Boost Search Speed with Smile Elasticsearch Magento 2

• What is Smile Elasticsearch?

• How Smile Elasticsearch Works with Magento 2?

• 8 Advanced Features of Smile Elasticsearch

• 6 Prerequisites of Smile Elasticsearch

• Difference Between Smile Elasticsearch and Amasty

• FAQs

• Summary

What is Smile Elasticsearch?

Smile Elasticsearch is a powerful search and analytics engine. It helps handle large volumes of data.

Smile is an open-source, distributed search engine based on Apache Lucene. Smile, a company specializing in open-source digital solutions, developed it.

The Magento 2 module enables fast, real-time search capabilities. It supports structured and unstructured data querying and machine learning integrations. It is ideal for applications requiring:

• Full-text search

• Log or event data analysis

• Business intelligence

Security monitoring and big data analytics companies use it. It supports a powerful ecosystem and easy integration with tools like Kibana.

How Smile Elasticsearch Works with Magento 2?

1. Integration with Magento 2 via ElasticSuite Module

• You can install Smile ElasticSuite as a Magento 2 module. It connects Magento’s product catalog and CMS content to Elasticsearch.

• The module overrides Magento’s native search and merchandising capabilities with enhanced features.

• It injects search intelligence into the storefront through autocomplete and real-time indexing.

2. Data Indexing Through Elasticsearch

• After installation, ElasticSuite indexes Magento’s catalog data into Elasticsearch. Products and CMS pages are all indexed.

• The index depends on custom relevance rules and attribute weights. Indexing happens during catalog updates or via scheduled cron jobs.

• It offers lightning-fast full-text search. It can handle millions of records with minimal delay. It is perfect for large e-commerce catalogs.

3. Real-Time Query Processing on the Frontend

• When a customer types in the search box, it sends the query to Elasticsearch.

• Elasticsearch analyzes the input using:

  1. Tokenization

  2. Stemming

  3. Synonyms

  4. Typo corrections

• It filters the results and ranks them based on defined relevance logic. It displays the results in real-time using AJAX. It requires no page reloads.

4. Admin Configuration and Merchandising Tools

• In the Magento backend, admins can:

  1. Define search relevance settings

  2. Manage synonyms and stop words

  3. Create virtual categories based on rules

  4. Track search performance using built-in dashboards

• These tools allow merchants to fine-tune search behavior. It also helps align results with business goals without writing any code.

5. Ongoing Synchronization and Performance Monitoring

• Using Magento's indexing system keeps the Elasticsearch index in sync with catalog changes.

• The module provides logging and monitoring tools. It helps troubleshoot slow queries or indexing issues.

• It allows store owners to run diagnostics. It also optimizes performance as product data scales.

8 Advanced Features of Smile Elasticsearch

1. Autocomplete with Real-Time Suggestions

• As users begin typing in the search bar, it displays suggestions in real-time. These suggestions can include:

  1. Products

  2. Categories

  3. CMS pages

  4. Attribute-based suggestions

• The module reduces search time and boosts engagement. It helps customers discover products they may not have considered.

• It also prevents drop-offs by guiding users even with vague or partial queries.

2. Typo Tolerance and Synonym Management

• Smile ElasticSuite helps handle real-world search behavior. These include human errors and varied terminology.

• The module uses Elasticsearch’s fuzzy logic. It helps correct minor spelling errors in search terms.

• Admins can unify different search terms with custom synonym rules. It ensures different terms lead to relevant results.

• It reduces zero-result searches and enhances relevance. It also helps international stores adapt to local terminology.

3. Virtual Categories

• The feature allows merchants to create dynamic product groupings. It eliminates the need to change the Magento catalog structure.

• Rules-based filters can define categories. It pulls matching products into a virtual category.

• The module helps create promotional pages. It also improves SEO by creating landing pages with long-tail keyword targeting.

• It helps launch curated collections without developer intervention.

4. Smart Layered Navigation

• It optimizes faceted navigation for performance and flexibility. It offers instant real-time product list filtering without page reloads.

• Dynamic attribute filters adapt based on the category and available products. It also comes with range sliders and color swatches.

• The module improves usability for customers with specific needs. It reduces frustration caused by empty filters or irrelevant options. It makes large catalogs easier to navigate.

5. Search Usage Dashboard

• Smile ElasticSuite includes an admin dashboard to track search activity and trends:

  1. Top search queries

  2. No-result queries

  3. Click-through rates

  4. Most clicked products

• The module helps identify what users are looking for. It spots gaps in product data, like missing products or metadata.

• Merchants can use this data to create better navigation and promotions. It also helps drive marketing and merchandising decisions.

6. Attribute Weight Management

• The module helps control the ranking of search results. It allows admins to assign weight to product attributes like SKU and description.

• It offers more control over relevance ranking. It depends on what is most important to customers.

• It helps avoid irrelevant products ranking higher because of keyword stuffing in descriptions.

7. Multi-Store and Multi-Language Support

• Smile ElasticSuite works with Magento's multi-store and multi-language environments.

• It helps tailor search results to the store view or language. It customizes synonyms and filters as per locale.

• It also helps maintain consistency across regional sites. It is ideal for global stores running multilingual Magento 2 setups.

8. Advanced Faceting and Filter Control

• Using Elastic search's aggregation features, ElasticSuite supports:

  1. Numeric and decimal range filters

  2. Boolean filters

  3. Multi-select and hierarchical attributes

• It comes with range sliders for price or custom attributes. It offers dynamic filters based on Elasticsearch aggregations.

