How to fix search in Shoper?
Complete guide to optimizing search in Shoper stores. Increase conversion and customer satisfaction.
3 Ways to Immediately Improve Results (No Extra Cost)
Before you decide on external tools, check these settings in your Shoper panel. Often, small changes can bring noticeable improvement.
In Configuration > Basic Settings > Search, make sure 'Product Name' and 'Product Code' have highest priorities (e.g., 10). Reduce weight for 'Description' to avoid accidental word matches from long texts.
This is a hidden field in product editing. Enter colloquial names, errors (e.g., 'shampon' and 'shampue') and synonyms there. It's a labor-intensive but free solution to 'teach' the search engine new words.
Regularly check in Google Analytics or Shoper panel what customers are looking for and not finding. If you see a recurring term, add it to the keywords of relevant products.
Default Shoper Search – Operation, Configuration, and Features
The default search engine in Shoper is based on keyword matching. This means that query analysis involves searching for entered character strings in the product database – e.g., in names, codes, or product descriptions. Search is active from the first character typed, offering an autocomplete function.
The store administrator can configure the search scope: decide which fields to search (e.g., product name, code, short/long description, manufacturer, category, attributes) and set weights (priorities) for these fields. Appropriate weight settings determine the order of results – usually, product name or code are scored highest.
Suggestions While Typing
While typing a search term, Shoper displays dynamic suggestions. These can be suggested phrases or directly products or categories matching the typed letters. The admin panel allows setting the maximum number of displayed suggestions.
Filtering and Personalization
Search results in Shoper are presented as a product list similar to a category list. The default Shoper search engine does not personalize results for a specific user – everyone receives the same list of results for a given query. Shoper Premium offers advanced configuration options that allow for better adjustment of search engine operation, including defining custom synonyms and exclusions.
Search Simulator
See the difference between standard search and AI
Standard Shoper
Keyword matchStart typing to see results...
Beeking AI
✨ Semantic AIStart typing to see results...
How to Correctly Configure Search?
To get better results in standard Shoper search, follow these steps in the admin panel:
- Set appropriate weights (priorities) for fields - product name and code should be most important.
- Add keywords to each product, including colloquial names.
- Configure groups of synonyms and alternative phrases (in Premium version).
- Define exclusions for irrelevant words (e.g., "for", "on").
- Monitor search reports and react to "no results" on an ongoing basis.
Remember though: All this is work that doesn't directly translate to creating or acquiring product, but is necessary for customers to find that product. It requires constant engagement and time.
Common Problems and Limitations of Built-in Search
Despite improvements over the years, the default Shoper search engine (especially in the basic version) has certain limitations that can make it difficult for customers to find products.
Typos Kill Sales
Standard search treats queries literally. If a customer makes a spelling mistake, they often see a "no results" message.
No Synonym Understanding
Customers use different names for the same product. Built-in search doesn't know that "cell" is the same as "smartphone" unless you configure it manually.
Matching Without Context
The search engine looks for a string of characters without understanding intent. This leads to displaying random products that have the given word in the description.
Manual, Tedious Configuration
For the search engine to work correctly, you must legally predict every possible error and synonym of the customer. It's endless work.
Benefits of Effective Search
Higher Conversion
Customers using search buy more often. It's the fastest way to increase sales.
Fewer Bounces
No more "0 results". Customers don't leave the store out of frustration due to typos.
Higher Purchase Chance
Users using search are the most determined group of customers.
Higher Basket
Relevant results and suggestions encourage adding more products.
Beeking AI Search – Intelligent Alternative
One solution that addresses the challenges of default Shoper search is Beeking AI Search – an external search engine based on artificial intelligence.
🧠Intent Understanding (Semantics)
Beeking AI understands customer intent expressed in natural language. It analyzes the meaning of the entire phrase, not just individual words. It acts like a salesperson in a brick-and-mortar store.
⚡Full Automation
Unlike traditional mechanism, Beeking AI works automatically. It doesn't require manually adding synonyms or setting weights. AI "learns" products by itself.
✨Error Tolerance
AI tolerates typos and errors. The algorithm can read intent even with a misspelled product name (e.g., "blood presure" → blood pressure monitor).
🔌Simple Integration
Integration boils down to installing the application. It doesn't require changes to the store code. Index update happens automatically.
Comparison
| Feature | Shoper (Standard/Premium) | Beeking AI |
|---|---|---|
Typo ToleranceSpelling error handling | PartialLimited (Premium) | Full automatic |
SynonymsUnderstanding interchangeable names | PartialManual configuration | Automatic |
SemanticsUnderstanding intent and context | None | Full automatic |
Result QualityProduct matching relevance | Keywords | Purchase intent |
ConfigurationRequired workload | PartialHigh | Zero (Plug & Play) |
Increase Sales in Your Shoper Store
Try Beeking AI for free and see the difference in search results.