In today’s fast-paced digital world, consumers expect search tools to be not only fast, but also highly accurate and intuitive. With just a few seconds to capture attention, a seamless and responsive search experience has become a critical factor in improving user satisfaction, boosting conversion rates, and building long-term customer loyalty.
Yet, the search landscape is evolving rapidly. New technologies, shifting user behavior, and emerging platforms mean that what delivers results today might be obsolete tomorrow. To stay competitive, businesses must stay ahead of these changes and continuously refine their search capabilities. In this article, we’ll dive into the top seven eCommerce search trends that are shaping the future of online shopping in 2025—and explore why adapting to them is essential for long-term success.
Most Important eCommerce Search Trends in 2025
A recent study by McKinsey found that over 78% of companies have already implemented AI tools in at least one of their operations, and product search is one of the key areas benefiting from this technology.
Beyond AI, the search landscape itself is also undergoing significant changes. The platforms where people search for products are shifting, with social media and mobile platforms now becoming primary sources for product discovery. As the way people search evolves, businesses must adapt to these changes in order to stay competitive.
Let’s take a closer look at the five most important eCommerce search trends to watch in 2025.
1. Multimodal Search: The Future of Searching Beyond Typing
Typing isn’t the only way people search for products anymore—voice search and image search are quickly becoming mainstream. In fact, Google reports that over 27% of global mobile searches are now conducted via voice, highlighting the growing popularity of hands-free searching.
Image search is also gaining momentum, with tools like Google Lens enabling users to simply upload a photo to find products. Statista found that over 60% of online shoppers in 2023 used visual search during their shopping journey, underscoring its growing importance in eCommerce.
AI is driving much of this transformation, improving the accuracy and personalization of both voice and image search. AI-powered systems can better understand context, recognize objects in images, and interpret voice commands with increased precision, making the search experience smoother and more intuitive.
As both voice and image search continue to grow this year, it’s crucial for your eCommerce store to be ready for these shifts to stay competitive.
Not sure how to optimize your store for both voice and image search? With Doofinder’s powerful search tools, you can seamlessly integrate both features into your eCommerce site—and the best part is, you can try it for free!
2. Semantic Search and Natural Language Processing
While traditional search engines focused on keyword matching, semantic search powered by Natural Language Processing (NPL) aims to understand the meaning behind words, sentences, and even complex queries. NLP allows search engines to interpret user intent, identify relationships between words, and account for nuances in language, making search results more contextually accurate and relevant.
A 2023 report by Statista showed that over 50% of eCommerce searches now involve natural language queries, such as questions and longer phrases, making it essential for eCommerce platforms to embrace semantic search.
3. Social Media: The New Frontier for Product Search
Social media has become a powerful frontier for product discovery, shifting from social interaction to shopping. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are now essential for users, especially younger generations, who prefer them over traditional search engines.
Here’s why social media is driving this shift:
- Visual and Engaging Content: Social media platforms are naturally visual, ideal for showcasing products. Video content on TikTok and Instagram creates immersive experiences, with 75% of users discovering new products through social media videos.
- Community-Driven Insights: Users trust product recommendations from influencers and peers more than ads. A Forrester study found 72% of consumers are more likely to purchase based on social media recommendations.
- Convenience and Accessibility: With integrated shopping features, users can discover and buy products directly within their feeds. TikTok Shop, for example, has seen a 150% increase in eCommerce sales in 2025 alone.
- Trend Spotting: Social media quickly identifies viral products. TikTok’s algorithm has driven the discovery of countless trending products, with 61% of users reporting they’ve bought something they first saw on the app (Statista, 2025).
- Seamless Shopping Experience: Social platforms have made shopping as easy as browsing. With features like in-app checkout and social commerce, users can purchase without leaving their favorite platforms.
Are you trying to market your brand on social media? Find out the 10 biggest social media marketing challenges, and how to overcome them.
4. AI Personalization: Customizing Search Experience
AI is rapidly transforming how we personalize the shopping experience. With advanced algorithms, AI can now predict what consumers want based on their past behavior, preferences, and even their real-time interactions.
According to a 2025 McKinsey report, personalized product recommendations powered by AI can increase conversion rates by up to 80%. This level of precision helps brands offer more relevant, targeted suggestions, improving both customer satisfaction and sales.
