INTELLIGENT SEARCHING(tm) FROM MML TURNS ON-SITE SEARCH INTO A SALES GENERATION TOOL
Contacts:
Multimedia Live:
Peter Loughlin
Marketing Communications Manager
1-707-773-3434
peterl@mmlive.com
Netrics:
Anthony Faulise
Regional Sales Manager
Office: 609-683-4002x215
af@netrics.com
Technology from Netrics(R) Overcomes Input Error and Interprets Query Context for Highly Accurate Search Results
Petaluma, CA -- March 3, 2003 -- Multimedia Live (MML) (http://www.mmlive.com), the leading developer of e-commerce technology and services for Intelligent Selling(tm) on the Web, has announced the availability of new MarketLive(tm) and MarketPlace(tm) modules providing Intelligent Searching(tm) by Netrics(r). This application dramatically increases the accuracy of an e-commerce website`s internal search feature and displays search results in helpful ways, leading to higher customer satisfaction and increased sales. Intelligent Searching is powered by technology from Netrics (http://www.netrics.com), an industry-leading search technology provider. This service uses Netrics` patented filtering algorithms and machine intelligence to overcome customers` input errors, accurately interpret the context of the search query, and deliver relevant responses.
Most on-site search applications are only able to find exact matches within pre-specified database fields such as product name, item number, or a list of product-specific keywords. They typically cannot recognize misspelled words or unusual terms unless they have been programmed into the site`s database beforehand. This is a weak point in the site`s ability to serve the customer, since it can lead to failed searches and lost sales.
Since 81% of Internet shoppers use a website`s internal search feature to locate products and information upon first entering the site (Nielson Norman Group), it makes good business sense to increase the effectiveness of such a high profile feature. Furthermore, 40% of shoppers whose first search fails quit completely, so delivering correct results on the first try is critical.
Until now, attempting to make product search error-tolerant has been a costly and labor-intensive proposition from the merchant`s perspective. Adding meta-data to products, building keyword lists, and monitoring "missed search" log files drives up the cost of selling on-line. "Because the search intelligence is built into Netrics` software" said Stefanos Damianakis, Netrics` CEO, "the merchant`s job is made easier. Netrics` error tolerance works straight `out of the box` and reduces resource requirements for maintaining a first-class website."
Intelligent Searching by Netrics uses sophisticated error correction to help customers quickly find the exact products or content they seek and to deliver highly accurate and relevant search results. It overcomes most common causes of "No Results Found" in real time, including:
* Typographical errors and misspellings
* Letters and/or words out of order
* Words joined or separated when they shouldn`t be
* Phonetic errors
* Extra or missing letters or words
* Incorrect or missing punctuation.
Intelligent Searching uses the site`s entire database as a dictionary to catch all the most appropriate potential responses. If the shopper enters "blak jakket", the site can automatically correct the spelling errors on the fly and reply with a list of dark colored outerwear sorted into categories for men, women, jackets, blazers, overcoats, and so forth, with all "jacket" items closer to the top of the list. If the customer enters "Big Paw tire, snow" and the product name is "BigPaw Sno-Tyre," the site will deliver a relevant product list, not a "Product Not Found" message.
"Highly advanced `smart` search like this is a great way to increase sales on a merchandising website," said Ken Burke, Multimedia Live President and CEO. "It is a very satisfying experience for a customer to instantly come up with a list of products that accurately match his or her intentions. This generates immediate sales by decreasing the likelihood that the customer will go to other sites to shop around. Long-term sales increase as well, since happy customers will come back to your site again and again."
Netrics` CEO continued, "Providing rewarding search results is the most important ingredient of keeping shoppers on a site and getting them to buy. Pre-integration with MML`s MarketLive and MarketPlace makes it easier than ever for on-line merchants small and large to increase the conversion rate of Web traffic they are already getting."
Intelligent Searching by Netrics has been integrated into MML`s MarketLive and MarketPlace e-commerce platforms. It is available to all past, present, and future MML clients.
About Multimedia Live:
Multimedia Live (http://www.mmlive.com), a pioneer of Intelligent Selling(tm) online, is a nationally recognized Web technology and design company serving the catalog, direct marketing, retail and dot.com industries. MarketLive(tm) is Multimedia Live`s enterprise-class, Java(tm)-based rapid e-commerce development application built from the ground up specifically for catalogers, retailers, direct marketers, and manufacturers. The company has over 120 employees working with clients as diverse as General Motors, Washington Mutual, Electronic Arts, Norm Thompson, and Johnston & Murphy Shoes. It was founded in 1995 by entrepreneur Ken Burke and is located in Petaluma, California. Burke is the author of the recently-published book Intelligent Selling: The Art and Science of Selling Online.
About Netrics(r):
Netrics (http://www.netrics.com) develops the world`s most advanced error-tolerant database search software. Building on its patented technology platform, Netrics provides data-access and data-quality solutions to leading on-line merchants like BMG Music and iGo, as well as to VARs and product OEMs. Netrics` search technology delivers unmatched accuracy, error-tolerance and performance for mission-critical data applications. Netrics is a privately-held technology company based in Princeton, NJ.
###
Back...
