Use cases

Select one of the following pass verticals to learn more about how it can be used.

The Google Pay API for Passes allows you to engage with users through gift cards. The concepts discussed in this guide should help you better understand the capabilities of saved gift cards.

The following use cases are available only to the gift card vertical:

Update passes

If there are changes to a pass after it's created, use the REST API to deliver those changes to users. If the changes affect only classes, you can also use the Google Pay Merchant Center. Pass updates are an important way to engage with your users.

To update the way passes are displayed, such as when the logo changes, you only need to update or patch the GiftCardClass or use the Google Pay Merchant Center. Google propagates this information to all GiftCardObjects associated to the updated GiftCardClass. This is the case for all fields defined at the GiftCardClass level.

To update a single pass, such as when the gift card balance changes, you need to update or patch a single GiftCardObject. This is the case for all fields defined at the GiftCardObject level.

Sometimes, you might not know when a change happens, or when to trigger an update or patch request. In cases like that, periodically schedule update or patch requests for each and every class and object. You can find all classes of a particular issuer account if you call the GiftCardClass list method. You can find all objects of a particular class if you call the GiftCardObject list method.

Scan in the Google Pay app

Users can add any gift card to their Google Pay app when they either scan or manually add the gift card details. The Google Pay API for Passes creates a GiftCardObject that doesn't reference a GiftCardClass you've previously defined. No action is required on your part to create the new object or class. However, the GiftCardObject created by the Google Pay API for Passes can't be updated and behaves like a static pass.

Geofenced notifications

Google can trigger notifications related to a consumer's saved Object based on the consumer's proximity to a location you've defined.

There are two ways geolocation information is added:

  1. Geolocation information from Google Maps is used when a Google Pay API for Passes Merchant Center account is created.
  2. Coordinates can be added to the object or class through the REST API.

For instructions on adding coordinates to objects or classes, see Add geolocation information using the REST API.

Geofencing concepts

Using geolocation information in Google Maps, Google algorithmically determines if the user is physically in the store or area. This detection applies to all classes and objects developed under the Google Pay API for Passes Merchant Center account.

The algorithm considers GPS, Wifi, Bluetooth, movement, dwell time and other factors. When the user is determined to be physically present, a geofenced notification is triggered.

If coordinates are manually specified in the Object, the geofenced notification is triggered when they are 150 meters from the coordinates.

Frequency, throttling, and user opt-out of geofenced notifications

At maximum, a user receives up to four notifications per day.

When there are multiple saved objects within the geofence, a single (per Google Pay API for Passes Merchant Center account), unmodifiable notification with a carousel appears. Objects are cyclable within the carousel:

For geofenced notifications to work, the user must enable Updates about your items in the Google Pay app’s notification settings and must have location services turned on for their device.

Add geolocation information using the REST API

You can specify an array of locations (latitudes and longitudes) in your classes or objects. Google checks the user's current geolocation against the list of locations associated with a class or object and notifies the user if they are within 150 meters of one of the locations. The following are code samples showing how to specify locations in your classes or objects:

Resource

{
  ... //Class or Object content

  "locations": [{
    "kind": "walletobjects#latLongPoint",
    "latitude": 37.422087,
    "longitude": -161446
  }, {
    "kind": "walletobjects#latLongPoint",
    "latitude": 37.429379,
    "longitude": -121.12272999999999
  }, {
    "kind": "walletobjects#latLongPoint",
    "latitude": 37.333646,
    "longitude": -122.884853
  }]
}

Java

List<LatLongPoint> locations = new ArrayList<LatLongPoint>();
locations.add(new LatLongPoint().setLatitude(37.422087).setLongitude(
    -122.161446));
locations.add(new LatLongPoint().setLatitude(37.429379).setLongitude(
    -121.12272999999999));
locations.add(new LatLongPoint().setLatitude(37.333646).setLongitude(
    -122.884853));

yourClassOrObject.setLocations(locations);

PHP

$locations = array(
  array(
    'kind' => 'walletobjects#latLongPoint',
    'latitude' => 37.442087,
    'longitude' => -122.161446
  ),
  array(
    'kind' => 'walletobjects#latLongPoint',
    'latitude' => 37.429379,
    'longitude' => -122.12272999999999
  ),
  array(
    'kind' => 'walletobjects#latLongPoint',
    'latitude' => 37.333646,
    'longitude' => -121.884853
  )
);

Python

offer_class_object = {
  # class or object content
  'locations': [{
    'kind': 'walletobjects#latLongPoint',
    'latitude': 37.442087,
    'longitude': -122.161446
    },{
    'kind': 'walletobjects#latLongPoint',
    'latitude': 37.429379,
    'longitude': -122.12272999999999
    },{
    'kind': 'walletobjects#latLongPoint',
    'latitude': 37.333646,
    'longitude': -121.884853
  }]
}

Handle expired passes

Under the "Passes" tab of the Google Pay app, there's an "Expired passes" section that contains all archived or inactive passes. A pass is moved to the "Expired passes" section if at least one of the following conditions is true:

  • object.validTimeInterval.end.date expires. The pass moves to "Expired passes" anytime up to 24 hours after object.validTimeInterval.end.date expired.
  • The object.state field is marked as Expired, Inactive, or Completed.

Once a user has a pass saved, reference its objectId in order to link to the pass.

Use the following link to reference the pass:

https://pay.google.com/gp/v/object/{<issuerId>}.{<ObjectId>}

The pass can be viewed with the Google Pay app or a web browser.

You can link to your app or website below the header of a saved Google Pay pass. This feature is available for all types of Google Pay passes.

Request access

Request access with the support form for in-store merchants. Keep the following in mind:

  • You must share your issuer ID in the form.
  • Under Issue type, select "Technical/API Integration."
  • Select Link your app or website below the Google Pay pass.

For a given Google Pay pass, define appLinkData to set the URI of your app or website. The URI can be any format, but we recommend that you use a dynamic link.

The format and context of the appLinkData field can be seen in the following source code:

{
  "id": string,
  "classId": string,
  …
  …
  …
  "appLinkData": {
    "androidAppLinkInfo": {
      "appLogoImage": {
        "sourceUri": {
          "uri": string
        }
      },
        "title": {
          "defaultValue": {
            "language": string,
              "value": string
          }
        },
          "description": {
            "defaultValue": {
              "language": string,
                "value": string
            }
          },
            "appTarget": {
              "targetUri": {
                "uri": string,
                  "description": string
              }
            }
    }
  }
  …
  …
  …
}