AI-driven personalization is not just about recommending products. It’s about creating an entire experience that feels uniquely tailored to each customer. In fact, 2025 data from Accenture shows that 63% of shoppers are willing to share their data in exchange for a more personalized shopping experience. With AI, eCommerce platforms can deliver exactly what users are looking for, before they even know they want it.
5. Multi-Platform Search: Reaching Customers Everywhere
As consumers move across devices and platforms, search has become increasingly fragmented. People search on their phones, laptops, or tablets, all depending on context and convenience. A recent Gartner study found that 72% of consumers expect a consistent search experience across multiple devices, making it crucial for businesses to integrate their search capabilities across all platforms.
Even B2B expects to buy through mobile platforms and social platforms. Their experience is becoming more like that of the regular consumer.
In 2025, multi-platform search is not just a trend—it’s the future of eCommerce. Platforms like Google, Amazon, and TikTok are making it easier for shoppers to search and buy directly within their apps, blurring the lines between product discovery and purchase. According to Statista, over 35% of global shoppers now begin their product search on social media platforms, highlighting the growing importance of cross-platform optimization for eCommerce businesses.
As the consumer journey becomes more interconnected across devices and platforms, ensuring your product search is accessible and seamless everywhere is essential for staying competitive.
6. Chatbots and Conversational Commerce: Engaging with Customers in Real Time
In addition to voice and image search, chatbots are gaining ground as another key trend in eCommerce search. Chatbots powered by AI offer a conversational interface that enables customers to ask questions and receive instant responses—often faster than a human representative could.
According to a 2024 study by Accenture, 64% of online consumers expect personalized service through chatbots. With the ability to understand natural language and context, these bots are transforming the way businesses interact with customers. For example, a customer may inquire about a product’s specifications, or even ask for style suggestions based on what they’ve previously browsed.
Conversational commerce is all about delivering personalized, on-demand service that mirrors the experience of shopping in-store. As a result, chatbots help brands connect with customers in real-time, improve satisfaction, and reduce friction in the purchase process.
7. Queryless Search: Guiding Shoppers Before They Type
The traditional search model depends on a shopper entering a query—but in 2025, the search experience is evolving beyond the box. Enter queryless search, a growing trend that flips the conventional search paradigm on its head by delivering personalized product suggestions before the user even begins typing.
Thanks to AI and machine learning, these suggestions are increasingly accurate. Platforms analyze browsing history, purchase behavior, time of day, and even location to surface relevant products instantly. This not only boosts engagement but shortens the time between product discovery and purchase. In a market where attention spans are shrinking, showing users what they want before they even search gives brands a competitive edge—making queryless search a key eCommerce trend to watch in 2025.
Future Challenges in eCommerce Search
As eCommerce search tends continue to evolve, businesses face several emerging challenges that require strategic adaptation:
- Optimizing for Voice and Visual Search: With the rise of voice and image search, businesses must adjust their content for more conversational queries and ensure accurate product identification. By 2025, 80% of eCommerce sites will be expected to offer multi-modal search, requiring quick adaptation from brands.
- Balancing Personalization with Privacy: AI-powered personalization offers improved conversions, but businesses must address growing concerns over data privacy. In 2025, 64% of consumers would abandon brands that misuse their data, highlighting the need for secure and transparent data practices.
- Cross-Platform Search Consistency: Ensuring a consistent search experience across devices and platforms is a major challenge. In 2025, 78% of eCommerce sales will depend on effective cross-platform search optimization, demanding omnichannel strategies from businesses.
- Competing in Social Commerce: With social platforms like TikTok driving product discovery, eCommerce businesses must stand out in a crowded marketplace. Social commerce is expected to account for 25% of online sales by 2025, requiring brands to optimize for social search and capitalize on viral trends.
- Scaling to Handle Big Data: As data volumes grow, eCommerce platforms will need to process large datasets efficiently while maintaining search relevance. By 2025, over 60% of eCommerce companies will face difficulties in scaling their search capabilities to handle big data.
To stay competitive, businesses must navigate these challenges by continually improving their search strategies and embracing new technologies.
Many of the challenges mentioned can be easily addressed by using third-party tools like Doofinder. Doofinder optimizes voice and visual search, ensures a personalized search experience across platforms, and prioritizes secure privacy handling. Discover how Doofinder can elevate your eCommerce store and drive better results.
