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 is designed for stores where customers search for products not only by name, but also by SKU, EAN, brand, partial phrase, 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 that the most relevant products appear higher in the results and the customer reaches the correct product page faster.

Standard Magento search is often not sufficient for stores with a large product catalog, a technical catalog, 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 issues:

• the product does not rank high even when the exact SKU is entered,
• entering an EAN code does not immediately lead to the correct product,
• a typo causes an empty results list,
• products matching only the description outrank products matching the name,
• the administrator does not know which phrases customers search for without success,
• changing search weights requires developer work.

The module is designed to improve result quality without violating standard Magento catalog rules such as product visibility, status, store, website, or stock.

Better search result ranking

The module allows different product fields to have different importance in the search engine. A match in the product name can have a greater impact on the score 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 key functions of the module is prioritizing exact matches by product identifiers. If a customer enters a SKU or EAN, the correct product should appear high in the results instead of losing to products that match only accidentally in the description.

The module assumes the following match priority 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 enables controlled fuzzy search, meaning search that is tolerant of minor typos. As a result, a customer who enters an incorrect brand or product name can still see meaningful results.

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

Product autocomplete

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

• starts by default from 3 characters,
• shows up to 8 products,
• includes a View 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 the customer to go directly to the product or to the full results list more quickly.

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
basin faucet, sink faucet
wc, toilet

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

Logging phrases with no results

The module records phrases that did not return any products. This allows the administrator to check what customers are actually searching for and use this information to:

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

The admin panel includes a simple read-only grid with a list of no-result phrases, filtering by date, store, and phrase, and sorting by date.

Safe fallback

The module is 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 avoid causing a 500 error on the storefront.

This is especially important in production stores, where search is one of the key elements of the purchase 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 no-result phrases,
• need simple search weight tuning from the Magento admin 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 and EAN support, typo handling, and autocomplete shorten the path from entering a phrase to opening the product page.

Fewer empty results

With fuzzy search, synonyms, and no-result phrase analysis, the store can systematically reduce the number of searches that end without 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 a fallback concept to native Magento search and can be disabled from configuration.

Data for catalog optimization

No-result phrases reveal the real language customers use. This is a practical data source for improving names, descriptions, synonyms, and the store assortment.