishmonger and much more.” The Broadway centre as a whole used the Business Photos application, although not all stores offered virtual tours of their interiors.

Google promoted its Business View service as a promotional tool, saying that:  “Not only can your 360 Degree Video Commercial be placed on your Google My Business listing but you can also put it on your Facebook page, Website, Instagram or YouTube account.  It is a proven fact that enhanced tours keep your visitors on your website and social media accounts longer, meaning more chance to convert a searcher into a paying customer.”