Purpose-Based Search Query as a Unique eCommerce Feature

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Annoyance is at the top when in dialogue with an inept respondent. People tend to lose their temper when their intentions are not grasped correctly.

This happens when online shoppers are trying to search for specific products on eCommerce websites.

It is a big malfunction when the digital world full of customer-pleasing supplements fails to meet the shopper’s lingo.

Customers are dismayed to get irrelevant or literally no results when they search for some product specification in spite of the fact that the e-Commerce website does sell that product.

This primarily pertains because the e-Commerce search engine is not able to match synonymous words, acronyms, special character searches, whitespaces, etc. 

Common examples where the customers get unmatched and annoying results when they search for either of the following words: scarfs and mufflers, pullovers and sweatshirts, ft and feet, in an inch, ml, and milliliter, etc. 

Shoppers also turn desolate when their vocabularies are not assumed correctly.

Once a customer has such rugged experiences, he is sure not to return on that shopping website again.

The virtual marketplace has an exorbitant range of products available as per consumers’ needs but it’s of little use if the search engines cannot get expected results.

Customers will throw hearts at this unique eCommerce feature

As a solution to bring tangible communication between the online marketers and the shopper, let’s welcome a robust and efficient tool of Purpose-based Query Search as a unique eCommerce feature for e-commerce search engines.

Why Purpose?

If you think back to the motives, why does a shopper buys?

The primary reason is Need. Correct?

There is a need or requirement of a particular commodity, and that’s why there is an urge to buy it. Subsequently, there’s a wish to shop. One buys because one feels like having a demanding item.

What is the Purpose?

Apart from the demand and the desire to shop, a customer has more reasons to shop. Rather more reasons to shop for a particular type of product.

People no more buy merely anything that is available in the stores.

Rather, they take deep thought to define what exactly they want to buy.

They have intentions to shop for an event, for an activity, for a place, for a cause, etc. They define their essentials along with a suitable element.

For instance, one would set out to shop if one requires an outfit for an upcoming event. And that is their purpose in shopping.

You must give customers a chance to communicate freely, just as they would speak without any barriers and most importantly, the search engine must provide them unique eCommerce feature to get them their desired results. Only then the customers will revisit the website.

Think as if the shopper is talking to a salesman while explaining his needs and expectations.

Customers tend to fill the search tab with what’s there in their minds. Seriously, yes!

This is what they expect of the seller- to understand what they mean. Whether this seller is a brick and mortar store or an online shopping website.

Customers are buying not just anything available or something close to their needs. Instead, they ensure that the purchased product meets all their interests.

I have classified the following 9 types of customer purposes for shopping: Occasion, Event, Season, Activity, Style, Functionality, Intention, Trait, and Place.  

An example of the purposeful search query will explain the purpose easily. 

Purpose- Occasion

Example 1. Little Black Dress for a dinner date

When the shopper is interested in buying a dress which can be preferably worn for a dinner date.

Purpose- Event

Example 2. Shoes for a running competition

When a customer wants to buy sports shoes specifically for running competition.

Purpose- Season

Example 3. Body lotion for summer

The buyer wants to buy body lotion which keeps the skin hydrated during hot weather.

Purpose- Activity

Example 4. Earplugs for jogging

The customer wants to buy ear-fitting/band-style earplugs best suitable while jogging activity.

Purpose- Style inclination

Example 5. Glasses for a funky look

Here the customer wants to carry a funky/trendy look and is looking for eyeglasses that go with the look.

Purpose- Functionality

Example 6. Foldable study table

A student wants to look up options for a study table that is foldable, most suitable to her compact study room.

Purpose- Intended usage

Example 7. Torchlight for underwater research

A marine researcher is looking for torchlight which is waterproof, durable, and long-lasting so that it can be used underwater.

Purpose- Trait

Example 8. Music player for a high-quality usage

The buyer wants to shop for a music player that has a very good quality of the sound system and is durable so that it can be used often.

Purpose-Place

Example 9. Art pieces for bathroom decor

When interior designers are looking for artwork suitable to place in the lavatory.

Currently, most of the eCommerce websites do not provide unique eCommerce search features for shoppers to get them their desired result.

Thus, I come up with the thought of a Purpose-based search query as a unique eCommerce feature.

If you look at the above examples, you will find that customers want to explain their needs depending on the purpose of shopping.

A human mind can understand the difference between garden furniture and office furniture or dress for a friend’s event and picnic. But what about a shopping website search engine?

Wouldn’t it be great if a machine can grasp your intentions of buying a product and get you the most suitable match available?

This unique eCommerce feature will act as a rescuer here.

Just as the seller lists its product in different categories and sub-categories on a shopping site, they need to list one more entity along with that- purpose.

The purpose(s) must be mapped with the product search engine so that when the customer tries to search a purpose-based item, he/she gets the desired outcome.

Here the role of the sellers will be important as they need to cautiously map different purposes to a product.

Sellers will have to analyze and think promptly about various purposes of a selling product.

This will give the customers a personal touch.

Moreover, a customer will be gratified and content for buying what exactly matched their expectations.

A satisfied customer turns to be your loyal customer ultimately.

This pleasant experience will get them back to your website the next time they want to shop.

This will procure to your profit, growth, and revenue.

The same happy customer will review your site with good ratings and also recommend it to friends.


Author:

Malav Kargathra – I am a technical writer at TRooTech. After many of the stereotypical drama, I could finally tune-up my passion and occupation. I bring my soul out in writing just to be a great contributor to this beautiful world of technology.

Purpose-Based Search Query as a Unique eCommerce Feature