How to Configure Search and Quick Add in SuiteCommerce
Ensuring easy product search functionality is crucial for any SuiteCommerce store. Both the main search bar and the Quick Add tool play pivotal roles in optimizing user navigation and the overall shopping experience. Understanding how to configure these features effectively will help shoppers find what they need faster and increase cart value through seamless additions.
This guide outlines how to control both search elements within SuiteCommerce: the main Search Bar located in the store’s primary navigation and the Quick Add bar inside the shopping cart. Although these features appear in different areas of the site, they behave similarly behind the scenes and are often referenced interchangeably throughout NetSuite documentation.
Understanding the Search Bar vs. Quick Add
On a SuiteCommerce site, the Search Bar is embedded into the shopping application’s top navigation menu. Its role is to help customers browse products across the webstore quickly. On the other hand, the Quick Add bar lives inside the shopping cart and is used for locating and adding specific items after users begin the checkout process.
Despite their different placements, both tools pull search data from the same product attributes in NetSuite and base their results on the same relevance logic. To gain full control over how users interact with these tools, you need to understand the setup behind each one.
Make sure the following prerequisites are in place before diving into configuration:
- SuiteCommerce is already deployed and configured for your domain
- Products have the “Display in Webstore” checkbox enabled in NetSuite
If these conditions are not met, consider addressing them first or reach out to the Versich support team for guidance.
How to Configure the SuiteCommerce Search Tools
Step 1: Set Search Fields in the Website Setup Record Start by defining which product attributes should be used in your search functionality. Navigate to: Commerce > Websites > Website Lists Then go to the "Search Index" tab and click the "Search Fields" subtab.
Here, you can add standard or custom fields for your search experience. These fields determine which attributes are checked when a user enters a search term. They are also prioritized by relevance:
- Top row = highest relevance
- Each row below = decreasing relevance
Once fields are set, save the Website Setup Record. You may need to rebuild the Search Index after modifying these entries to apply the changes.
Step 2: Set Result Behavior in the Configuration Record To control how search results appear for users, go to: Commerce > Websites > Configuration Then open the Search tab and go to the "Type Ahead" subtab.
Update these key settings:
- Minimum Length: Defines how many characters a user must enter before the search activates
- Maximum Results: Controls how many product results appear for each search query
- Sort: Specifies how the result list should be ordered (e.g., alphabetically or by SKU)
After finalizing updates here, save the Configuration Record. For immediate effect, a Cache Invalidation Request may be required.
Why Fine-Tuning Your Search Matters
Configuring your search bar and Quick Add properly delivers several benefits:
- Faster product discovery - users can find relevant items instantly, improving the shopping experience
- More efficient cart building - Quick Add speeds up the checkout for repeat or bulk buyers
- Cleaner data utilization - define exactly which fields drive search results to ensure meaningful filtering
By aligning search behavior with customer expectations and backend data, you improve site usability and drive purchasing momentum.
Final Thoughts
Both the Search Bar and Quick Add are critical tools that help your SuiteCommerce site deliver a high-performance shopping experience. With a well-calibrated configuration, your users will spend less time navigating and more time purchasing. If you're unsure how to implement certain steps or want assistance with advanced configurations, the Versich team is here to help.
