Configure Commerce Search v3

  • Updated

This feature is currently in beta. Contact your Customer Success Manager or sign up for the beta on Optimizely.com.

Commerce Search v3 in Optimizely Configured Commerce lets you configure search controls that influence your search results. After you implement Commerce Search v3, you should test the text searches and browse searches to see how the default search settings align with your needs. Start with the default search settings to establish a baseline. If adjustments are needed, you can customize the controls to tailor the search experience based on specific business goals or user behavior. Follow the steps to create or modify search configurations and controls.

You can create separate search configurations for each website and each language it supports. This helps you tailor search results to match local content, language, and user expectations. It also ensures that your site provides accurate and relevant results for every audience.

Serving Configs

Serving Configs in Commerce Search v3 lets you create serving configurations. These configurations associate a machine learning model with one or more serving controls to drive the generation and customization of search results.

By default, Commerce uses the default_search serving configuration provided out of the box. You should associate any new serving controls with this default configuration to streamline configuration and maintain consistency. 

Alternatively, you can create a new serving config as shown below. When configuring a new serving config, record its Config ID and the website, as you need this to update the Serving Config ID field in the settings to activate it.

If your website supports multiple languages, create the Serving Config with same Config Id across all associated languages to ensure search functionality works as expected.

  1. Go to Marketing > Commerce Search v3 > Serving Configs > Create Serving Config.

  2. Add a Config Name.
  3. Add a Config Id.
  4. Add the appropriate Serving Controls.
  5. Click Submit.

  6. Update Serving Config ID Search Settings. Go to Administration > Settings > Search > Select Website > Serving Config ID.

  7. Rebuild your search index and test the search.

Serving Controls

Serving Controls in Commerce Search v3 lets you create the following controls:

  • Boost/bury – Adjusts ranking by promoting or demoting specific products or categories
  • Product pinning – Fixes certain products to specific positions in the result list
  • Filters – Excludes results that don't meet specific criteria
  • Redirects – Sends users to a specific page based on their query
  • Linguistic Controls
    • Two-way synonyms – Adds related terms to broaden search results for a query
    • One-way synonyms – Adds alternate terms for specific queries without applying the reverse mapping
    • Do not associate – Blocks certain terms from being linked in search when specific keywords are present
    • Ignore – Excludes designated terms from being factored into search queries
    • Replacements – Substitutes specific terms in the query with predefined alternatives

Follow these steps to create a serving control:

  1. Go to Marketing > Commerce Search v3.

  2. Click Serving Controls > Create Control.

    Search v3 - Create Control.png

  3. Add a Control Name. Commerce Search v3 generates the Control ID based on the Control Name, and you cannot change it later.

  4. Select the Control Type. The Triggers and Actions vary depending on the control type you choose. For example, selecting Boost/Bury Controls contains fields to enter Partial match query terms, Exact match query terms, Applicable Time Ranges, Rules, and Boost/Bury value.

    Search v3 - Boost bury example.png

  5. Fill in the applicable fields.
  6. Click Submit.
  7. Rebuild your search index and test the search.

You can add more controls as needed.

Attribute Controls

Attribute Controls in Commerce Search v3 impact the search and recommendations behavior across your site. You can configure behavior for product attributes. Go to Marketing > Commerce Search v3 > Attribute Controls > Create Attribute.

You can edit the following information: (Note: Some of the below fields in certain System Attributes cannot be changed and will remain set to their default values.)

  • Attribute Name
  • Type
  • Indexable
  • Dynamic Faceting
  • Searchable
  • Retrievable
  • Exact Match 

Click Save when finished. Changes to Indexable, Searchable, and Retrievable apply immediately on your next catalog ingestion or within 12 hours or more. Changes to Dynamic Faceting and Exact Match apply within two days. Changes to Filterable only apply to filter tag generation for recommendations and take effect within 12 hours or more.

Rebuild your search index, then wait for the sync to complete before testing your search results.

The following 

 

Autocomplete Controls

Autocomplete Controls in Commerce Search v3 help you customize how search suggestions appear, making it easier for shoppers to find what they need as they type. Go to Marketing > Commerce Search v3 > Autocomplete Controls > Edit Settings.

Search v3 - Autocomplete Controls.png

You can edit the following:

  • Matching Order
  • Suggestion Count
  • Minimum Length to Trigger

Click Save Settings when finished. Rebuild your search index and test the search.