This picture taken on October 8, 2006 shows fair-goers using laptops at the US search engine giant Google's stand at the Frankfurt Book Fair. - AFP (File Photo)

NEW YORK: Google has agreed to acquire Canadian start-up BufferBox, which manages self-service parcel lockers to help consumers avoid missed deliveries, the companies said Friday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The company began with a pilot project in Waterloo, Ontario, and has been rolling out a network of pick-up stations across the Toronto area.

“We are now excited to share that we have been acquired by Google,”BufferBox said in a blog posting.

“We have a huge vision for this space and we couldn't be happier to be building it out within a fantastic organization.”A Google statement said: “We want to remove as much friction as possible from the shopping experience, while helping consumers save time and money, and we think the BufferBox team has a lot of great ideas around how to do that.”

The move comes with Google increasingly entering the retail space with its own shopping site and a Google Play Store, which sells not only digital products but hardware such as Google-branded tablets and smartphones.

The service could help Google compete with other online retailers like Amazon, which have similar services.

On Wednesday, Google said it agreed to buy the marketing firm Incentive Targeting in a move that gives the tech giant more tools to work with retailers on discounts and other promotions.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...