• The flexible filtering options enhance usability. It allows shoppers to narrow down results. This is especially true in stores with thousands of SKUs.

6 Prerequisites of Smile Elasticsearch

1. Magento 2 Compatibility

• Smile ElasticSuite supports Magento 2. Compatibility may vary based on versions.

• The recommended version is Magento 2.4.x. The least supported version is Magento 2.1.x. Older versions may lack feature support or security patches.

• Always use the latest stable release of Magento 2. It benefits you from security and improvements in ElasticSuite compatibility.

2. Elasticsearch Installation

• Smile ElasticSuite relies on Elasticsearch for its search engine. A working Elasticsearch instance is mandatory.

• The supported Elasticsearch version is Elasticsearch 7.x. You must install and run it on your server before you install ElasticSuite.

• Host Elasticsearch. Use a managed Elasticsearch service like AWS or Elastic Cloud.

• Check compatibility between your Magento version and Elasticsearch version before installation.

3. Server Requirements

• ElasticSuite is a resource-intensive module, especially for large catalogs. Make sure your server has:

  1. PHP 7.3 – 8.1, depending on the Magento version

  2. MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.2+

  3. Composer for module installation

  4. SSH access to run CLI commands

• It requires at least 2 GB RAM for small stores. Use 4 GB+ for better indexing performance.

4. Magento Indexers Enabled

• ElasticSuite relies on Magento’s indexing system.

• You must enable catalogsearch_fulltext and related indexers. Also, ensure that they work.

5. Composer and Git Setup

• Install Smile ElasticSuite via Composer and host on GitHub. You must have Composer installed on your server.

• Your Magento project should use Composer-based dependency management.

• Git access is optional but helpful for version control and updates.

6. Optional But Recommended

These are not mandatory but enhance the functionality and development experience:

• Magento sample data is useful for testing ElasticSuite features on demo products.

• ElasticSuite supports compatibility between the Hyvä theme and Luma.

• Elasticsearch monitoring tools support Kibana or ElasticHQ. These help manage performance and debugging.

Difference Between Smile Elasticsearch and Amasty

Feature	Smile ElasticSuite	Amasty Elastic Search
1. Type	It is an open-source Magento 2 module.	It is a commercial extension.
2. Developer	Smile SA. These are open-source contributors.	Amasty. These are premium Magento extension providers.
3. Magento and Theme Compatibility	It is compatible with Magento 2.1.x to 2.4.x. It is compatible with Luma and custom themes.	It is compatible with Magento 2.3.x to 2.4.x. It is compatible with most themes. It needs styling for full integration.
4. Installation Method	You can install it via Composer from the GitHub repository.	You can install it via Composer or Amasty account installer, marketplace.
5. Autocomplete Search	It includes autocomplete suggestions. These are available on the products and CMS pages.	It includes live suggestions. These also include spell correction and stop word handling.
6. Synonyms & Stop Word Management	You can manage them via admin or config files.	You can manage them via an intuitive backend interface.
7. Virtual Categories	It helps create dynamic, rule-based categories for SEO or merchandising.	The feature is not available. It comes with a standard category structure only.
8. Merchandising Tools	It supports search rules and virtual category merchandising.	It supports basic boosting and sorting logic.
9. Search Usage Dashboard	It comes with a built-in dashboard. These include top queries and no-result terms.	It comes with built-in basic reporting. These include popular terms and no-result queries.
9. Customization Flexibility	It offers high customization. These are open-source and developer-related. These can be extendable via code.	It offers moderate customization. You can control them via admin settings. It is less flexible for code-level customization
10. License & Pricing	It is free under the OSL 3.0 license.	It incurs cost. It starts at ~$199/year with ongoing license renewal.
11. Support & Updates	Community-supported via GitHub issues and documentation.	It offers premium support with a license. These include bug fixes and help.
12. Ideal For	It is ideal for developers and large stores. They need custom control and advanced merchandising.	It is ideal for merchants. They seek plug-and-play solutions with strong UI and paid support.

FAQs

1. How do I install Smile Elasticsearch in Magento 2?

You need to install the ElasticSuite module via Composer. Once installed, it integrates with your Magento store. It connects your product catalog and CMS content to Elasticsearch. The setup improves your search result page performance. It ensures real-time, accurate search results.

2. How does ElasticSuite improve search in Magento 2?

ElasticSuite boosts Magento 2 search by offering advanced features. These include typo tolerance and synonym management. It processes queries faster and ranks results based on relevance. It reduces the time it takes to display results on the search result page.

3. Can you use Smile Elasticsearch Magento 2 with Magento 2 EE?

Smile Elasticsearch Magento 2 is compatible with Community and Enterprise Edition. It optimizes the search result page. It provides both scalability and enhanced search functionality for enterprise-level stores.

4. How does Smile Elasticsearch handle large product catalogs in Magento 2?

Smile Elasticsearch helps handle vast product catalogs. It provides real-time indexing and fast query processing. It ensures that even large-scale stores provide quick and accurate search results. It depends on the search result page.

Summary

Smile Elasticsearch is a distributed search engine that handles large volumes of data. The article explores the key features of the module, including:

• Improves Magento's search functionality with indexing and autocomplete features.

• Supports typo tolerance and synonym management for a better user experience.

• Allows dynamic product groupings for easy navigation of large catalogs.

• Provides tools for monitoring search performance and keeping the index current.

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