What is the difference between a classic category and a virtual category?

A classic category is managed manually: the e-commerce team adds or removes each product. A virtual category is dynamic and populated by predefined rules. The search engine applies these rules in real time, ensuring an always up-to-date list and facilitating the implementation of merchandising.

Are virtual categories good for search and SEO?

A classic category is managed manually: the e-commerce team adds or removes each product. A virtual category is dynamic and populated by predefined rules. The search engine applies these rules in real time, ensuring an always up-to-date list and facilitating the implementation of merchandising.

Can we apply specific merchandising rules like ranking?

Yes. Even if the product list is automated, you retain total control over the ranking. You can boost certain products (e.g., those with a better conversion rate) only on this page. This approach naturally integrates with category management.

What are the limits of the automation of these categories?

Automation depends on the quality of the product data. If your attributes are incomplete, categorization will be less reliable. Clear data improves results, enriches product descriptions, and reduces manual adjustments.

How does product data ensure categories are always up-to-date?

Virtual categories work thanks to fast data indexing. The system instantly updates any change (stock, price, attribute). This responsiveness improves customer service and the consistency of the customer journey, as the displayed products are always accurate.

Merchandising and Category Feature

Virtual Category Management

Our solution facilitates the creation of dynamic product listings through intelligent e-commerce categorization. It uses e-commerce artificial intelligence to analyze data and generate precise groupings.

You gain in speed, relevance, and efficiency without complicating your customer journey.

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Features
Merchandising
Virtual categories

Impact

Virtual Categories: A Strategic Merchandising Lever

Giving merchandising teams the ability to quickly create targeted pages helps with responsiveness in e-commerce. This approach simplifies actions and helps to track market trends.

Operational and Rapid Segmentation

Create categories based on immediate business criteria (e.g., “New Arrivals of the Week” or “Green Products from Brand X in Stock”). This approach simplifies merchandising by allowing you to react quickly to e-commerce imperatives without modifying the catalog.

Ranking Control within the Category

Although the category is virtual, you maintain total control over product ranking via the merchandising engine’s boost rules. This logic remains compatible with intelligent e-commerce categorization and supports finer decision-making.

Zero Maintenance

Once the rule is defined, the page maintains itself automatically. If a product no longer meets the criteria (e.g., out of stock), it disappears automatically, with no manual action required. This automation, powered by data analysis, reduces repetitive tasks and improves the customer journey.

Time Saving

Automate Category Creation for Your E-commerce

No more manually managing products in dozens of categories! Define the rules once (e.g., “All red products on sale”). The virtual category system populates the page instantly. This time saved allows your merchandising teams to focus on strategy and implement more precise actions through data analysis.

Rule Precision

Precise Filtering Rules for Your Virtual Categories

Virtual categories use filtering rules based on product attributes, not a simple text search. The ElasticSuite/Gally engine defines precise criteria (color, price, stock). This approach ensures an instant and reliable list, while applying the merchandising rules.

SEO

Virtual Categories Optimized for Organic Search

Each virtual category can receive a unique URL and SEO content (meta-description, Hn). This way, you transform every thematic or promotional page into a real acquisition opportunity. This optimization increases qualified traffic and improves decision-making thanks to better visibility.

Ai Search

FAQ

FAQ: Better Understanding Virtual Categories

Discover how virtual categories play a key role in your e-commerce strategy and facilitate their daily implementation.
Read the User Guide or contact us for assistance.