The original search functionality suffered from significant constraints that inhibited user engagement and effective fund discovery. The system was designed solely for exact keyword matching, failing to meet the contemporary user expectation for intelligent, flexible search.
Original search field accepting only exact fund names or product codes.
The search field only processed inputs that perfectly matched a fund's name or a specific product code. Users who searched using natural language or generic product terms were returned zero results.
Conversational query returning a generic trending funds list.
The system could not parse or respond to goal-oriented, conversational queries. When a user attempted to ask a pointed question, the search yielded no information, defaulting to a generic list of trending funds.
The frustrating, actionless empty state with no guidance.
If the system failed to return a match, the user was met with a frustrating, actionless empty state with no explanation, no alternative suggestions, and no clear next step.
The search experience was fundamentally rebuilt around Natural Language Understanding (NLU) and user guidance.
New "Ask Anything..." input field inviting natural language queries.
Replacing the passive "Search..." placeholder with "Ask anything..." fundamentally reframes the interaction — inviting users to express intent in their own words rather than guessing exact fund names.
Suggested query chips guiding users toward productive searches.
Contextual suggestion chips and guided prompts help users who don't know where to start, reducing cognitive load and increasing the likelihood of a successful search session.
Results enriched with contextual insights and fund reasoning.
Search results now surface relevant context — risk profiles, historical performance summaries, and suitability reasoning — transforming a simple list into an advisory experience.
Smart empty state offering alternative paths forward.
Every failure state now includes a clear explanation, alternative suggestions, and a guided path forward — ensuring no user ever hits a dead end.
The redesign delivered measurable improvements across all key success indicators within the first release cycle.
Changing the search field from "Search..." to "Ask anything..." was a subtle but fundamental UX change that guided users toward natural conversation.
By treating the search results page as an advisory tool rather than a simple index, we maximized the value of user intent.
The greatest impact came from solving the worst user experience: the dead-end empty state. By ensuring every outcome included a path forward, we established trust and consistency.