IntuiFind’s flexible search framework includes enhanced Intuitive Search, ParametricPlus, and SearchStream Analysis To maximize e-Catalog performance —
FREMONT, Calif. – April 2, 2001 – Mercado Software, Inc., the leading provider of e-Catalog search solutions for improving online buying and selling, announced today its latest release of IntuiFind™, which provides e-Catalogs with the most extensive array of search and navigation solutions available. IntuiFind’s upgraded search framework provides the market’s first total search solution by merging the intuitive search, merchandising, and personalization capabilities of previous versions of IntuiFind with ParametricPlus™ categorical drill-down and the new SearchStream Analysis™, further expanding the role of search as a significant business tool.
IntuiFind’s new ParametricPlus combines parametric search with categorical search techniques into a single, dynamic search and navigation interface. It lets buyers interactively drill-down to locate desired products. Buyers can then define their requests using any of IntuiFind’s search methods. As they find items, buyers see the attributes and product categories that are relevant to that specific selection of items. They then select from the available list of categories and parameter values to drill-down and quickly focus on the desired products.
By combining intuitive, parametric, and categorical search, IntuiFind’s search framework lets buyers select the best search method at any point during the search process. An intuitive search will return products as well as all categories and parameters relevant to these products. Alternatively, a category drill-down lets buyers type an intuitive request at any point to search for a single product in that category.
IntuiFind’s integration of SearchStream Analysis lets sites using IntuiFind monitor all e-Catalog search related activities. It serves as 24x7 focus group, providing catalog managers with data to optimize the catalog’s search and better meet buyer needs. IntuiFind reports on all search requests and search-related actions that buyers take, and it gives catalog managers invaluable insight into buyer needs, customer choices, and quality of service provided to buyers. Information gained through search analysis gives e-Catalog managers valuable insight into how to improve the quality of search, how to change the contents of the catalog, and how database information should be improved.
“Providing superior service to our customers is critical, and we view search as one of the most important ways to reach that goal,” said Dave Watrous, Vice President of Information Services at 800.com. “We launched IntuiFind search prior to the holidays and experienced terrific gains in conversion rates and sales. When we looked closely at the powerful Search Framework provided by the new version of IntuiFind, we realized IntuiFind could take our business to new levels. We’ve benefited greatly because Mercado Software stays ahead of the curve and continues to provide us with search solutions that improve our business. Implementing IntuiFind just in time for the holiday season proved to be a very wise decision for us. We know the new version of IntuiFind will provide us with even greater advantages over our competitors.”
“It’s heartening to hear customers tell us that we’ve helped them improve their e-Catalog businesses. Now, with the expansion of IntuiFind into a full-scale search framework, we have made search an even more valuable business tool,” said Menachem Cohen, president and CEO of Mercado Software. “We have consistently provided our customers with superior search solutions that help them grow their businesses. Now, we have raised the bar for search even higher by providing the first truly unique framework that turns search into an active business tool to benefit both the buyer and seller. The added flexibility of Intuifind’s search framework will be invaluable as e-Commerce moves to the next level.”
IntuiFind Total Search Framework
Intuitive Search lets buyers use their own words to find products—even when they can’t define their requests exactly. Using an in-depth understanding of underlying database structures and employing over 50 linguistic knowledge banks, intuitive search ensures that buyers find exactly what they look for regardless of terminology, spelling, or wording. Intuitive search bridges the gap between the buyer’s terminology and the e-Catalog’s content.
ParametricPlus combines parametric search with categorical search techniques into a single, dynamic search and navigation interface. It lets buyers find products by defining specific product attributes that are important to them. Employing parameters and ranges during the search process lets buyers interactively drill-down to locate desired products.
Combinations Of Intuitive and ParametricPlus create a powerful, flexible search framework that utilizes intuitive, parametric and categorical search. Buyers are simultaneously presented with several ways to refine their search, and they may select the best search method at any point during the search process. An intuitive search will return products as well as all categories and parameters relevant to these products—allowing buyers to then refine their request through a parametric selection. Alternatively, by drilling into a catalog category, buyers can type an intuitive request to search instinctively for products in that category.
Search Stream Analysis tracks buyer search requests and search results to better understand how the catalog and its search can be optimized to better serve buyers and the business. IntuiFind SearchStream Analysis monitors all catalog search activities to provide catalog managers invaluable insight into buyer needs, customer choices, and quality of service provided by search. It lets catalog managers know what buyers found and didn’t find, and it reports on all search requests and actions that buyers take based on search results.
Business-Driven Search combines IntuiFind’s powerful search with merchandising logic and personalized information, letting e-Catalogs control the ranking of search results to achieve specific business goals and to influence buyer behavior. Using IntuiFind’s merchandising capabilities, sellers can promote certain products through search results. Buyers see promoted products at the top of the list, which increases the likelihood of purchase. By easily integrating with external personalization servers, IntuiFind creates user-tailored search results that increase the match between buyer and products.
Selective Views & Differential Pricing support buyer-specific views to reflect contractual pricing agreed to between buyer and seller. Corporate customers will see customized catalogs that depict their company’s agreements with the seller. Buyers will only have access to parts of the catalog most pertinent to their job function.
Crawler Extension searches all catalog-related content including structured and unstructured e-Catalog related content. It crawls, indexes, and searches e-Catalog related content, that’s stored in unstructured document formats such as pdf and doc files or information found on partner Web sites—giving buyers access to additional information that promotes sales.
Unlimited scalability supports exceptionally large catalogs and extremely high loads to keep up with explosive business growth.
Catalog administrator tools provide powerful control of the mission-critical server environment, ensuring site performance and availability at all times.
Industry–specific terminology and abbreviations give Mercado Software’s customers the ability to easily create, apply and modify their own unique "terminology bank" for use in comprehending search requests.
Pricing and Availability
The latest release of IntuiFind is immediately available through Mercado Software sales channels worldwide. Pricing starts at $40,000 and varies according to customer specification.
About Mercado Software
Mercado™ Software is the leading provider of search solutions that improve e-Catalog performance and online buying and selling. Designed specifically to search content-rich e-Catalogs, the IntuiFind™ Search Framework provides e-Catalogs with the most extensive array of search and navigation solutions available, combining intuitive search, parametric search, categorical search, and powerful drill-down into a total search solution for e-Commerce. IntuiFind’s Search Stream Analysis lets catalog managers track buyer search requests and returned answers to better understand how the catalog and its search can be optimized to better serve buyers and the business. Business-Driven search combines IntuiFind’s powerful search with merchandising logic and personalized search results to influence buyer behavior and improve sales. Mercado Software’s major customers include Sears.com, Tower Records, Blockbuster Video, Webvan, e-Bags, 800.com, Hastings, Vitessa, Firmbuy, Outpurchase.com, Caterpillar Corporation, US Office Products, and Quelle. For more information about Mercado, visit www.mercado.com.
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Mercado, IntuiFind, Search That Sells, Total Search, SearchStream Analysis, ParametricPlus, and Finding Is Buying are trademarks of Mercado Software Inc. All other company and product names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective holders.
Media Contacts:
Nicole Zajack
Sterling Communications Inc.
Tel: 415-749-6550
Fax: 415-749-6551
Email: nzajack@sterlingpr.com
Donna Wood
Mercado Software Inc.
Tel: 510-870-8084
Fax: 510-870-8100
Email: dwood@mercado.com
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