The Power of Search and Personalization Working Together (Shopify Semantic Search vs. Frenzy AI Search)

Shopify's investment in their AI-powered Semantic Search, especially with the recent hire of a former Microsoft executive Mikhail Parakhin, shows their commitment to improving search functionality across their massive platform. This move is a positive development for the eCommerce industry and offers a valuable option for many stores that are considering Shopify as their platform. However, it raises a key question: Why invest in an 'AI search' plugin if Shopify is already enhancing their search out-of-the-box?

The answer lies in the difference between generalist AI and specialized AI solutions like Frenzy AI. Shopify's Semantic Search is designed to work across millions of stores, while Frenzy AI focuses on delivering a more personalized, tailored search experience for specific industries e.g. apparel, jewelry, cosmetics, wellness, home furnishings etc. This focused approach has proven to generate higher revenue and conversion rates (CVR) in every A/B test we’ve conducted with our 50+ Shopify store partners.

The Basic Goals of Search and Personalization

Let's break down the core goals of personalization and search:

• Personalization: Aims to show visitors the products they're most likely to buy with the fewest clicks.

• Search: Helps visitors find the exact products they’re looking for.

How AI Search and Personalization Should Work Together

• When users perform broad searches that yield many results, personalization becomes essential for highlighting the most relevant products and bringing the right options to the forefront.

• On the other hand, with narrow searches, it's crucial to present the exact products the user is looking for without overwhelming them with unnecessary options. The goal is to avoid cluttering the search results and ensure a seamless experience that guides users directly to what they want.

Real-World Comparisons: Semantic Search vs. Frenzy AI Search

Let's look at some real search examples to illustrate the difference:

Narrow Search Examples:

• “clear purse”:

Semantic Search - the ideal results are separated at the beginning and end of the results page, forcing the user to scroll to the end of the page.

Frenzy AI Search - only the ideal results are shown to guide users to purchase without any friction.

• “snapback jacket falcons”

Semantic Search - the ideal results are not shown on any page.

Frenzy AI Search - only the most ideal result is shown to guide users to purchase without any friction.

Broad Search Examples:

• “t shirt”

Semantic Search - If the visitor is a 'Texas A&M' fan, the ideal result is shown on page 10

Frenzy AI Search - The visitor is a 'Texas A&M' fan so the ideal result is shown first.

Frenzy AI Search - The visitor is a 'Penn State' fan so the ideal result is shown first.

• "anxiety"

Semantic Search - No results shown.

Frenzy AI Search - Ideal results are shown and personalized to the visitor's 'anxiety' concern.

Why This Matters for Your Shopify Store

Search should follow the same principles as personalization: delivering the right products without causing confusion or friction. In narrow searches, it's better to display the exact result rather than cluttering the page with excessive options, as Semantic Search often does. Frenzy AI ensures that site visitors quickly find what they’re looking for, even in broader searches, without having to scroll through endless pages.

Our Ongoing Commitment to Improvement

To say Frenzy AI has it all figured out would be an exaggeration. We’re constantly testing, refining, and finding the right balance between exact matches and personalized results. This dedication ensures that our Shopify partners receive the best possible search experience, driving superior financial outcomes over time.

We expect Shopify to keep advancing its search capabilities, and we'll continue conducting head-to-head A/B tests to compare revenue and conversion rates session by session. This ongoing analysis will help us further refine Frenzy AI's performance, consistently outperforming Shopify's built-in site search, recommendations, and collection pages.