Kowal Search Optimizer for OpenSearch — better product search in Magento 2

Kowal Search Optimizer is a Magento 2 module that improves the quality, relevance, and predictability of product search in an online store. The extension was designed for stores where customers search for products not only by name, but also by SKU, EAN, brand, phrase fragment, common product name, or a typo.

The module does not replace the native Magento search mechanism. Its purpose is to intelligently extend the way queries are built for OpenSearch, so the most important products appear higher in the results and customers can reach the right product page faster.

Standard Magento search is often not enough for stores with large product catalogs, technical catalogs, or products with similar names. A customer may enter a product code, EAN, manufacturer name, abbreviation, common name, or a phrase with a typo — and still expect relevant results.

Kowal Search Optimizer helps solve common problems:

• a product does not appear high in the results even after entering the exact SKU,
• entering an EAN code does not immediately lead to the right product,
• a typo results in an empty list of results,
• products that match only the description outrank products that match the name,
• the administrator does not know which phrases customers search for unsuccessfully,
• changing search weights requires developer work.

The module was designed to improve result quality without interfering with Magento’s standard catalog rules, such as product visibility, status, store, website, or stock.

Better search result ranking

The module lets you assign different levels of importance to different product fields in the search engine. A match in the product name can have a greater impact on the result than a match in a long description, while SKU and EAN can be treated as the highest-priority fields.

The first version includes weight configuration for, among others:

• product name,
• SKU,
• EAN,
• manufacturer or brand,
• short description,
• long description.

Exact match by SKU and EAN

One of the module’s key features is prioritizing exact matches by product identifiers. If a customer enters an SKU or EAN, the correct product should appear high in the results instead of being outranked by products that only happen to match in the description.

The match priority in the module follows this order:

1. exact match by EAN,
2. exact match by SKU,
3. partial or prefix match by EAN,
4. partial or prefix match by SKU,
5. other product fields.

Typo handling and fuzzy search

The module makes it possible to use controlled fuzzy search, meaning search that is tolerant of minor typos. This allows a customer who enters an incorrect brand or product name to still see meaningful results.

Fuzzy search is configurable so it does not reduce result relevance through overly aggressive matching.

Autocomplete with products

Kowal Search Optimizer adds a lightweight autocomplete popup that shows customers suggestions while they are typing a phrase. In the first version, the popup:

• starts by default from 3 characters,
• shows up to 8 products,
• includes a See all results link,
• uses the same ranking logic as the full results list,
• shows the product name, SKU, URL, thumbnail, and frontend price.

This allows customers to go directly to the product or to the full list of results faster.

Simple synonyms

The module allows basic synonyms to be added manually from the Magento configuration. The administrator can define pairs or groups of phrases that should be treated as related, for example:

television, tv
bathroom sink faucet, faucet for bathroom sink
wc, toilet

In the first version, synonyms are global, entered manually, and approved manually. Advanced AI suggestions and a synonym approval workflow are planned as a possible extension after version v1.

Logging phrases with no results

The module saves phrases that returned no products. This allows the administrator to check what customers are actually searching for and, based on that:

• improve product names,
• add synonyms,
• expand the offer,
• change descriptions or attributes,
• better understand customer needs.

A simple read-only grid is planned in the admin panel, with a list of phrases without results, filtering by date, store, and phrase, and sorting by date.

Safe fallback

The module was designed with store stability in mind. If an error occurs in the search extension layer, search should return to native Magento behavior or at least not cause a 500 error on the storefront.

This is especially important for production stores, where the search engine is one of the key elements of the shopping path.

Kowal Search Optimizer is especially useful for Magento 2 stores that:

• have a large product catalog,
• sell technical products,
• use SKU, EAN, GTIN, or manufacturer codes,
• have many similar products,
• want to improve search quality without building an external search merchandising system,
• want to analyze phrases with no results,
• need simple search weight tuning from the Magento panel.

The module is a good solution for B2C and B2B stores where customers often know what they are looking for, but enter the product in different ways.

Customers find products faster

Better ranking, SKU/EAN support, typo handling, and autocomplete shorten the path from entering a phrase to opening a product page.

Fewer empty results

Thanks to fuzzy search, synonyms, and analysis of phrases with no results, the store can systematically reduce the number of searches that end with no results.

Greater administrator control

The administrator can change field weights, fuzzy settings, synonyms, and logging without modifying the code each time.

Safe implementation

The module includes the assumption of fallback to native Magento search and the option to disable it from the configuration.

Data for catalog optimization

Phrases with no results show the real language customers use. This is a practical data source for improving names, descriptions, synonyms, and the store offer.