Splitit, an embedded card-linked instalment provider, has shown its support for Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP). This open standard aims to facilitate agentic commerce, where AI agents can purchase on behalf of consumers.

Developed in collaboration with Shopify, Target, Walmart, Etsy, and Wayfair, UCP covers the entire shopping process from initial discovery through final checkout and beyond. Splitit’s backing underscores the importance of card-linked instalment payments as a fundamental part of AI-driven retail infrastructure.

Card-linked instalments in agentic retail

Splitit operates by enabling consumers to split purchases using their existing credit cards, without the need for additional applications or approvals. This approach is meant to minimize obstacles within automated payment processes, ensuring that AI agents can complete transactions smoothly.

From a merchant retention standpoint, Splitit argues that flexible payment options encourage consumer conversions by accommodating budgetary constraints, all while retaining customer relationships and data ownership with the merchant. This method avoids transferring customer information to third-party lenders.

James Wray, Head of Business Development at Splitit, emphasized that as AI agents increasingly influence product discovery, payment solutions must provide certainty and minimal disruption. Ashish Gupta, VP/GM of Merchant Shopping at Google, added that Splitit’s support demonstrates the industry’s commitment to integrating consumer choice and merchant success into agentic commerce foundations.

UCP is a crucial step towards standardizing interactions between AI agents and merchant systems across the retail ecosystem. As agentic commerce evolves from pilot projects to mainstream acceptance, payment solutions that can function effectively within API-driven environments will grow in importance for both merchants and financial providers alike.