You run a Shopify store that has 500 stock items.

A buyer types: “black office bag under ₹2,000.” However, your search results show random bags, or worse, “Nothing found.”

The potential buyer doesn’t give up. He tries multiple times.

Ultimately, he quits.

This situation is encountered often by evolving Shopify businesses. Your products might be suitable for a customer, but if the buyer doesn’t find them on time, you will lose a sale.

That’s where Shopify AI technologies come into play.

AI search can process not only the keyword in use but also natural language, spelling mistakes, synonyms, product characteristics, and search motivations.

Still, there are a lot of options to select from when it comes to Shopify AI Search apps.

Let’s see how 7 popular solutions compare with one another and where ExpertRec can be utilized.

What Is Meant by Shopify AI Search App?

Shopify AI search application enhances search functionality within your online store.

Assuming the category that you are dealing in is electronics.

A client types in the following query:

“best quality wireless headphones under ₹3,000″

A simple searching algorithm will search for the terms “wireless” and “headphones.”

Whereas an advanced searching engine will analyze the query for:

• What: headphones
• What type: wireless
• How much: below ₹3,000
• Which features: good battery

Thus, the customer finds the desired product more quickly without doing many searches.

7 Shopify AI Search Apps to Consider

The following are 7 choices for Shopify merchants

1. ExpertRec
2. Algolia
3. Boost AI Search & Filter
4. Fast Simon
5. Klevu
6. Searchspring
7. Shopify Search & Discovery

All tools offer different functionalities, and the right one will vary based on a number of factors, including the store size, product range, technical specifications, and desired level of search control.

Quick Comparison

AI-powered search for Shopify stores

Make Shopify Search Smarter with ExpertRec

ExpertRec helps Shopify and Shopify Plus stores deliver intelligent search with semantic search, typo handling, synonyms, autocomplete, smart filtering, sorting, customization options, and search analytics.

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Smarter search • Better product discovery • Search analytics

1. ExpertRec

In this regard, ExpertRec proves to be very interesting for Shopify store owners.

ExpertRec offers Shopify and Shopify Plus store owners AI tech for product discovery.

It has a number of useful features like semantic search, accuracy to typos, synonyms, autocomplete, smart filtering and sorting, product presentation, customization options, and search analytics.

For example, if you sell clothing and your potential buyer types:

“comfortable cotton dress for office for less than ₹1,500”

He/she does not know the real name of the product.

ExpertRec can get the customer’s idea clearly and show him/her similar items.

Besides, it can work when people type:

iphne cover

instead of:

iPhone cover

And the same goes when the words can change.

For example, it’s possible to use sneakers instead of sports shoes or trainers, etc.

The opportunity to use synonyms and typos makes it less difficult for people to find what they are looking for.

The benefits of ExpertRec,

The principal benefit is that it gives you complete control.

It lets you select which product data is to be indexed, create filters and modifiers, configure synonym processing, and utilize search reports to obtain what the users want.

For example, if users frequently search for:

“laptop bag below ₹2000”

you can see if such queries yield any interesting results.

That transforms the search bar into more than just a search tool; it becomes a source of information about the users.

2. Algolia

Algolia is an excellent search engine designed for companies that require complete search processes and flexible solutions.

This platform works well for larger companies with professional technical staff that want to have full control over their searches.

Best suited for: Companies with the ability to create their own search systems and advanced search needs.

3. Enhance AI Search and Filtering

Boost emphasizes the areas of searching, filtering, product discoverability, and merchandising.

It may come in handy when customers want to filter goods by certain characteristics such as color, brand, size, price, and availability.

Ideal for: Stores that greatly depend on filtering and browsing through collections.

4. Fast Simon

Fast Simon specializes in e-commerce search, product finding, personalization, and merchandising.

It is ideal for retailers with large catalogs where shoppers are offered help in finding the right products.

Best for: E-commerce brands that are expanding.

5. Klevu

Klevu utilizes machine learning to provide ecommerce search and product discovery solutions.

It targets businesses looking for an advanced search solution for their ecommerce operations.

Ideal for: Mature and large ecommerce companies.

6. Searchspring

Searchspring integrates various processes related to the ecommerce industry, including searching for items, switching between products, and discovering new products.

The tool is designed for retailers who want to have the utmost influence over customer activities.

The main audience for Searchspring consists of big ecommerce stores.

7. Shopify Search & Discovery

Shopify produces its very own Search & Discovery App, which can also be considered.

It provides all that is needed for a small store with a not very complicated catalog to set up.

But with the increase in the number of items in the inventory, the search process can get more complicated.

Think about these two stores:

A has 40 goods.

B has 4,000 goods.

Store A may be fine with simple search options.

Store B will need more sophisticated search features like “men’s waterproof hiking shoes for less than ₹5,000.”

What Should You Consider When Choosing a Shopify AI Search App?

Before you install an application, make sure to keep these five factors in mind:

1. Natural language capability

Is it possible to formulate a search query using simple, natural phrases?

2. Tolerance for typos

Is the application capable of understanding misspellings, like ‘blutooth speaker’?

3. Availability of intelligent filters

Can customers filter out products based on various attributes including the type of product and its availability?

4. Access to search analytics

Do you have insights into what people are searching and which queries yield no results?

5. Opportunity for customizing the search

To what extent can you control the ranking of items appearing in the customers’ results?

ExpertRec offers all the above-mentioned options, and in addition to these, it has the largest number of features possible, including powerful filtering, semantic search, analytics, merchandising, etc.

The Importance of Search Analytics

Shopify sellers often ignore one important feature.

Their search engine can answer all their customers’ questions.

For example, if 500 users try searching for “gaming chair below ₹8,000” and find limited options in your store, that seems to be a problem with search functionality.

It actually holds valuable insights for the business.

You may need to optimize your product information, create synonyms, adjust the ranking and filtering system, or widen your product assortment.

In this sense, the search analytics from the ExpertRec tool can help sellers identify user queries that lead to sales, as well as those that do not yield any results or perform other functions.

Which Shopify AI Search app suits your needs perfectly?

It must be emphasized that there is no single, best Shopify search app for each store.

Shopify Search & Discovery is ideal for small catalog owners looking for basic features.

Should you require complex technical customization, you may want to use Algolia.

If you are looking for excellent e-commerce discovery, filtering, and analytics tools, ExpertRec would be a very good choice.

The most important question you should ask yourself is not:

“What app has the most features?”

It is rather:

“Does my customer find the right product in one search?”

If the answer is yes, it means that your customers are likely to have a pleasant shopping experience.

If the answer is no, your search bar might cause you significant losses.

A final 10-second trial.

Visit your Shopify store and type in the following:

“Comfortable office backpack priced below ₹2,000.”

Then type a misspelled version of it.

Now type a complex sentence instead.

If your store is able to respond to all three queries properly, you are in a good position.

If the customers need to try five different ways to locate a backpack that is worth ₹1,799, you should consider enhancing your Shopify search mechanism. Would you like to see what AI search for Shopify stores can do for you?

Check out ExpertRec’s Shopify AI Search.