AI Search for E-commerce: +35% Conversion, -60% Empty Searches
43% of users go directly to search. If your search is slow or imprecise, that's money walking out the door. Algolia and Elasticsearch that convert searches into sales.
Algolia, Elasticsearch, AI Search
Search That Converts
43% of users go directly to search. If it's slow or imprecise, they go to Amazon. We implement real-time search with <50ms response, typo tolerance and synonyms, and AI recommendations that increase average order value.
Service Deliverables
What you receive in every intelligent search project.
- Configured and optimized index
- Real-time sync with your catalog
- Search UI (autocomplete + results)
- Faceted navigation and filters
- Synonyms and typo tolerance configured
- Search analytics dashboard
- Technical and usage documentation
- Marketing team training
For the CEO
The business value of intelligent search.
43% of your visitors go directly to search. They are users with clear purchase intent. If your search is slow or shows "0 results", those users go to competitors.
An intelligent search engine is not an expense, it's an investment with measurable ROI: +35% conversion in users who search, +18% average order with AI recommendations, -60% frustration from empty searches.
Amazon invests millions in their search because they know it's the highest-impact point for conversion. Algolia and Elasticsearch give you the same capabilities at a fraction of the cost.
For the CTO
Search technical architecture.
Algolia: Managed SaaS with global CDN. <10ms p50, <50ms p99. Instant indexing, replicas for A/B testing, analytics dashboards. Ideal for teams wanting fast results without DevOps.
Elasticsearch: Self-hosted with full control. OpenSearch as AWS-managed alternative. More flexible for complex cases, advanced faceted navigation, geospatial search. Requires more infrastructure.
Both support: query rules, synonyms, boosting, personalization. Integration with your stack (React, Vue, headless) is straightforward with InstantSearch.js or React InstantSearch.
Stack técnico
Intelligent Search Services
Capabilities that transform the experience.
Is It for You?
Algolia/Elasticsearch makes sense with large catalogs. If you have 100 products, it's overkill.
Who it's for
- E-commerce with 1,000+ products where navigation doesn't scale.
- Stores with high zero-result search rates frustrating users.
- Businesses where users who search convert significantly more.
- Marketing teams wanting control over merchandising in results.
- Content platforms or marketplaces with extensive catalogs.
Who it's not for
- Small stores (<200 products) where category navigation suffices.
- E-commerce with low traffic (<10K visits/month) where ROI doesn't justify.
- If your platform's native search already has acceptable conversion.
- Projects without budget for monthly search platform costs.
- Very simple catalogs where basic filters solve the need.
Risk Mitigation
How we protect your search investment.
Monthly Algolia/Elasticsearch cost
ROI calculator upfront. If +35% conversion doesn't cover cost, we see that before starting.
Incorrect data synchronization
Exhaustive index validation. Monitoring of catalog vs index discrepancies.
Irrelevant results
Iterative relevance configuration. A/B testing of rules. Analysis of zero-click searches.
Third-party dependency
Algolia has 99.99% SLA. Self-hosted Elasticsearch with replicas. Documented contingency plan.
Team doesn't know how to use tools
Training included. Process documentation. Post-launch support.
From 8% to 12% Conversion
Fashion e-commerce with Shopify's native search showing "0 results" on 15% of searches. We implemented Algolia with typo tolerance, fashion synonyms, and Recommend for cross-sell. Result: +50% conversion in users who search, -70% empty searches.
Implementation Pipeline
From basic search to premium experience.
Audit and strategy
Catalog analysis, searchable attributes, synonym strategy. Algolia vs Elasticsearch selection.
Index configuration
Index setup, data transformation, real-time sync with your source.
Frontend and relevance
Search UI, autocomplete, facets. Relevance rule tuning with real data.
Optimization and launch
A/B testing configurations. Team training. Post-launch monitoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
What e-commerce directors ask.
Algolia or Elasticsearch?
Algolia: Managed SaaS, easier, excellent for e-commerce. Elasticsearch: self-hosted, more flexible, better for complex cases. For most e-commerce, Algolia is the best choice for simplicity and fast results.
How much does Algolia cost monthly?
Algolia charges by searches and records. Medium e-commerce (100K products, 500K searches/month): €500-1,500/month. The ROI (conversion improvement) typically exceeds the cost in the first month.
Does it work with my e-commerce platform?
Yes. Algolia has native integrations for Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, WooCommerce. For custom or headless, we use their APIs. Data synchronization is the main work.
How does it impact conversion rate?
Users who use search have 2x more purchase intent. A fast and accurate search captures that intent. Typical improvements: +25-40% conversion in searchers, +15-25% average order with recommendations.
What about zero-result searches?
We reduce them with: configured synonyms, typo tolerance, alternative suggestions, and zero-result search analytics to identify missing products or synonyms to add.
Can we manage promotions from search?
Yes. Query rules allow: showing banners for specific searches, boosting products in campaigns, creating dynamic landing pages. Marketing team is autonomous without depending on development.
How long does implementation take?
Basic implementation: 4-6 weeks. With AI recommendations and personalization: 6-8 weeks. Includes team training and post-launch support.
What metrics can we track?
Search conversion, click-through rate, zero-result searches, most searched terms, revenue per search. Dashboard integrated with your existing analytics.
Does Your Search Show "0 Results"?
Demo with your data. We index a sample of your catalog and show you the difference in speed and relevance in real time.
Request demo Technical
Initial Audit.
AI, security and performance. Diagnosis with phased proposal.
Your first meeting is with a Solutions Architect, not a salesperson.
Request diagnosis