News

Silverstripe Search: A game-changer for web search

18 July 2024

Jenn McKubre

Jenn McKubre

18 July 2024

In the fast-paced world of digital content, the struggle to keep users engaged and satisfied is real. Imagine you're running a busy online store or a resource-rich informational website. Your users are like treasure hunters, each with a unique map and a different goal. They want to find that one piece of information or product quickly and effortlessly and immediacy is the only time frame they’re willing to accept. But, too often, they get lost in a maze of pages, frustrated by vague navigation or worse, outdated search functions. This is how Silverstripe Search was born. We set about transforming the user’s search experience from a frustrating hunt to a seamless, rewarding experience.

The common challenges

Web administrators and content managers face many challenges. Pages and content multiply, site structures become complex, and users grow impatient. Here are a few scenarios you’re probably familiar with:

  • Users abandoning searches: A visitor types a query into your site’s search bar but gets irrelevant results. Frustrated, they leave, potentially for good.
  • Content managers overwhelmed: As your content library grows, managing and optimising it for search becomes an overwhelming task, taking time away from creating new, engaging material.
  • Technical hurdles: Implementing and maintaining a robust search solution requires expertise and resources that many businesses simply don’t have.

 

The Silverstripe Search solution

We wanted to envision a different experience for your users and your content team.

Your user visits your site looking for a specific research article. They type a few keywords into the search bar. Instantly, Silverstripe Search delivers highly relevant results, thanks to its Elasticsearch engine. They find what they need in seconds, delighted by the efficiency.

Meanwhile, your content manager is working on optimising the site’s content. With the insights provided by the Elastic analytics dashboard, they know exactly what users are searching for. It allows them to tailor content to meet their needs, promoting popular articles and creating new ones based on demand.

How Silverstripe Search works for you
  1. Lightning-fast, accurate search results: Driven by Elasticsearch, Silverstripe Search understands and processes user queries with speed and precision. It’s like having a knowledgeable librarian who knows exactly where everything is.
  2. Hassle-free management: Our fully managed service means you don't have to worry about the technical complexities. We handle everything, from integration to maintenance, ensuring your search function is always the very best it can be.
  3. Actionable insights: Silverstripe Search does more than just find information. It provides deep insights into user behaviour, showing you what’s working and what needs improvement. You'll know exactly which products or articles are trending and why, allowing you to make data-driven decisions.
  4. Seamless integration: We make sure that implementing Silverstripe Search is straightforward. Whether handled by our team or your in-house developers, we provide a smooth, hassle-free integration supported by comprehensive guides and support.
  5. Predictable pricing: We’ve applied a transparent, fixed-pricing model so you don’t need to stress about unforeseen costs.
Real-world impact

Elasticsearch was a game changer for the Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) Intranet, aka The Portal. For many FENZ Intranet users, the search engine is the first port of call when they're looking for a specific piece of content, but are unsure of its location within the site structure. The ‘curations’ feature allowed us to directly connect the real-world terminology used by frontline users to the documents and content they need to get the job done.

Taking the next step

As search technology continues to evolve, integrating AI and advanced analytics, we’ll make sure you stay a step ahead. Our team will continue to test new features and functionality to keep Silverstripe Search at the bleeding edge.

 

You can contact us at hello@silverstripe.com(opens in new tab) or download our brochure to learn more.

Silverstripe Search officially launched on Thursday 25 July

Jenn McKubre

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jenn McKubre

Jenn is the Platform Delivery Director at Silverstripe. Problem-solving is the part of her role that she loves best. There’s nothing more satisfying than finding a neat solution to a complex problem. For Jenn, it’s all about understanding different users and perspectives and figuring out how to bring diverse needs and wants together into a cohesive and functional whole.

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