Action: Change Search Result Order

Use this action in a search rule to change the position of certain results within the search results list. Catalog entries that meet certain criteria can be ranked higher to promote specific catalog entries over others for a specific customer search. Conversely, catalog entries that meet certain criteria can be ranked lower to demote specific catalog entries under others.

Search ordering options

You must select one of the following ordering option:
Note: The sorting order that the shopper specifies always takes precedence over the way this action changes the search results order.

Relevancy scores

When you change how search results are ranked, you are working with their relevancy scores. Store search results are ordered by relevancy scores by default, from the most relevant matches to the least relevant matches.

You can view the relevancy score of catalog entries in store preview with WebSphere Commerce search. The relevancy score is displayed in search results in the following form:

[relevancy_score] product_name, for example:
Relevancy score in the Aurora starter store

Option 1. Change how initial search results are ranked

When ranking initial search results, you must specify a ranking factor. Ranking factors are specified as a positive number, and promote or demote catalog entries in search results by increasing or decreasing their relevancy score. Assigning higher ranking factors typically corresponds to higher relevancy scores when catalog entries are promoted, or lower relevancy scores when catalog entries are demoted. As a result, catalog entries with adjusted ranking factors appear higher or lower in store search results.

Ranking factors can be assigned for the following ranking criteria:
Property
The property to be used as a filter.
The following properties are available by default:
  • Code
  • Inventory
  • Manufacturer Name
  • Manufacturer Part Number
  • Name
  • Short Description
Note: Search rule actions and targets in the Management Center dynamically populate a list of catalog entry indexed properties. Your IT administrator must customize WebSphere Commerce search when new indexed catalog entry properties are added to search rule actions or targets.
Catalog entry type
The catalog entry type to be used as a filter.
The following catalog entry types are available by default:
  • Product
  • SKU
  • Bundle
  • Kit
  • Dynamic Kit
Attribute Dictionary Attributes
Attribute Dictionary Attributes with predefined values and marked as Use in merchandising to be used as a filter.
Note: It is not possible to use the value of an attribute that is set as both facetable and multi-select as a filter for this action, as this would produce unexpected behavior of facet counts and search results.
Category
The category to be used as a filter, for example, Apparel.
Sales Category
The sales category to be used as a filter, for example, Holiday.
Rule-Based Sales Category
The rule-based sales category to be used as a filter, for example, Clearance.

You can experiment with different ranking factor values to achieve the wanted initial search result ranking for the catalog entries in the result set.

Example: Promoting and demoting search results using a filter

You can promote or demote search results by using a filter for searches that match certain keywords. Higher rank factors lead to search results ranked higher when promoted, or lower when demoted.

For example, when a customer searches for cocktail dresses, you can assign a higher or lower search priority to catalog entries manufactured by a certain brand by adding filters for promotion or demotion for certain keywords. As a result, that brand's cocktail dresses display higher or lower in the search results list than they would by default.

In this example, when a customer searches for cocktail dresses, you can assign a high search priority for catalog entries that are manufactured by the Versatil brand by adding more filters for promotion by a value of 35.

The following screen capture shows this example in the search rule builder:
Search rule to promote Versatil cocktail dresses

When promoting, if specific catalog entries manufactured by that brand have a low relevancy score (for example, non-cocktail dresses), it is unlikely that they rise to the top of the results. Other catalog entries of that brand that have an average relevancy score most likely rise towards the top of search results.

When demoting, if specific catalog entries manufactured by that brand have a low relevancy score (for example, non-cocktail dresses), it is likely that they lower to the bottom of the results. Other catalog entries of that brand that have an average relevancy score most likely lower towards the bottom of search results.

Option 2. Change how initial search results are sorted

When initial search results are ordered, you must specify the sort criteria and sequence.

Search results can be assigned the following sort criteria:
  • Manufacturer name
  • Name
  • Offer price
Notes:
  • Offer prices by default are sorted only by the default USD currency.
  • Search rule actions and targets in the Management Center dynamically populate a list of catalog entry indexed properties. Your IT administrator must customize WebSphere Commerce search when new indexed catalog entry properties are added to search rule actions or targets.
After a sort criteria is specified, search results can be assigned the following sequence types:
  • Ascending
  • Descending

Guidelines for using this action

When this action is set up, you must ensure that the ranking factor values assigned for search result ranking is a positive number, ranging from 1 to 999.