Rikei Corporation (Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Satoru Isaka; hereafter “Rikei”) is pleased to announce that Wacoal Corporation (Head Office: Kyoto-City; President and Corporate Officer: Hironobu Yasuhara; hereinafter “Wacoal”) and Mizuno Corporation (Head Office: Osaka City; President: Akito Mizuno; hereinafter “Mizuno”) introduced “Learning Search”, site search engine made by SLI Systems Inc., (Head Office: New Zealand; hereinafter “SLI Systems “) and are in operation.

Back Ground

Wacoal

Before introduction of Learning Search (Site searching function), it was difficult for Wacoal website visitors to find what they would like. Especially Wacoal were in face of problem that they were unable to provide user friendly service such as, “Hit rate is low even when searching by keyword”, “When a keyword is ambiguous, no proposal for related items to the keyword will be made”, and “No suggestion for alternative items will be made when there is not any item to hit for a keyword “. Additionally, Wacoal thought that improvement of site search function would promote customer’s better understanding of their merchandise through e-commerce.

Mizuno

Mizuno recognized importance of site search function with an analysis tool introduction in 2008, and they positioned site searching as one of important marketing tools of EC site. Mizuno’s requests were “Make it easy for Mizuno website visitors who predetermined what they would like to purchase to find quickly”, “Improve searching accuracy and continuing the improvement so that web site visitors are easily able to find items what they would like using search engine “.

Introduction effectiveness of “Learning Search”

Comment from Wacoal

Thanks to “Machinery automatic learning search function” of “Learning Search”, it was succeeded to decrease rate of “search hit result in zero”, because of improvement of search hit rate for keyword, as well as continuous optimization of alternative item suggestion. Additionally, when there is not any item to hit for a keyword, alternative items to suggest are displayed contributing to prevent potential customer to leave the website. Moreover, it is possible to understand / manage search keyword trend on management screen leading to prompt reflection such trend on our sales policy. We hope to expand usage of Learning Search beyond site searching in the future.

Comment from Mizuno

Since the installation of “Learning Search”, it has become possible to display search result easily at the shortest time owing to automatic learning function utilizing AI. In addition, customizable search result display function and suggest function on search window (candidate display) by AI (machinery automatic learning) has improved usability. We are considering introducing “Learning Search” to websites related to Mizuno in the future.

Outline of “Learning Search”

In order to satisfy customers with e-commerce, most important thing is to provide merchandise information closer to what the customer would like on search result page. “Learning Search” is a cloud-based site search solution that makes this possible. The conversion rate (*1) rises dramatically by displaying appropriate merchandises matching each website visitors who are highly motivated to purchase. “Learning Search” automatically track and learn by scoring words / phrases which website visitors entered in search window in relation to how much they clicked on ads on the result pages. And then display most relevant items to keywords entered in the search window by utilizing such learning history. AI (Machinery automatic learning function) will constantly improve prediction accuracy and optimize it for ease of use in site search.

(* 1) Conversion Rate: Rate of people who purchased products or registered as members for the number of visitors to the website

Main Function

• Rich Auto Complete Function (Suggest Function)

As a website visitor types a keyword in the search window, AI (Machinery automatic learning function) immediately predicts keywords that site visitor will be looking for and display them by a list.  Pictures / details related to predicted keyword items also displayed to lead visitor to their interested item’s page in shortest time. Only clicking word / picture from listed items, website visitors can search what they would like without typing error.

• Learning Navigation (Navigation Search)

More than half of website visitors reach their desired item with navigation rather than search window. Category search / Brand search of “Learning Navigation” learn behavior history of website visitors to delivers the most relevant results for every visitor every time. Search result will be provided with UI / UX (*2) (*3) in the same as when searching from search window.

(* 2) UI (User Interface): For product, it is vsual information such as design, font and also product appearance or product itself.

(* 3) UX (User Experience): What site visitor felt and experienced in a series of actions using services

Future Plan

In cooperation with EC package bender, Rikei will develop “Learning Search” as standardization engine when improving existing website / build new website.

About SLI Systems, Inc.

Founded in New Zealand, SLI Systems is a global leader in the cloud-based site search field headquartered in San Jose. SLI Systems offers merchandise search engines / recommendations that are directly linked to purchasing behavior. The service platform “Learning Search” has been introduced to more than 1000 websites / 600 companies in Japan and worldwide.

About Rikei Corporation

Established in 1957, Rikei Corporation is a solution provider for the IT and electronics industries.

Rikei offers a wide variety of solutions centered on the world’s cutting edge technologies and advanced products in the fields of system solutions, such as entrance exam and educational affairs systems and IT infrastructure, business strategy, and information security solutions. It also provides network solutions, such as satellite communication data transfer systems, digital video transfer systems, network systems for telecommunication operators and other private companies, wireless access systems, and disaster management information systems. In addition to solutions, Rikei provides electronic components and devices, such as high frequency components, high performance adhesives for industrial use, testers for automotive audio and navigation equipment, power grid analysis systems, defense-related machinery and security systems.

Product names and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.