Does the new wave of AI strike and overwhelm you with too much jargon, new terms, algorithms, and a laundry list of new AI tools daily?
The good news is you don’t have to jump on the AI train and use AI for everything on your Shopify store right away. However, adding AI-powered search to your store is essential and should not be delayed.
Let’s join us in a quick lesson about AI-powered search and what are the differences between AI-powered search and “the traditional” - conventional search.
Don’t worry, it’s not another article on the hard-to-understand AI term. This is to compare and contrast the two search methods and provide useful insights for you to effectively implement AI into Shopify search on your store.
AI-powered search, or AI search, is a search system that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to provide more relevant and accurate search results.
While has many other names like cognitive search or intelligent search, it all does one job: return the highest possible relevant results based on precisely what the user is looking for.
AI-powered search can analyze in-store visitors’ behaviors, search patterns, and other data to provide them with a more personalized and efficient search experience.
Think of AI-powered search as an in-store genie who can read your mind and know what you like, then lead you to the right product shelf and suggest you the things you might want to put into your cart. You don’t need to know how magic works, but you sure will need to know how to make this genie work for you.
Conventional search is the traditional way of searching that relies on exact keyword matches and can often lead to irrelevant search results.
In case you're wondering, exact keyword matches mean that when a visitor types a specific word or phrase into your website’s search bar, the search result will only show products that contain that exact word or phrase in their titles or descriptions.
You look for “red”, and you’ll only receive results with “red”, not any results with other similar words such as “crimson” or “scarlet”. If there’s no “red”, you’ll see no results. That’s it.
A conventional search can be compared to using a metal detector to find a necklace buried underneath. Sometimes, you'll find it immediately. Other times, the detector will buzz but you'll end up finding something else, like a ring. And sometimes, the detector won't buzz at all.
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Intelligent search technology strengthens eCommerce and Shopify search, making them more powerful and accurate. By understanding the context and intent behind each keyword entered into the search bar, AI-powered search can deliver significantly more accurate and relevant results. This improves the overall user shopping experience on your Shopify store.
Because AI-powered site search helps customers quickly find the products that match their preferences, your Shopify store leaves an impression of a "satisfying shopping experience" for online visitors. They're more likely to buy from you and hence, you'll achieve better conversion rates.
The accuracy and relevance of search results on your store can be improved by using AI technology, leading to a reduction in bounce rate and cart abandonment.
AI-powered search also saves shoppers time by automating the search process with features such as autocomplete search, search suggestions, search synonyms, typo tolerance, and partial search.
Although the search results are limited and fixed in with the exact matches, conventional search does have a few advantages for eCommerce stores.
For smaller stores or startups without advanced technical expertise, conventional search is easier to implement and maintain and is also more budget-friendly. It is also effective for simple search queries, making it suitable for stores with a small inventory.
However, it’s easier to see that in long term, Shopify stores will need more advanced search requirements, and an easy-to-implement and use search solution. This is where AI technology for Shopify search comes into play.
TL;DR:
No technology is perfect. The same goes for both conventional search and even the all-new-and-shiny AI technology.
Although conventional search provides basic search functionality for Shopify merchants at a lower price, it has many limitations that can hinder your business revenue.
Before implementing AI technology into Shopify search, there are a few limitations that you should be aware of. Don’t sweat over it though, because these limitations can be easily removed (we’ll talk about this later).
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Has your Shopify search been equipped with powerful AI technology yet?
If not yet, we recommend you act fast. Your competitors out there might already fasten their seat belts and speed up on their AI-powered search game.
Considering the advantages and disadvantages of both types of on-site search mentioned above, it appears that AI-powered search is your new secret weapon in achieving the conversions you're dreaming of.
Having AI search installed on your Shopify store, you’ll have:
AI search can handle more complex search queries and provide more personalized recommendations based on your store data.
Although there are many things to consider regarding applying AI-powered search on your Shopify store, fear not, using AI for Shopify search is not that hard!
Using a well-developed third-party app like Boost AI Search & Discovery directly integrates AI-powered search functionality into your store without requiring extensive technical expertise.
Our tool is designed to be user-friendly and easy to set up, making it much simpler for you to get started with AI-powered search.
🔥 Read more on Boost AI Search & Discovery here:
Sneak Peek: What To Expect In The Epic Release Of Boost AI Search & Discovery
Install Boost NOW to get AI-powered Search and Recommendation ready on your store
Give Boost AI Search & Discovery a try and your AI search will be on autopilot!