Google’s mobile search has learned a new trick which should aid in getting you in and out of some of your favourite – or not so favoured – stores as quickly as possible. As well as showing information about the store including opening times, Google Search is now showing a graph with how busy a store is during those times.
Google announced the new feature on Google+ using the example of ‘Blue Bottle Williamsburg’ as you can in their animated GIF, but after checking it seems that this will work at a number of businesses here in Australia. It’s hit and miss, with the data presumably being mined from something like Google Maps automatically sending your location information anonymously back to their home servers.
Stores here in Australia that worked with the data included a Starbucks and the Samsung Experience store, but a local David Jones had an issue showing any data at all – no matter which day we tried, even with the graph present.
The update is currently live in Google Search, so try it out and you may be able to avoid a wait next time you need to go to a store.
