Guide
How to migrate from hosted search
Migrating search should preserve shopper experience while simplifying operations. The goal is not only to switch vendors, but to carry forward the search behaviors merchants and customers already depend on.
Quick answer
A clean search migration starts with inventorying autocomplete behavior, result templates, filters, synonyms, and analytics needs, then mapping those requirements into SearchIQ before cutting over the storefront widget.
Key takeaways
- Inventory current search behavior before you cut over the storefront widget.
- Migrate synonyms, filters expectations, and merchandising rules explicitly.
- Watch zero-result and top-query reports closely in the first two weeks.
Who this page is for
- Stores moving off hosted search vendors
- Teams comparing vendor cost, control, and search behavior
- Operators planning a low-drama cutover with measurable acceptance tests
Migration goals
A good migration preserves what shoppers already rely on and improves what is broken. Do not treat cutover as a visual redesign first. Treat it as continuity of discovery: autocomplete usefulness, filter behavior, and query recovery.
Migration checklist
Document the current experience in writing so acceptance is objective. Screenshots help, but a query set is more important.
- Capture current autocomplete examples for top brands and categories.
- Export synonym, stop-word, and suggestion lists if the vendor allows it.
- List critical filters and sort options used on results pages.
- Note merchandising rules for high-priority commercial queries.
- Install SearchIQ, complete initial catalog sync, and configure widgets in staging or a controlled publish path.
- Replay the shared query set and score parity before full storefront cutover.
- Cut over, then monitor analytics daily for two weeks.
What usually breaks
The common failures are boring and preventable: missing synonyms, different default sort, filters that use different attribute names, and templates that hide fields shoppers expect (like swatches or quick view). Build a punch list for those before launch day.
Post-launch operating rhythm
For the first 14 days, review zero-result terms every day and top queries every few days. After that, settle into a weekly tuning loop. Migration success is not “widget live”; it is “query quality stable or improved.”
FAQ
What usually breaks in a search migration?
The most common gaps are missing synonyms, different filter behavior, and unnoticed storefront template differences. A migration checklist and post-launch query review reduce those risks.
How long should a SearchIQ migration take?
Many stores can evaluate and cut over in days once catalog sync completes, but plan extra time if you have large synonym dictionaries or complex merchandising rules to rebuild.
Can we run SearchIQ beside the old search during testing?
Yes — validate configuration and query parity before making SearchIQ the primary storefront experience. Controlled testing prevents surprising returning shoppers.