The poor e-commerce search experience is such a big bummer that 43% of consumers would agree to pay more if they could find what they’re looking for in just a few clicks.

Users hate terrible shopping experiences so bad that 4 out of 5 online shoppers would leave the website if the search cannot satisfy their requests.

Vector search recently appeared in the e-commerce search area as the solution to solve too-frequent e-commerce search frustrations and deliver a smooth search experience.

But is it a sustainable e-commerce solution, or is it another buzzword?
Let’s figure it out.

What is vector search, exactly?

Vector search uses mathematical representations of data called vectors to find semantically similar items in a collection. Applied to e-commerce, it can find similar products based on a written (or image-uploaded) search query.

Unlike traditional keyword-based search, which relies on exact matches or manually curated synonyms, vector search can capture the meaning and intention behind the user’s query and deliver perfectly query-matching results.

What’s the hype about?

The reason behind vector search capturing the hearts and wallets of e-commerce business owners (and shoppers!) is its capabilities.

Previously used, traditional search engines often failed to meet users’ expectations.

That’s because nobody searches in keywords anymore:

  • Users use different languages, terminologies, or spellings than the ones used in the product catalog, e.g., “laptop bag” vs. “notebook case,” or “iphone 15” vs. “iphone fifteen.”
  • Users express their needs in natural language rather than keywords, e.g., “which cases fit my iphone 15,” or “pants for a summer mountain hike.”
  • Users prefer searching for products using multiple modalities, such as text or images, e.g., “show me similar products to this one,” or “I want a blue shirt like this.”
  • Users have diverse and dynamic preferences, tastes, and intents, which may not be captured by static attributes or categories, e.g., “a cozy christmas sweater for winter,” or “a trendy backpack for office.”

In all these cases, the traditional search would return irrelevant and query-mismatching product suggestions.

But not the vector search.
And that’s where the hype comes from.

Vector search smoothly solves these too-frequent shopping experience-killing limitations.

First, vector search understands the nuanced relationships between products, enabling personalized recommendations based on user preferences.

That means it does not matter whether the user is searching for a “laptop bag” or a “notebook case” - vector search will understand both.

Then, it supports multimodal search, where users can search by text or image and receive top-notch product offerings. “Show me similar products to this one” is enough for a search engine to find and suggest similar products.

And that’s not it.

Ultimately, vector search empowers dynamic and personalized search, where users can refine their queries, filter their results, or get recommendations based on their preferences, tastes, and intents.

“A trendy backpack for office” would include not only personally relevant products based on previous user searches but also take into account overall global and local trends.

The verdict - vector search is here to stay*

Vector search is not a short-term hype. It is now expected to completely replace traditional search engines. Because it’s worth it.
Vector search may well prove to be a cornerstone of successful e-commerce search strategies for the upcoming years.

Consider introducing vector search into your e-commerce platform as a part of an advanced search experience and witness unlimited conversion rates and sales growth.

Request a free product demo at LupaSerch - the market-leading e-commerce search solutions - and stay ahead of the market.