E-commerce search is a critical business success aspect that can lead to earned or lost revenue.

During the last few years, e-commerce sales have grown drastically. In 2026, they are expected to hit over $8 trillion.

E-commerce search serves as a connection between the shopper and the products. It helps customers quickly find products that meet their specific needs.

So, what role does e-commerce search play in online shopping? And why do so many businesses invest in modern, AI-driven site search solutions?

Let’s discuss 20+ e-commerce statistics you must know as an e-commerce business owner.

Shopping habits are shifting to online

After the pandemic, the shopping habits of consumers changed radically. In 2021, e-commerce accounted for nearly 19% of retail sales globally. It is expected that this segment will make up close to a quarter of total global retail sales by 2026. [1]

That said, more consumers are now shopping online. 87% of them head to the internet to look up a wanted product. [2]

Two-thirds of purchasers turn to search engines to address the desire to buy something. [3]

E-commerce search plays a critical role

43% of website visitors go straight to the search box as soon as they land on the webpage. [4]

90% of U.S. shoppers believe a seamless search functionality is a must. [5]

The majority of shoppers (97%) agree that their favorite e-shops are those that allow them to quickly and easily find the wanted products. [6]

If the site search fails to deliver the wanted products, 12% of users will immediately abandon the website. [7]

52% of people tend to abandon the entire shopping cart if they cannot find at least one product. 48% of users will finish their purchase elsewhere. [8]

Each year, U.S. retailers lose around $300 billion because of poor search experience. [9]

E-commerce search as a strategy to increase conversion rates

The site search is often highly underestimated, especially when you realize the power it holds. 39% of all purchasers were influenced by a relevant site search. [10]

Websites that introduce an advanced e-commerce search notice their conversion rates increase by 2 to 3 times. [11]

Some cases are even more promising. In the case of Amazon, the conversion rates spike 6X (2% → 12%) when shoppers use the search function. [12]

43% of online shoppers would agree to pay more only if they could find what they are looking for in just a few clicks. [13]

In an average website, the search box alone can generate a 2.4% conversion rate compared with the site’s average of 1.7%. [14]

Autocomplete

Autocomplete alone can boost site search sales by up to 24%. [15]

Mobile-first experience

65% of users reach out for their phones in their I-want-to-buy moments. In those moments, 71% of users will visit retailer websites or open apps. [16]

The potential of mobile devices is clear. Currently, mobile devices are the main driver of digital retail. [17]

Personalization

91% of consumers are more likely to shop with brands that provide relevant offers and recommendations, highlighting just how critical personalization is becoming in e-commerce. [18]

74% of online shoppers get frustrated when the shopping experience is irrelevant and has nothing to do with them. [19]

Almost half (48%) of online shoppers spend more on retail websites that personalize their shopping experience. [20]

The U.S. customer survey reveals that 51% of users are more likely to purchase, and 49% are more likely to become loyal to the brand if it personalizes the content. [21]

Summary

E-commerce search is one of the sales channels that can radically change the speed businesses succeed and grow.

With LupaSearch, an AI-driven e-commerce search, some of the shopping platforms saw their search conversions increase by 39% and CTR grow almost 3X.

Here are the key messages you should take away after reading this article:

  • Ensure your search function is optimized to deliver fast, accurate, user-relevant results.
  • Use responsive e-shop design and optimize search results for smaller screens to satisfy the needs of mobile shoppers.
  • Empower customer data to deliver a personalized search experience.

Stay up-to-date with e-commerce search statistics and best practices and ensure that your online store is optimized for success.

References

  1. Statista. (2024). E-commerce share of retail sales worldwide. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/534123/e-commerce-share-of-retail-sales-worldwide/

  2. Salesforce. (n.d.). Commerce Blog. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.salesforce.com/blog/category/commerce/

  3. Think with Google. (2016). Meet the needs of ‘I want to buy’ moments. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/consumer-insights/consumer-trends/meet-needs-i-want-to-buy-moments/

  4. Forrester. (2022). Must-Have eCommerce Features. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.forrester.com/report/MustHave-eCommerce-Features/RES89561

  5. Google. (n.d.). Why search abandonment is the metric that matters. Google Docs. https://sentation/d/1SdZmQpS0DPZxMeUKE4fK6GkrzjRHc9yEbG3RYIGgUhs/edit#slide=id.gcb6bae22f0_1_60docs.google.com/pre29.

  6. The Commerce Shop. (n.d.). Top 5 Predictive Search Functionalities for CRO. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.thecommerceshop.com/blog/top-5-predictive-search-functionalities-for-cro/

  7. Nacho Analytics. (2019). Amazon’s Growth Hack. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.nachoanalytics.com/blog/amazons-growth-hack/

  8. Peebler, A.. (2022). Why Search Is the Unsung Hero in B2B Commerce. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.salesforce.com/blog/b2b-search/

  9. Econsultancy. (2013). Four reasons why site search is vital for online retailers. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://econsultancy.com/four-reasons-why-site-search-is-vital-for-online-retailers/

  10. SpyFu. (2021). Increase Conversions: My Data-Driven Experiment Shows You How. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.spyfu.com/blog/increased-conversions-autocomplete/

  11. JMango360. (n.d.). Mobile App vs Mobile Website Statistics. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://jmango360.com/mobile-app-vs-mobile-website-statistics/

  12. Accenture. (2018). Widening gap between consumer expectations and reality in personalization signals warning for brands. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://newsroom.accenture.com/news/widening-gap-between-consumer-expectations-and-reality-in-personalization-signals-warning-for-brands-accenture-interactive-research-finds.htm

  13. Smart Insights. (2015). Types of eCommerce Personalisation. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.smartinsights.com/ecommerce/web-personalisation/types-ecommerce-personalisation/

  14. Adobe. (2019). Media Alert: Adobe Unveils Customer Experience Management (CXM) Innovations to Accelerate Digital Experience Delivery. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://news.adobe.com/news/news-details/2019/Media-Alert-Adobe-Unveils-Customer-Experience-Management-CXM-Innovations-to-Accelerate-Digital-Experience-Delivery/default.aspx