Shopify Predictive Search: The Complete Guide

Make the most of Shopify's predictive search with this complete guide, offering in-depth tips, strategies, and best practices designed to enhance your customers' shopping experience and improve your store's performance.

Ali Shah - Writer for Fast Simon
By Ali Shah
Danell Theron Photo
Edited by Danéll Theron
Oli Kashti - Writer and Fact-Checker for Fast Simon
Fact-check by Oli Kashti

Updated November 19, 2024.

Male holds iPhone 6s with Shopify application on the screen in coffee shop.

Shopify Search is a leading eCommerce platform with over 4.4 million online stores using its services to sell their products to customers. Apart from its key features like custom designs and secure hosting, it also offers a predictive text feature to make it easier for your customers to search for products in your store. Shopify's predictive search feature suggests search results to your customers in real time as they type their queries.

This enhances your customers' site search experience and can result in high conversion rates. Plus, predictive search can also help you understand your customers' buyer persona and inform future improvements to your store.

Shopify predictive search uses algorithms to analyze your customers' behavior and gives them suggestions as they type a query into the search bar. This way, your customers quickly find the products they're looking for without writing the whole query and going through different pages of search results.

The results from predictive search can include different elements:

  • A simple list of text suggestions
  • Product images and names
  • Categories or collections
  • Popular or trending search terms

» Want to further improve your customer experience? Learn how to add, remove, and customize the Shopify search bar

Example: Princess Polly, an online fashion boutique, gives its customers product suggestions, collection suggestions, and trending searches based on other customers' activities.

Princess Polly example_Shopify Predictive Search


Key Elements of Predictive Search

Data Collection

The initial phase of real-time query prediction involves gathering data from a variety of sources, including previous searches, user behaviors, and interactions. This information is critical for training the algorithms, enabling them to make more precise predictions

Query Prediction

After data collection, the system predicts the user’s query as they begin typing. This process entails examining prior queries and utilizing AI to anticipate what the user is likely seeking. This capability is essential for providing real-time search suggestions.

Relevant Results

Once the query is predicted, the system ranks the results based on their relevance and accuracy. Various factors, such as keyword alignment, user intent, and content quality, are used by the predictive search engine to determine which results to prioritize.

Continuous Learning

The search prediction process is dynamic and learns from each user interaction. As more users utilize the predictive search feature, the system adapts its predictions based on natural language processing (NLP), continuously improving its accuracy. This AI-driven search evolution makes predictive search solutions increasingly effective over time.



» Ensure quality data collection with internal site search analysis




5 Benefits of Predictive Search for your Shopify Store

Infographic of the five benefits of a competitive search for your shop


By implementing Shopify predictive search, businesses can streamline the process of finding products, services, or information, minimizing the time and effort for customers. This feature enhances the overall shopping experience by making it more personalized and efficient. Here’s how Shopify predictive search benefits both you and your customers

1. Improved Customer Experience

Shopify predictive search offers your customers a quick and easy searching experience, which is far removed from traditional searches and helps to reduce their frustrations if they find it hard to navigate to the product they want.

Predictive search can remove certain language issues. It reduces spelling mistakes because your customers don't have to type out their entire query. And if you use synonyms in your site search, then predictive search can make complimentary suggestions if your customers' search terms are different from the terms in your store.

Predictive search enhances customer satisfaction by providing timely and relevant suggestions based on their queries.

» Discover more tips on using spelling and synonyms to your advantage

2. Higher Conversion Rate

Shopify predictive search makes your products more discoverable. By automatically completing your customers' search query, your conversions can increase by 24%.

Also, since 39% of online shoppers are influenced by a relevant search, you have good opportunities to upsell and cross-sell. By making suggestions to your customers, they may come across products they didn't know you had or thought they needed. Users are more likely to discover and purchase products that match their intent, leading to higher sales and revenue

The convenience of instant and relevant search results can not only improve conversion rates but customer retention as well because customers are more likely to return to your store if it offers better experiences.

» Explore these additional benefits of upselling and cross-selling

3. Better Customer Service

You can use the data that Shopify predictive search gathers about your customers' behavior to give them a better experience every time they visit your store. By personalizing their search experience, your customers can effortlessly find what they're looking for, which in turn can solidify their trust in and loyalty to your brand and products—by up to 49%.

