Client: Digital Juice Inc.
Industry: Digital Media Content Creation
Project Duration: June 2015 – Feb 2020

Project Overview

The Domain-Specific Search project was undertaken to enhance the search functionality of the Digital Juice Store, making it more efficient and user-friendly. The aim was to replace the slow, keyword-dependent search system with a dynamic, real-time search engine that provided accurate and relevant results. This new search system significantly improved user experience by implementing advanced features like dynamic filters, fuzzy suggestions, and content ranking.

Objectives and Challenges

The primary goal was to provide a robust, fast, and accurate search experience for users. Major challenges included understanding and integrating the large and varied dataset, maintaining high performance, and ensuring real-time updates. Additionally, the search needed to be tailored to handle the unique requirements of digital media content.

Technologies Used

• Frontend: Angular, HTML5, CSS3
• Backend: ASP.NET MVC, Web API, C#.NET
• Database: SQL Server, Redis, HBase
• Search Engine: Elasticsearch
• Storage: AWS S3, CloudFront

Solutions and Innovations

Enhanced Search Engine:

• Implemented Elasticsearch to provide a fast, relevant, and dynamic search experience.
• Utilized dynamic filters based on search results to help users refine their queries efficiently.

Content Management:

• Developed tools for tagging and keywording content, improving the accuracy and relevance of search results.
• Integrated robust content management features, allowing admins to manage search tags and keywords efficiently.

Performance and Scalability:

• Leveraged Redis for caching frequently accessed data, improving search speed and reducing load times.
• Utilized HBase for handling large datasets, ensuring the system could scale with growing user demands.

User Experience Enhancements:

• Designed an intuitive and user-friendly interface for the search feature using Angular, HTML5, and CSS3.
• Implemented features like fuzzy search, spelling corrections, and real-time suggestions to enhance user experience.

Impact and Benefits

The Domain-Specific Search project significantly improved the overall user experience and engagement:

• Faster Search Results: Implementing Elasticsearch and caching mechanisms resulted in faster and more accurate search results.
• Improved User Satisfaction: Enhanced search functionalities like dynamic filters, real-time suggestions, and fuzzy search improved user satisfaction.
• Increased Sales and Engagement: Better search capabilities led to increased user engagement and higher sales, as users could easily find the content they needed.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Search Functionality Development: Led the implementation and optimization of Elasticsearch for dynamic and accurate search results.
• Content Management: Developed tools for tagging and keywording content, ensuring accurate and relevant search results.
• Performance Optimization: Worked on performance enhancements using Redis and other caching mechanisms.
• Frontend Development: Designed and implemented a user-friendly search interface using Angular, HTML5, and CSS3.
• Collaboration: Coordinated with team members and stakeholders to ensure the project met business objectives.
• Testing and Debugging: Conducted extensive testing and debugging to ensure the search functionality’s stability and performance.

Personal Learnings and Takeaways

• Search Engine Optimization: Gained expertise in implementing and optimizing advanced search functionalities using Elasticsearch.
• Content Management Skills: Improved skills in tagging and keywording content to enhance search relevance.
• Performance Tuning: Learned advanced techniques for performance tuning and optimization using caching mechanisms.
• Professional Growth: Enhanced skills in both frontend and backend development, contributing to professional growth.

Team and Collaboration

The project was a collaborative effort involving a dedicated team:

• Technical Architect: Mr. Surender Singh
• Lead: Adit Tripathi
• Manager: Mr. Anil Neglur
• Team Members: Dhananjay Shetty, Nitin Rahane, Amit Chauhan, Manjunath AV

Recognition

The project received positive feedback within the company for its significant improvement in search functionality and user experience.

Visuals and Links

• YouTube Channel: Digital Juice TV
• Promotional Video: Digital Juice Resolution Video