Search as a Service:
Elevating Brands with Smarter Search
4 min read
When it comes to search functionality in CMS platforms like Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) or WordPress, the out-of-the-box query search often falls short. While these default options provide basic content retrieval, they struggle with relevance, scalability, and user experience. That’s where Search as a Service (SaaS) comes in, transforming site search from a simple lookup tool into a strategic advantage for B2B brands.
The Power of Search as a Service
Search as a Service uses external platforms to deliver highly relevant, fast, and scalable search experiences. Instead of relying on database queries that return exact matches, SaaS solutions use advanced ranking algorithms, AI-driven relevance tuning, and analytics to surface the most meaningful results. The benefits include:
- Speed & Scalability – Managed search applications can handle high query volumes without performance dips. For example, companies with an extensive product catalogue can ensure users quickly find the right specifications and datasheets, even under heavy traffic.
- Relevance & Ranking – AI-driven ranking ensures the most useful content appears first. for instance, a consulting company can surface its most relevant industry reports and client success stories, helping prospects make informed decisions faster.
- Customisation – Fine-tune search behaviour to match user needs without hacking CMS query logic. Subject to how data is collected, could personalise search results based on user roles—offering different content to defined user groups.
- Better UX – Features like autocomplete, typo tolerance, and filters improve discoverability. An industrial supplier, for example, could enable search filters for materials, dimensions, and certifications, making it easier for buyers to navigate thousands of product SKUs.
- Analytics & Insights – Get to know what your audience is actually looking for and shape your content strategy around it. For example, a professional services company could use search analytics to spot trending topics and create more targeted, insightful content that resonates with their audience.
“A strong search experience supports content discovery, enabling brands to position themselves as thought leaders and trusted subject matter experts.”
For B2B companies, a strong search experience goes beyond technical improvements—it drives content discovery and reinforces authority. When visitors can easily find white papers, case studies, and insights, they’re more likely to view your brand as a trusted expert in the field
Choosing the Right Search Provider:
Algolia vs Typesense
At Asante, we work with two leading search providers: Algolia and Typesense. While both offer powerful search capabilities, the best choice depends on clients’ specific business needs.
Algolia: The Best Choice for Large-Scale, Dynamic Search
Best for: Large enterprises, e-commerce, and content-heavy websites.
- Ultra-fast indexing – Algolia is built for speed, making it perfect for content-heavy, frequently updated websites. Whether you’re running a news portal, a global product catalogue, or a thought leadership hub, your latest content is searchable almost instantly.
- Advanced AI-powered search – With personalisation, synonyms, and relevance tuning, users get exactly what they need, fast. Instead of scrolling through pages of results, they find the right product, article, or resource in seconds
- Multi-language support – If your business operates across multiple regions, Algolia ensures a consistent search experience across different languages. For example, a global engineering firm with sites in English, German, and French can deliver accurate results tailored to each audience without manual tweaks.
- Robust API ecosystem – Seamlessly integrates with AEM, WordPress, and other platforms, making it easy to enhance search functionality without rebuilding your site from scratch. If you’re already using tools like Shopify or Salesforce, Algolia plays nicely with them too.
- Enterprise-level scalability – Handles millions of queries at lightning speed. Whether your users are in New York, Tokyo, or London, they get instant, accurate search results—no delays, no frustration. Perfect for large-scale enterprises that can’t afford slow search experiences.
With flexible, ready-to-use components, Algolia is a top choice for websites that need powerful, AI-driven search with the ability to scale globally. Whether you’re managing a high-traffic e-commerce platform, a content-rich publishing site, or a multilingual enterprise portal, Algolia ensures fast, relevant, and personalised search experiences for users anywhere in the world
Typesense: The Lightweight, Developer-Friendly Alternative
Best for: Mid-sized businesses, performance-focused teams, and cost-conscious implementations.
- Open-source and self-hostable – Typesense gives you full control over your search infrastructure, making it a great option for businesses that want flexibility. However, for long-term scalability and reduced developer maintenance costs, we recommend their cloud solution—it takes care of hosting, updates, and scaling, so your team can focus on building great user experiences.
- Lightning-fast response times – Built with an in-memory search engine, Typesense delivers near-instant search results, significantly outperforming standard CMS query searches. Whether your users are searching a product catalogue, technical documentation, or a vast knowledge base, they get results in milliseconds—keeping engagement high and frustration low.
- Smart typo tolerance & search ranking customisation – Users find what they need, even with minor errors or variations in wording. If your brand has a business case for conversational AI, Typesense makes it simple to integrate AI-driven search assistants based on your structured data—creating a ChatGPT-like experience that enhances customer interactions and support.
- Easy integration & adaptability – Typesense’s straightforward API makes it quick to deploy and easy to adapt to your existing UI. Whether you’re integrating with a headless CMS, an e-commerce storefront, or an internal knowledge management system, it fits seamlessly into your architecture without a steep learning curve.
- Cost-effective vs Algolia – If you’re looking for powerful search without the enterprise SaaS pricing, Typesense is a solid alternative. Unlike Algolia, which charges based on the number of queries, Typesense uses a pricing model based on disk capacity—making it a budget-friendly choice for businesses that need predictable costs without compromising performance.
Typesense is a great choice for brands that need high-performance search without the complexity or cost of an enterprise-grade SaaS platform. While it doesn’t include built-in analytics, you can easily integrate it with Google Analytics or other tracking tools to monitor search behaviour and optimise results. With its lightweight setup and powerful capabilities, it’s a flexible solution for businesses that want full control over their search experience
Future-Proof Your Search Strategy
Search isn’t just a tool—it’s a crucial part of how users engage with your content. Whether you need an enterprise-scale search with AI-driven relevance or a lightweight, fast alternative, we can help you integrate the right solution for your needs.
Want to elevate your brand’s search experience? Get in touch with us today and let’s discuss how Algolia or Typesense can transform your content discovery.
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