Google Plunges Into Home Services Market - Digits - WSJ

Expanding Amazon/Google competition

"According to a Google spokesperson, services are so far available for plumbers, handymen, locksmiths and house cleaners – terms that customers enter millions of times a day in the Google search bar. In order to qualify, participating small businesses must undergo procedures such as license, insurance and background checks as well as mystery shopping.

Customers can review the service operator, place a call directly and send multiple requests straight from Google’s results page. Never having to leave the Google website, and thus saving clicks, is a feature that differentiates Google’s services from those of most other providers."

Google Plunges Into Home Services Market - Digits - WSJ