Google has recently made significant announcements regarding its search result display in the European Union. In response to continuous complaints about non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the company is set to conduct a "short test" of plain "blue link" style search results for hotel queries in three EU markets - Belgium, Estonia, and Germany. This move comes as part of the EU's efforts to ensure market contestability and enforce regulations.

Google's Search Changes and the EU's DMA - A Battle for Fairness

Impact on the Travel Vertical

Travel comparison sites have been vocal about Google's alleged attempts to circumvent its obligations. Google, on the other hand, claims that these search changes have penalized other players in the travel ecosystem. A significant drop of around a third (30%) in "direct booking clicks" to airlines, hotel operators, and small retailers has been observed. This indicates a potential shift in user behavior and a challenge for the travel industry.The DMA aims to prevent gatekeepers from abusing their market power. It will be interesting to see how the European Commission views Google's tactics in response to the DMA. The latest changes not only affect the travel vertical but also impact product searches and restaurants. Google believes that the proposed changes strike a balance between compliance and providing useful technology to European users.

Rival Display Units

Google's blog post announces changes in search result display, including expanded and equally formatted units for product searches, restaurants, flights, and hotels. Users will now have the choice between results that take them to Google rivals or directly to supplier or retailer websites. However, the blog post does not provide visual examples, leaving much to be determined.In addition, Google will introduce new ad units for comparison sites, but the details remain unknown. Travel aggregators have been critical of Google's initial DMA response, accusing the company of using various tactics to compete unfairly. Google argues that it is being forced to degrade the search experience to comply with the DMA.

Visual Rich Features and Their Impact

Google's visually rich feature for hotel search queries shows a map view of hotels with pricing info and links to featured hotel websites. This feature aims to drive search traffic directly to suppliers, potentially leaving comparison sites at a disadvantage. While some stakeholders are satisfied with these changes, others demand more, such as a complete ban on anything more sophisticated than a simple blue link.Google is reluctant to run the "blue link" test, claiming that it is being forced to do so by rivals. The test will remove some of the debated features and return to a more traditional "ten blue links" format. It is unclear how long the test will last, and once it ends, hotel search results will return to "normal" in this ever-changing context.Ultimately, it is up to the European Commission's DMA enforcers to determine what fair compliance looks like. Google is under pressure not only over this aspect of DMA compliance but also from privacy-focused search rival DuckDuckGo, which has urged the Commission to widen its investigation.We reached out to the Commission for a response, and EU spokeswoman Lea Zuber said, "All we can say is that we're currently assessing Google's compliance proposals."

Daricus Releford has always harbored a dream of becoming a founder. In his high school days, he operated a hot dog station, and during college, he launched a chocolate-covered strawberry business, achieving millions in sales. He then moved to Silicon Valley to pursue his tech dreams. As he told TechCrunch, entrepreneurship seems to be in his blood. His grandfather was one of the first Black hotel owners in the US, and his mother was always starting businesses.

Unlock Financial Freedom with StoreCash

StoreCash: A Mobile Payment Solution

In 2020, Releford founded StoreCash, a mobile payment solution that enables users to pay for items and earn maximum cash-back rewards. He launched the company with the aim of helping people save more money. StoreCash is distinct from its competitors as it transfers cash back to consumers immediately. In contrast, other solutions offer lower returns and take longer to reach customers.Releford pointed out that knowing about 56% of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings, he wanted to assist the average American in building generational wealth. Currently, StoreCash users can earn around $900 annually just by using the app.The app's functionality is quite straightforward. It integrates its API into fintech partners and notifies users when stores like H&M, Gap, or AMC Theatres offer cash back. When shopping in person, customers scan a QR code generated by the app, which applies the cash-back savings to their purchase. Online, a consumer simply opens the StoreCash app, selects the store they want to shop at, and manually types in the serial number and barcode to complete the transaction.Cash back is mainly earned through affiliate marketing, similar to Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates), or credit and debit card rewards. However, these traditional methods often have hidden fees.The company has attracted top investors. Today, it announces the closing of a $3.7 million seed round led by Black Ops Ventures, with participation from returning investors MaC Venture Capital, 43North, and Alumni Ventures. To date, the company has raised $6.4 million.Marlon Nichols, a co-founder of MaC Venture Capital, stated that the fintech space is ripe for a major player to emerge with a solid personal finance tool for consumers. Daricus and the team have big plans to add budgeting features to make a real impact in helping people better track and organize their finances.However, fundraising was not an easy task for Releford. When asked about his fundraising process, he used the term "unconscious bias." He explained that it was a brutal process that took about a year filled with rejections before things started to fall into place. He was introduced to Nichols through Ethan Austin, a director in the Techstars program he participated in. He also met James Norman from Black Ops after winning a pitch competition where Norman was a judge. Winning the 43North pitch competition was a turning point, as it brought more potential investors on board.The fresh capital will be used to expand product development and the team. This will enable StoreCash to reach more users and offer more innovative features, further helping people manage their finances more effectively.