Gmail Introduces New Features for Purchase Tracking and Relevant Ads

Google has unveiled two new features for its Gmail app, aimed at enhancing user experience by improving purchase tracking and ad relevancy. Users will now find a dedicated section in the sidebar for managing their purchases and package deliveries, making it easier to keep track of their online transactions, especially during the busy holiday shopping season.

The new 'Purchases' menu will aggregate all orders and package deliveries associated with the user's Gmail account. This enhancement is particularly timely as Google anticipates that users may feel overwhelmed with holiday shopping, prompting the need for a streamlined overview within the app.

In addition to purchase tracking, Gmail will now also sort incoming advertisements based on relevance rather than purely chronological order. This change means that users will see ads that Google determines to be of greater interest to them at the top of their inbox, based on their previous interactions with similar emails.

The rollout of these features comes on the heels of several updates to the Gmail app, which previously introduced a slider for adjusting the display area on larger devices and a premium AI image generator for paying subscribers. These latest functionalities, however, are designed to benefit all Gmail users.

For those who have opted in for package tracking since its introduction in 2022, notifications for upcoming deliveries will continue to be displayed prominently above the emails. This includes summary cards that provide additional details about expected packages. However, it's important to note that in Europe, these summary cards are typically hidden by default and require manual activation in the Gmail settings under 'smart features for Gmail, Google Chat, and Google Meet' as well as 'conversation view.'

While the purchase tracking feature is being rolled out globally, the ad sorting functionality is expected to follow in the coming weeks. Users will have the option to disable this sorting if they prefer to see new promotional emails listed at the top of their inbox.

These updates reflect Google's ongoing commitment to enhancing its services based on user feedback and behavior, aiming to create a more organized and user-friendly email experience. With the holiday shopping season approaching, these features could prove particularly beneficial in helping users manage their online purchases more efficiently.