Reserve with Google and Lightspeed Reservations FAQs
Use the FAQs below to learn more about setting up the integration, activation timelines, guest experience features, and key operational limitations.
This integration allows merchants using Lightspeed Reservations to display a direct Reserve a table button on Google Maps and Google Search.
When enabled, guests can conveniently make, edit, or cancel bookings directly through Google, which seamlessly syncs with Lightspeed Back Office and POS.
Overview
* Check below for current Google platform limits
What is Reserve with Google?
Reserve with Google is an integration available for merchants using Lightspeed Reservations.
It allows merchants to connect their restaurant from Back Office and display a Book a table button on Google Maps. This enables guests to book a table directly from Google without leaving Google Search or Google Maps.
Why did we launch this feature?
Reserve with Google closes an important competitor gap and addresses one of the most requested features from merchants.
It gives merchants a more visible and convenient way to receive reservations directly from Google Maps, which can help increase booking traffic and support sales and activation conversations.
Who can use this feature?
Reserve with Google is available only to merchants using Lightspeed Reservations.
Is the feature already live?
Yes. The feature is already live and available.
* What are the main Google-side limitations?
— Activation is not immediate and usually takes around 24 hours, but can take longer.
— Disconnection is not immediate and usually takes around 12–24 hours.
— Google has a maximum party size of 20 guests.
— Google may reject the integration if the trade name or address does not exactly match the Google Business Profile.
— Some changes may take time to be reflected on Google Maps.
Merchant setup
Where can merchants enable Reserve with Google?
Merchants can enable the integration in Back Office > LS Reservations Settings, where they will find a dedicated section for Reserve with Google.
From there, they need to complete the setup flow and confirm that their restaurant details are correct.
What is the most important setup requirement?
Before confirming the connection, merchants must review that their trade name and address in Business Settings exactly match their Google Business Profile.
This is a critical step. If the trade name or address does not match exactly, Google may reject the integration because it may identify the Back Office restaurant and the Google Business Profile as different locations.
What should merchants do if their details do not match?
If the trade name or address does not match the Google Business Profile, merchants should click Open Business Settings in Lightspeed Back Office and update the details before confirming the connection.
They should only proceed once the trade name and address match exactly.
Do merchants see this requirement during setup?
Yes. We proactively communicate this requirement during the activation onboarding flow in Back Office.
Merchants are asked to review and confirm that their restaurant details match before completing the connection.
Why does Google require the details to match?
Google needs to confirm that the restaurant in Back Office is the same restaurant as the one listed on the Google Business Profile.
If the details do not match exactly, Google may reject the connection.
Activation
What happens after a merchant connects the integration?
After the merchant confirms the connection, the integration enters a Connecting state.
Google then needs to process and activate the location. Once the location is activated, the reservation button becomes visible on Google Maps.
How long does activation take?
Activation is not immediate.
In most cases, Google activates the location within approximately 24 hours, but this timing is not guaranteed. Google does not provide an exact SLA, and in some cases activation can take longer, potentially several days.
Google usually starts processing activations around midnight. In many cases, the button should be visible by the morning, CEST Zone, but this should not be communicated as a guaranteed timeline.
What does the merchant see while waiting for activation?
While Google is processing the activation, the merchant sees the integration status as Connecting in Back Office.
This means the connection has been submitted, but Google has not finished processing it yet.
What happens if activation fails?
If activation fails, the merchant can try to activate the integration again.
Before retrying, they should review that their trade name and address in Business Settings exactly match their Google Business Profile.
What happens if the button does not appear after 24 hours?
Google usually processes activation within around 24 hours, but timing can vary and may occasionally take longer.
Please make sure the restaurant trade name and address match the Google Business Profile exactly. If the details are correct and the button is still not visible after some time, please share the case with us so we can investigate.
Guest experience
What happens after a guest creates a reservation through Google?
After a guest creates a reservation through Google, they receive a confirmation email from Google.
The reservation is also created in Lightspeed Reservations and appears in the Back Office and POS.
Do guests receive reservation reminders?
Yes. Guests receive reminders from Google before their reservation.
Google sends a reminder approximately 24 hours before the reservation.
Can guests cancel a reservation made through Google?
Yes. Guests can cancel their reservation through Google.
When a guest cancels, the cancellation is reflected in Lightspeed Reservations.
Can guests edit a reservation made through Google?
Yes. Guests can edit their reservation through Google.
Any updates made by the guest are reflected in Lightspeed Reservations.
Who sends guest emails for Google reservations?
Guest-facing emails for reservations created through Google are sent by Google.
This includes confirmation emails and reminders.
Internal teams should be aware that these emails do not come from Lightspeed.
Reservation settings
Which existing reservation settings are reused?
Reserve with Google reuses the existing settings we already support for other online reservation channels, including:
— Notes
— Availability
— Reservations/Special hours
— Capacity
— Party size limit
— Other relevant online booking settings
This means merchants do not need to manage a completely separate configuration specifically for Google.
Is there a party size limitation?
Yes. Google has a maximum party size limitation of 20 guests.
This is a Google-side limitation.
Can merchants still pause their restaurant?
Yes. Merchants can still pause their restaurant as they do today.
This will also be reflected in Google. However, due to Google’s requirements, slots may still appear on Google Maps. If a guest tries to book while the restaurant is paused, they will see that there are no timeslots available to choose for customers in Google.
Disconnecting the integration
How can merchants disconnect Reserve with Google?
Merchants can disconnect the integration from Back Office by clicking Disconnect.
Is disconnection immediate?
No. Disconnecting is also processed by Google and is not immediate.
It usually takes around 12–24 hours for the change to be reflected on Google’s side.
During this time, the status on Google Maps may not update instantly, even if the merchant has already disconnected the integration in Back Office.
Important note: Same-day availability changes
Reserve with Google receives availability through a daily availability feed. Because of this, some same-day changes may not be reflected on Google immediately.
As a general rule:
- Changes that reduce availability are respected during the day.
- Changes that increase or reopen availability may only become available on Google after the next availability feed.
- Cancelled reservations do not reopen Google availability immediately; the freed-up capacity becomes available after the next availability feed.
- Availability timing depends partly on Google processing, so teams should avoid promising instant updates on Google Maps.
Please collect the following information before escalating an issue:
- Merchant name
- Merchant ID
- Location ID
- Google Business Profile name or link
- Current Reserve with Google status in Back Office
- Time and date when activation or disconnection was triggered
- Screenshot of the issue or status
- Description of what the merchant expected to happen
- Description of what actually happened
- Whether the trade name and address were checked against the Google Business Profile
