Avito, the leading Russian online classifieds platform, has rolled out a groundbreaking improvement to its search functionality, leveraging the power of artificial intelligence. This enhancement marks a significant turn from traditional search metrics, particularly the reliance on the time of posting.<\/p>
Previously, sellers could easily manipulate their listings' positions by simply updating their posting times. Such tactics often resulted in cluttered search results, making it difficult for users to find relevant offers. With its new AI-powered search algorithm, Avito aims to level the playing field, putting listing quality over posting time. This innovation is expected to greatly improve the relevance of search results and overall user experience.<\/p>
The AI system evaluates over 100 factors when determining the ranking of listings. These parameters include the quality of the ad description and images, price competitiveness, delivery costs, user preferences, and seller service levels. The shift to focus on these criteria—rather than mere posting times—has already shown promising results.
According to Ivan Zimin, Senior Product Director at Avito, the statistical insights reveal substantial changes: "Thanks to this, the showing of irrelevant and low-quality ads has been reduced by half. Users are 17% more likely to transition from search to listings, and the conversion rate has increased to 25%." Such statistics point to the effectiveness of the new algorithm not just for enhancing user satisfaction but also for boosting sales for sellers.
The modifications come at a time when users are progressively opting for more reliable and transparent purchasing experiences. Zimin states, "The top ten search results receive about 60% of all views and orders," emphasizing the advantage of having high-quality listings toward enhancing visibility and sales.
Avito's redesigned search functionality not only transforms how listings are displayed but also operates effectively across personalized recommendation feeds. This integration is pivotal as e-commerce matures and user expectations evolve toward streamlined and relevant shopping experiences.
Part of this transformation process involved reducing the number of irrelevant advertisements users see, thereby improving their overall engagement on the platform. With the new AI-driven approach, Avito expects to continue refining how they present listings, aligning them more closely with user demands and preferences.
Before this overhaul, time of posting played a prominent role in determining listings’ ranks, often skewing visibility toward newer ads, regardless of their quality. Now, with this adjustment, sellers must focus on crafting compelling descriptions and providing high-quality images to attract potential buyers. Price competitiveness and seller ratings will also play key roles.
Avito's initiative reflects broader trends within the tech and e-commerce sectors, where algorithms increasingly anticipate and cater to individual user needs. The integration of AI not only enhances operational efficiency but also generates significant competition among sellers to meet these new standards. This could inspire creativity and push vendors to improve their offerings.
Overall, Avito's advancements mark significant progress toward achieving user-centric e-commerce solutions. With customer satisfaction at the forefront, their innovative AI system may set new models for other platforms to follow. By prioritizing quality over quantity, Avito not only stands to increase its market share but also begins to reshape how classified ads can be effectively managed online.
With these changes, Avito appears well-positioned to redefine the online shopping experience for both buyers and sellers alike. If the performance metrics continue to trend positively, other marketplaces may feel the pressure to adopt similar strategies to stay competitive.
