Algolia data reveals how search teams are evolving to build compelling search and discovery experiences.
Algolia, the world’s only end-to-end AI Search and Discovery platform, today unveiled its first-of-its-kind How Search Teams Work: Building Exceptional Search Experiences report.
Data from the report uncovers the priorities and work practices of the various roles that collaborate in every organization to buy, build, or optimize search. The report examines current practices and looks ahead to future trends and areas of importance for search builders and decision-makers.
Nate Barad, VP of Product Marketing, remarked: “Search is no longer just a technical function—it’s a core business driver. AI-powered search and automation are transforming how we deliver seamless user experiences, but success hinges on the teams behind them. The right mix of AI, low-code tools, and cross-functional teamwork is what will set industry leaders apart.”
Key findings from the report include:
Continued and growing adoption of AI
- AI use is now so widespread that it is a standard part of search development, with 82% of teams using AI regularly.
- Respondents use AI for four primary tasks: to write code (33%), for administrative tasks (25%), to manage technology (24%), and to build AI experiences (17%).
- Notably, company security is the top reason that users (18%) cited for not using AI. Of non-users of AI, 40% said their company security team had banned its use in their development and working processes.
Growing reliance on low-code and no-code tools
- The rise of low-code and no-code tools has led to 57% of non-developer team members using code to analyze data and maintain the search instance after developers have moved to other projects.
- These non-technical “coders” are part of today’s search builder teams. Among those in business roles, 65% of executives used code, as did 63% of marketers, 53% of merchandisers, and 33% of product managers.
- Two-thirds of developer respondents preferred low- and medium-code approaches for analytics (64%) and administrative tasks (65%). