Woocommerce How To Search Website For Sku Number Frontend

WooCommerce: How to Enable Frontend SKU Search for Enhanced User Experience

Introduction:

In the world of e-commerce, providing a seamless and efficient shopping experience is paramount. For WooCommerce store owners, this often involves optimizing search functionality. Many customers, especially those familiar with your products or using physical catalogs, prefer to search directly using a SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) number. By default, WooCommerce doesn’t always make SKU search readily available on the frontend. This article will guide you through the process of enabling frontend SKU search, enhancing your user experience, and potentially increasing sales by allowing customers to quickly find the exact products they’re looking for. We’ll explore various methods, from simple plugin solutions to code-based implementations, helping you choose the option best suited for your store.

Why Enable Frontend SKU Search?

Enabling SKU search on your WooCommerce store offers several key benefits:

• Improved User Experience: Customers who know the SKU can quickly find the product they want, reducing frustration and bounce rates.
• Increased Conversion Rates: Faster product discovery translates to faster purchases, leading to higher conversion rates.
• Reduced Customer Support Inquiries: Providing an easy way to find products reduces the need for customers to contact support for assistance.
• Catering to Specific Customer Segments: Business customers or those using offline catalogs often rely on SKUs for easy ordering.
• Better SEO: While not a direct SEO factor, a better user experience can indirectly improve search engine rankings.

Implementing Frontend SKU Search in WooCommerce

There are several methods to enable SKU search on your WooCommerce frontend, ranging from simple plugin installations to more complex code implementations. Let’s explore some popular options:

1. Using a WooCommerce Search Plugin

This is often the easiest and most straightforward approach, especially for users less comfortable with code. Several plugins specifically enhance the WooCommerce search functionality, including SKU searching.

Popular Plugins Include:

• SearchWP: A premium plugin offering robust search functionality, including SKU search, custom field search, and more.
• Relevanssi: A powerful free plugin that replaces the default WordPress search with a more relevant and customizable search experience, including SKU search.
• WooCommerce Product Search: A simple and dedicated search plugin that focuses on product searches, often including SKU functionality.

Example: Using Relevanssi (Free Option)

1. Install and Activate the Plugin: Search for “Relevanssi” in the WordPress plugin directory, install, and activate it.

2. Configure the Plugin: Go to “Relevanssi” -> “Settings”.

3. Index the Product SKUs: Ensure that “Index Custom Fields” is enabled and add `_sku` to the “Custom Fields” field. You might need to click “Build the index” after making this change.

4. Test the Search: Go to your store’s frontend and try searching using a product SKU.

2. Code-Based Implementation (For More Control)

For users comfortable with code, a code-based approach offers more flexibility and control over the search functionality. This involves modifying your theme’s `functions.php` file or creating a custom plugin.

Steps Involved:

1. Modify the Search Query: You’ll need to hook into the `pre_get_posts` action to modify the search query to include SKU searching.

<?php
/**
Search by SKU in WooCommerce.
*/
function custom_search_sku( $query ) {
if ( ! is_admin() && $query->is_main_query() && $query->is_search() ) {
$search_term = $query->get( 's' );

if ( ! empty( $search_term ) ) {

$query->set( ‘post_type’, ‘product’ );

$query->set( ‘meta_query’, array(

array(

‘key’ => ‘_sku’,

‘value’ => $search_term,

‘compare’ => ‘LIKE’,

),

));

}

}

}

add_action( ‘pre_get_posts’, ‘custom_search_sku’ );

?>

2. Add the code to your `functions.php` file (or a custom plugin): Navigate to Appearance -> Theme Editor and edit the `functions.php` file. Important: Always back up your `functions.php` file before making any changes. Alternatively, create a custom plugin for a cleaner and more maintainable approach.

3. Test the Search: Go to your store’s frontend and try searching using a product SKU.

Explanation of the Code:

• `pre_get_posts`: This action allows you to modify the main query before it’s executed.
• `is_admin()`: Ensures the code only runs on the frontend.
• `$query->is_main_query()`: Targets the main query.
• `$query->is_search()`: Checks if it’s a search query.
• `$query->get( ‘s’ )`: Retrieves the search term.
• `$query->set( ‘post_type’, ‘product’ )`: Limits the search to product post type.
• `meta_query`: Adds a meta query to search for products where the `_sku` meta key contains the search term. The `LIKE` operator allows for partial SKU matches.

3. Customizing the Search Form (Optional)

You might also want to customize the search form to explicitly mention that SKU search is supported. This can further improve the user experience. This typically involves modifying your theme’s `searchform.php` file or using a theme’s customizer options.

Considerations and Potential Issues

While implementing frontend SKU search is generally beneficial, consider the following:

• Performance: Searching meta data can be resource-intensive, especially on large stores. Consider using a caching plugin or optimizing your database if you experience performance issues. The plugin solutions usually handle performance better.
• SKU Format: Ensure that your SKUs are consistent and easily searchable. Consider whether you want to support case-sensitive or case-insensitive searches. The provided code snippet uses a `LIKE` comparison which is case-insensitive in most MySQL configurations.
• Conflicting Plugins: Be aware of potential conflicts with other plugins that modify search functionality. Test thoroughly after installing or activating any new search-related plugin.
• Security: Always sanitize user input to prevent SQL injection vulnerabilities. The provided code assumes that the search term is properly sanitized by WordPress’s built-in functions.

Troubleshooting:

• Search Results Not Showing SKUs: Double-check your plugin configuration or code implementation for any errors. Ensure that the `_sku` meta key is correctly indexed or queried.
• Performance Issues: As mentioned above, use a caching plugin or optimize your database. Consider using a more efficient search plugin or code implementation.
• Conflicting Plugins: Deactivate other search-related plugins to see if they are causing the issue.

Conclusion

Enabling frontend SKU search in WooCommerce can significantly improve the user experience and boost sales. Whether you choose a simple plugin solution or a more customized code-based approach, the benefits of allowing customers to quickly find products using SKUs are undeniable. Remember to consider the potential performance implications and thoroughly test your implementation to ensure a seamless and efficient shopping experience for your customers. By investing in improved search functionality, you’ll be providing a valuable service to your customers and positioning your WooCommerce store for greater success.