How Searchanise Transforms Search Experience for WooCommerce Stores

EroticWelt is an innovative online store specializing in adult toys. By leveraging AI to generate detailed product descriptions, they’ve improved their SEO rankings and provided engaging product information for their customers. We had the pleasure of speaking with Stephan Mitterer, the company's CEO, who shared insights into how Searchanise has enhanced their operations.

Before implementing Searchanise, EroticWelt faced several typical challenges of many eCommerce websites. Stephan was searching for an alternative to the standard WooCommerce search functionality, which was insufficient for their needs. Additionally, managing more complex solutions like Sphinx or Solr was not feasible due to the overhead involved in their setup and maintenance.

The primary issues were:

Relevance of Search Results: Ensuring that search results were accurate and relevant was crucial for enhancing customer satisfaction and driving sales.

Ease of Use: Stephan needed a solution that was easy to implement without requiring extensive management.

Cost Efficiency: Finding an affordable solution that provided high-quality results was a priority.

Stephan decided to try Searchanise based on its promising features and ease of integration. Since its implementation, EroticWelt has seen substantial improvements. Here’s how Searchanise addressed their challenges:

Enhanced Search Relevance: Searchanise significantly improved the relevance of search results on EroticWelt.org. Stephan shared, "The quality of the search results is very high. If you search for the pink dildo pink one, you get a pink dildo." The search functionality is very effective, accurately matching products to search queries by considering various attributes like color. This level of precision ensures that customers find exactly what they are looking for, enhancing their shopping experience.

Easy Setup and Maintenance: One of the standout features of Searchanise for Stephan was its ease of setup. Unlike some other solutions that require extensive configuration and management, Searchanise is an "install and forget" system. Stephan appreciated that after the initial installation, only minimal adjustments were needed, such as defining synonyms or stop words. He noted, "It's easy to set up, so it was fast to implement and didn't have to waste any time here."

Cost Efficiency: Searchanise provided a cost-effective solution, which was a crucial deciding factor for Stephan. "Searchanise was extremely cheap compared to running a different server for Sphinx or Solar," he explained.

Although Stephan did not have specific metrics to compare pre and post-implementation performance, he noted that the ease of setup and the improved search relevance had a positive impact. For a site where most visitors come directly to product pages from price comparison websites, the enhanced search functionality particularly benefits returning visitors and those who use the search feature to explore more products.

EroticWelt’s experience with Searchanise highlights the importance of a robust and easy-to-implement search solution in enhancing the user experience on eCommerce platforms. By improving search relevance and maintaining cost efficiency, Searchanise has proven to be a valuable asset for Stephan’s innovative online store.

Serial Bag Makers caters to a niche market: individuals who sew their own handbags. The owner, Anne Verberckmoes, started the business in late 2018 after identifying a gap in the market for high-quality handbag-making materials. Over time, her webshop evolved into the largest in Europe, shipping primarily to the United States and France, with recent growth in Belgium.

Anne explains, “I was making handbags myself and struggled to find quality materials. Alibaba and Aliexpress were unreliable, so I decided to source and sell them myself. This led to the creation of Serial Bag Makers.”

Anne faced several challenges as her business expanded:

Product Searchability: Customers struggled to find products using the default search feature on her WooCommerce site.

Operational Efficiency: Managing a rapidly growing inventory single-handedly required an efficient system to streamline product searches and order processing.

After discovering Searchanise, Anne was quick to see its potential. “I tried the free version and within 12 hours, I knew it was the best search engine for my site,” she recalls. The ease of use and affordability at the time made it a straightforward decision.

The integration of Searchanise brought immediate improvements:

Enhanced Search Functionality: Customers could easily find products using various terms, improving their shopping experience.

Improved User Experience: The intuitive search tool helped Anne quickly locate products during in-person customer visits, enhancing service efficiency.

Operational Efficiency: Searchanise streamlined the order processing by quickly displaying relevant products with just a few keystrokes.

Anne highlights, “When people come to my shop, I type a few letters, and Searchanise shows all the relevant products. It’s incredibly efficient.”

While Anne has not specifically tracked metrics, the subjective improvements in operational efficiency and user satisfaction are clear. “I haven’t measured the impact on sales directly, but the ease of finding products has definitely improved my workflow and customer service,” she says.

Searchanise has significantly enhanced Serial Bag Makers' operational capabilities and customer experience. Anne relies heavily on Searchanise for its superior search functionality, underscoring the importance of robust search solutions for eCommerce success.

Tropics at Home started as a blog dedicated to tropical plants, providing insights on how to grow and maintain them at home. "My interest in plants began unexpectedly in adulthood when my partner started buying orchids. I had to care for them and soon found myself fascinated by more exotic plants," Alex recounts. Launched in 2016, the blog quickly gained popularity, prompting the idea to sell plants online.

Rather than managing the logistics of shipping plants physically, the owner partnered with a business in Thailand. "We collect orders on our website and transfer them to Bangkok, where my partner’s company handles global shipping," he explained. This model, now known as drop shipping, has proven effective, allowing the business to scale without the complexities of physical inventory management.

As the blog grew into a full-fledged online store, several challenges emerged:

Search Functionality: With over 900 plant varieties available, an efficient search feature became crucial.

Content Visibility: The blog also housed numerous posts that needed to be easily accessible.

User Experience: Enhancing site navigation to improve customer satisfaction and retention was a priority.

Discovering Searchanise was a turning point. "I stumbled upon Searchanise somewhat accidentally, but it was a happy find," the owner recalls. The initial setup was seamless, and the difference in search functionality was immediately noticeable. Compared to standard WordPress search, Searchanise offered a superior experience.

Implementing Searchanise brought several benefits:

Improved Search Accuracy: Customers could find plants using partial names or similar terms, enhancing the shopping experience.

Enhanced User Experience: The search results were clearly categorized, displaying products and blog posts separately. "I appreciate that posts and products are shown separately, making them more visible," the owner says.

Operational Insights: Searchanise provided valuable data on search queries, including unsuccessful searches, which helped refine the product catalog and improve search functionality. The owner elaborates, "Searchanise allows me to see what customers are searching for and adjust the site accordingly. This includes adding synonyms and redirecting search queries to relevant products."

While specific metrics weren't tracked, the owner notes a significant improvement in user experience. "I don’t have direct feedback from visitors, but I see active use of the search feature. It’s clear that with so many products, a robust search tool is essential," he states.

Also, the owner had positive interactions with Searchanise’s support team. "There were some initial questions, but they were resolved quickly, which reinforced my decision to continue using the service," he recalls. This responsiveness and the overall ease of use were critical factors in his satisfaction with Searchanise.

The smart search tool has enhanced customer experience, streamlined operations, and provided valuable insights into user behavior. As the business continues to grow, the owner remains enthusiastic about the role Searchanise plays in the ongoing success. "Love at first sight," he describes his experience with the tool, highlighting its transformative impact on his business.

The success stories of ErotikWelt, Serial Bag Makers, and Tropics at Home underscore the broad applicability and significant benefits of Searchanise. By enhancing search functionalities, streamlining operations, and maintaining cost efficiency, Searchanise has proven indispensable for eCommerce success. As businesses continue to grow and evolve, Searchanise stands out as a reliable and powerful search solution, committed to supporting eCommerce goals and driving sustained success.