Benefits Of Multimodal Hybrid Search
Using a multimodal or hybrid search can present many benefits to your eCommerce business. This post will take a closer look at why this is.
Published January 15, 2025.
In the early stages of site search, searches were mostly conducted via keyword search. This meant that queries were answered according to the keywords that matched others. This was problematic for several reasons. If there were spelling mistakes, or exact search terms weren’t known, then the engine would be unable to provide the correct search results.
The solution to this? Multimodal Hybrid Search.
What Is Multimodal Hybrid Search?
Multimodal Hybrid Search means that shoppers can search using multiple modes for their convenience. These include text, image, QR codes, audio, blurry images, typos, and the list goes on. It basically means that shoppers no longer need to know keywords in order to offer top quality search results for each customer.
Multimodal Hybrid Search uses machine learning and vector search to facilitate human-centric results. It can understand the context of enquiries to produce results, rather than just the keywords alone.
Why Multimodal Search Now?
One of the main reasons that multimodal search has become so popular recently is because of the influence of social media on the eCommerce sphere. Many customers, particularly Millennials and Gen Z have already moved to social media platforms as a main place for searching.
In successful omnichannel strategies, many of these searches may begin in social media before moving on to the web store or application. These shoppers are looking for premium services that are close to in-store experiences.
There should be the ease of connection, and shoppers should be able to search in the way that feels most comfortable to them.
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Benefits of Multimodal Hybrid Search
For the merchant, there are several benefits to introducing a hybrid multimodal search to your eCommerce strategy. It can lead to increased sales, improved efficiency and lower costs. It can also lead to data sourcing, allowing you to understand customer insights better.
Customer First Approach
From the customer experience perspective, hybrid search means that shoppers can search in the way that works best for them. Rather than having to search using keywords, which they might not know the name or spelling of, hybrid search means that shoppers will always be able to find the results they need.
Improved Product Discovery
It creates seamless potential for product discovery that might be found in a brick and mortar store. For example, the customer may have seen an image of something they would like to purchase. In a brick and mortar store they would be able to show this image to the store assistant who would be able to help them.
Link With Social Media
Multimodal search creates the same potential online. If a user sees an image on social media, or any other platform of something they would like to purchase, they can enter this image as the input for the search and if there is a similar product the results will be returned. This will boost conversion rates and customer satisfaction.
Voice Technology
Similarly, perhaps a shopper may know the name of a certain trending style or product they are looking for- but might not know the spelling. This is where voice search technology comes in. Enabling hybrid search means that they can speak the term, and still find results. With the growth in popularity of voice technology, it would be a shame not to utilize it wherever possible.
Conclusion
Using a multimodal hybrid search is a great way to ensure that your eCommerce store is catering to the needs of all customers. Being able to find the appropriate results for all search queries is so important in increasing conversions. Shoppers are looking to search in ways that suit them, whether this is image, voice or any other kind of input.