As a result of Google’s ability to identify intent behind search queries, they are choosing to simplify keywords and soon phrase match will expand to cover additional broad match modifier (BMM) traffic. As a result, Google will be phasing out the BMM keyword match type.

The ‘merge’ of match types has come as Google moves increasingly towards smart bidding advancements. As smart bidding relies on having access to as much data as possible this is a move towards further empowering the automation and machine learning through consolidating campaigns and merging match types. The move away from the traditional PPC accounts having a high volume of campaigns each split by keyword theme and match type. The advantage of which was to directly control spend in specific keyword areas.