Additionally, leveraging this data allows you to anticipate customer needs, enabling proactive support and tailored recommendations. As a result, you not only enhance satisfaction but also create lasting relationships that encourage repeat business and positive word-of-mouth.

» Not sure where to start? Here are some elements to personalize on your store

4. Greater Competitive Advantage

If up to 61% of eCommerce sites deliver disappointing search results, then Shopify predictive search can set you apart from your competitors. Analyzing the data from your predictive search can not only help to give your customers a positive experience that they associate with your store, but you can also adjust and improve your business strategy, product offerings, pricing, promotions, and marketing to maximize sales and average order value.

By consistently providing relevant search results, you can cultivate a reputation for excellence that attracts new customers while retaining existing ones. This focus on enhancing the shopping experience can ultimately position your brand as a leader in the market, driving long-term success.

5. Reduced Cart Abandonment

By offering relevant suggestions through predictive search, you can reduce the chances of customers leaving your site without making a purchase. Predictive search helps them find exactly what they’re looking for more quickly, minimizing frustration and preventing them from getting sidetracked or abandoning their carts. This efficiency can lead to smoother transactions and a boost in overall sales completion rates.

» Learn how predictive analytics can help your eCommerce store



You might be thinking setting up Shopify predictive search is a lengthy and difficult process, but it's actually not that complex and can be done quite easily.

  1. Start by installing a search app from the Shopify App Store.
    2. Shopify App Store_Predictive search example_no border
    
  2. Once installed, you have to give the app access to your store and product pages so it can start indexing.
  3. Once complete, predictive search is enabled for your store. Your customers will be able to use the feature right away.


» Looking for a search tool? Take a look at our search solutions



Using Shopify predictive search can improve the shopping experience, but to get the best results, it must be implemented correctly. Here are useful tips for optimizing your predictive search eCommerce function:

  • Monitor your website speed: Predictive search apps often use a lot of resources, potentially slowing down your site as they process real-time data for suggestions. To maintain fast load times, consider upgrading your hosting or optimizing the app’s algorithms.
  • Make your search bar visible: A visible search bar is crucial. Don’t rely on just a search icon, as users may overlook it. Display a full search box prominently on every page, allowing customers to quickly locate what they need.
  • Ensure proper configuration for accurate results: If your predictive search is not properly configured, it can return inaccurate results. This could happen if the app doesn’t have enough data or its settings aren’t fully optimized.
  • Offer relevant suggestions: Good predictive search examples include offering suggestions that contain product names, categories, and images. This helps customers quickly find products they’re interested in, increasing the chances of conversion.
  • Include the autocomplete feature: The Shopify search query feature should include predictive autocomplete search to show suggestions as users type, making the search process faster. Autocomplete is expected in modern predictive search eCommerce setups, so including it ensures a competitive user experience.
  • Leverage AI in eCommerce: Use AI to handle complex search queries. AI-driven systems can understand long-tail keywords and deliver accurate results, ensuring customers find what they need, even with vague or complex searches.
  • Design considerations: Make sure the predictive search suggestions fit well with your store's overall design for a smooth user experience. Use clear and simple language in your suggestions to prevent confusion, avoiding any industry jargon in product names.
  • Mobile compatibility: As more shoppers turn to mobile devices, it’s crucial to ensure that your predictive search is optimized for mobile use. Design your mobile search user experience to present suggestions clearly on smaller screens by utilizing larger fonts and adequate spacing.

» Learn more about the power of AI in eCommerce site search



Make Sure You Stay in the Fast Lane

The success of any eCommerce store ultimately depends on connecting customers with the right products—and that’s only possible if they can easily find what they’re looking for. Shopify predictive search enhances the shopping experience by providing customers with instant, accurate search results, making it simpler for them to discover your offerings.

By reducing the time spent searching and delivering relevant suggestions based on just a few keystrokes, predictive search not only helps customers find what they need but also introduces them to products they may not have initially considered. This streamlined, intuitive process can increase customer satisfaction, drive engagement, and potentially boost sales by offering a more personalized and efficient shopping journey. Moreover, merchandising becomes more effective when predictive search aligns product discovery with customer intent, helping you showcase relevant items and increase the likelihood of conversions.

» Don't have a Shopify store? Explore your Magento Search and BigCommerce Search options instead