The infrastructure that drives the Aero ecommerce platform is the critical, behind-the-scenes tech that gives Aero its lean, out-of-the-box functionality.
One major aspect of this functionality is being able to process and analyse search results quickly and accurately.
This is where Elasticsearch is worth its weight in gold.
What is Elasticsearch?
Elasticsearch is a search and analytics engine that has established itself as an industry leader due to its ability to manage massive datasets and return results with incredible speed and accuracy.
Built on the open-source Apache Lucene software, Elasticsearch is freely distributed, meaning it can be integrated into the Aero platform with no additional cost to retailers.
Elasticsearch is a scalable NoSQL document store, allowing complex data to be queried and aggregated for fast, relevant search results. This is especially important for large-scale ecommerce sites.
How does Elasticsearch work?
Elasticsearch operates through a process called data ingestion. This involves moving data from one or more sources into a single, structured destination for analysis.
Because this data often comes in different formats, the ingestion process must clean, normalise, and enrich it before indexing. Once indexed, the data is easily searchable and can be used to run complex queries or generate detailed summaries almost instantly.
It's almost like putting together the pieces of a puzzle, ensuring they all fit as a whole. Elasticsearch organises the puzzle pieces of data into a complete picture, ready for fast retrieval whenever it’s needed.
Why is it a good fit for ecommerce?
Search functionality can make or break the online shopping experience. When customers can’t find what they’re looking for, they leave — and rarely return.
A fast, intelligent site search is one of the most powerful tools a retailer can offer. It connects customers directly to the products they want and provides valuable insight into what shoppers are searching for.
For mid to large-sized retailers with extensive product ranges, Elasticsearch ensures those searches happen instantly — helping customers find products faster, increasing conversions, and improving satisfaction.
It’s not just about speed, though. Every search query becomes a data point, helping retailers refine product listings, improve merchandising, and tailor marketing to real customer intent.
Are there alternatives?
Several open-source and paid-for search engines offer similar functionality, and traditional SQL databases remain reliable back-end systems. But when it comes to speed, scale, and flexibility, Elasticsearch stands apart.
That’s why it’s trusted by leading global companies such as Adobe, Cisco, Pfizer, and eBay — and why Aero has chosen Elasticsearch as a core component of its platform.
Powering faster, smarter ecommerce
At Aero, we believe Elasticsearch will continue to play a key role in delivering the performance and efficiency modern retailers expect.
It’s one of the many technologies that help Aero offer lightning-fast search, scalable infrastructure, and an exceptional customer experience out of the box.
Want to see how Aero’s technology delivers real-world performance?
Book a demo and discover how our platform helps retailers build faster, leaner, and smarter ecommerce experiences.
