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Industry news

Short takes on the stories shaping local search, listings and reputation — with a link to the original.

July 2026

01 Jul

The Return of Business Profile Messages: With AI Built In?

Early reports suggest Google is reviving native GBP Messaging - and it's come back with an AI agent attached. The chatbot fields customer questions around the clock using your GBP data and website, handing off to a human when needed. Conversations split into "Needs your attention" and "Handled by your AI agent," with a Promote tab that lets you run ads where customers can message the agent straight from Search. For multi-location brands, the governance question is worth sitting with — an agent running across dozens of locations will get things wrong and needs monitoring. But as a tool for keeping profiles active outside business hours, it's a meaningful upgrade. Make sure your GBP data and rich content are in good shape before this lands — that's what the agent draws from.
Launchcodex

June 2026

March 2026

27 Mar

Apple Goes All-In on Business with One Platform to Rule Them All

Apple's unified device management, business email, and its Business Connect brand tools into one platform — Apple Business — rolling out across 200+ countries from 14 April. For multi-location brands, the headline is Maps advertising arriving this summer in the US and Canada, sitting alongside the existing place cards, showcases, and location-level insights carried over from Business Connect. The bigger picture: Apple is quietly building a genuine rival to Google Business Profile, now with its own ads platform attached. If you're managing listings at scale across Apple Maps, pay attention.
Apple

September 2025

23 Sept

Google AI can now handle calls to local businesses for you

Google Search can now place AI calls to local businesses to check pricing and availability on a searcher's behalf, then summarise the answers by text or email. For multi-location brands it's another reason to keep every Google Business Profile accurate and reachable — the AI identifies itself on calls, and businesses can opt out via their profile.
Google