Magento Search Optimisation - Elasticsearch Implementation & Tuning
Overview
Elasticsearch or OpenSearch optimisation with search relevance tuning, faceted navigation, and autocomplete implementation. Help customers find what they're looking for, increasing basket size and reducing bounce rates. Great search is a competitive advantage.
Search Optimisation Services
Elasticsearch Deployment
Elasticsearch or OpenSearch cluster setup and configuration. Integration with Magento 2.4 search engine. Sharding and replication for performance and resilience. Index configuration and mapping optimisation. Version management and upgrade planning.
Search Relevance Tuning
Field weighting for relevance (product name >description >tags). Fuzzy matching for typo tolerance. Synonym management for common search terms. Boost rules for promoted or high-margin products. A/B testing different relevance algorithms.
Faceted Navigation
Dynamic facet generation from product attributes. Performance optimisation preventing slow facet queries. Smart facet display hiding empty categories. Mobile-optimised facet interface. Facet filter persistence in search results.
Autocomplete Implementation
Search suggestions as users type. Typo-tolerant autocomplete. Popular search suggestions. Product autocomplete with images. Recent search history.
Performance Optimisation
Query optimisation reducing search latency. Elasticsearch configuration tuning. Index size optimisation through field selection. Query caching strategies. Load balancing for search traffic.
Advanced Search Features
Synonym dictionaries for product variants. Stopword management for common terms. Phonetic matching for similar-sounding terms. Date range filtering for seasonal products. Custom filters for business requirements.
Analytics & Monitoring
Search query tracking and analysis. Popular searches identifying trends. Search with no results identification. Search abandonment analysis. Performance monitoring and alerting.
Integration & Migration
Migration from MySQL search to Elasticsearch. Re-indexing product catalogue. Search configuration in Magento. Custom search attribute configuration. Integration with third-party search tools if needed.
Search Technology Stack
- Search Engine: Elasticsearch 7.x, 8.x, or OpenSearch
- Magento: Integration through Magento search modules
- Analytics: Search query logging and analysis
- Monitoring: Performance metrics and alerting
- Frontend: Search component integration and display
Our Search Approach
Analysis Phase
Audit current search performance and relevance. Analyse search queries and user behaviour. Identify problem areas (low relevance, slow queries). Set performance and relevance targets.
Configuration Phase
Elasticsearch deployment and configuration. Index mapping optimisation for Magento products. Field weighting for relevance tuning. Synonym configuration for common terms.
Implementation Phase
Magento search module configuration. Autocomplete implementation. Faceted navigation setup. Advanced search features. Analytics implementation.
Testing & Optimisation
Relevance testing for different search queries. Performance testing under load. A/B testing different configurations. User testing for UI/UX. Continuous optimisation based on metrics.
Deployment & Monitoring
Production deployment and migration. Monitoring for search performance. Analysis of search quality metrics. Continuous improvement based on analytics.
Search Quality Metrics
Relevance Metrics
- Click-Through Rate (CTR): Percentage of search results clicked (target >40%)
- Position of Clicks: Average position of clicked result (target top 3)
- Search Satisfaction: User rating of search results (target >4/5)
- Conversion Rate: Sales resulting from search (target >2%)
Performance Metrics
- Search Response Time: Target <200ms for 99th percentile
- Autocomplete Latency: Target <100ms for suggestions
- Index Update Time: Target <5 minutes for fresh data
- Query Success Rate: Target 99.9%+ (minimal timeouts)
Search Best Practices
Relevance: Field weighting for important attributes (name > description > tags). Newer products slightly boosted. Promoted products weighted higher.
Typo Tolerance: Fuzzy matching for typos. Levenshtein distance 1-2 acceptable. Phonetic matching for similar-sounding terms.
Synonyms: Common product variations (jeans/denim, bag/satchel). Brand aliases (Nike/swoosh). Abbreviations and full terms.
Facets: Limit to 5-10 most relevant facets. Don't show empty facets cluttering interface. Smart ordering (frequency or alphabetical).
Autocomplete: Combine product suggestions with popular searches. Show images for visual appeal. Include price information. Limit results to 5-10 suggestions.
Business Impact
Improved Discoverability: Customers find more products through better search.
Increased Basket Size: Relevant search results increase average order value.
Reduced Bounce Rate: Great search keeps customers engaged instead of bouncing to competitors.
Better Conversion: Faster access to desired products increases purchase intent.
Operational Insight: Search analytics reveal popular products and trends.
Use Cases
Large Catalogues: Retailers with 10,000+ products where search is critical. Elasticsearch scales where MySQL search struggles.
Fashion & Apparel: High-dimensional filtering (size, colour, material). Faceted navigation essential for discovery.
B2B Marketplaces: Complex product specifications and filtering. Search is primary navigation method.
International Expansion: Multilingual search and synonym management across languages.
Common Search Problems
Poor Relevance: Irrelevant search results from incorrect weighting.
No Typo Tolerance: Typos result in zero results frustrating users.
Slow Search: Slow autocomplete and faceted search degrading experience.
Limited Facets: Insufficient filtering options limiting discovery.
No Analytics: Missing insight into search behaviour and problems.
Search Metrics to Track
- Search queries (volume and trends)
- Popular searches (identify trending products)
- No-results searches (fix gaps in catalogue)
- Search position of clicks (relevant results clicked earlier)
- Search-to-purchase conversion (revenue attribution)
Why Choose Our Search Services
Elasticsearch Experts: Deep experience optimising search for e-commerce.
Magento Integration: Seamless integration with Magento 2.4 search module.
Relevance Focus: Every search result optimisation focused on customer finding what they want.
Analytics-Driven: Continuous improvement based on search metrics and user behaviour.
Related Services
- Headless Development: Advanced search UI with React or Vue
- Performance Optimisation: Full-stack tuning supporting fast search
- Custom Development: Custom search features and integrations
- Analytics: Search behaviour tracking and optimisation
Implementation Timeline
- Week 1-2: Analysis and planning
- Week 3-4: Elasticsearch deployment and Magento integration
- Week 5-6: Relevance tuning and feature implementation
- Week 7-8: Testing and performance optimisation
- Week 9+: Monitoring and continuous improvement
Expected Improvements
- Search Relevance: 40-60% improvement in result quality
- Autocomplete: Sub-100ms response times with rich suggestions
- Conversion: 20-30% increase in search-to-purchase conversion
- Average Order Value: 10-15% increase through better product discovery
Next Steps
Transform your search experience. Contact us to audit your current search and plan Elasticsearch implementation.