Comparisons

The Agentic Commerce Protocol represents a new paradigm for online shopping. This section compares ACP to existing approaches, helping you understand where it fits and what makes it different.

Quick Comparison Matrix

Comparison Guides

Key Differentiators

1. Conversational vs Form-Based

Traditional approach: Users navigate menus, fill forms, click buttons.

ACP approach: Users describe what they want; AI handles the rest.

Traditional:
[Search] → [Filter] → [Select] → [Add to Cart] → [Checkout] →
[Address Form] → [Payment Form] → [Confirm] → [Done]

ACP:
"I need running shoes, size 10, under $150"
→ "Here are the best options... Should I order the Nike Pegasus?"
→ "Yes"
→ Done

2. Intent-Based vs Keyword-Based Discovery

Traditional search: “blue running shoes men size 10”

• Returns exact keyword matches
• Requires precise input
• Limited understanding of context

ACP discovery: “I need shoes for marathon training, I pronate a lot”

• Understands intent and requirements
• Considers context (pronation = need stability shoes)
• Explains recommendations

3. Direct Merchant Relationships

Marketplace model:

• Platform owns the customer relationship
• Platform handles payments (merchant of record)
• Platform takes significant cut (15-40%)

ACP model:

• Merchant keeps customer relationship
• Merchant is merchant of record
• Lower platform costs (transaction fees only)

4. Security Architecture

Traditional/Marketplace:

• Payment credentials shared with many merchants
• Each site stores card data or uses tokenized vaults
• Single breach can expose data

ACP (Shared Payment Tokens):

• Payment credentials never leave user’s payment provider
• Tokens are merchant-specific and amount-limited
• Even if compromised, tokens can’t be reused

Who Benefits Most

Merchants Benefit When:

• They want to maintain direct customer relationships
• They want to reduce platform dependency
• They have differentiated products worth discovering
• They want to reduce checkout abandonment

Consumers Benefit When:

• They value convenience over browsing
• They make repeat purchases
• They appreciate personalized recommendations
• They want seamless cross-merchant shopping

Developers Benefit When:

• They’re building AI-powered applications
• They want standardized commerce integration
• They need to support conversational interfaces

The Hybrid Future

ACP doesn’t replace existing approaches—it augments them:

Deep Dive Comparisons

Ready to explore specific comparisons in detail?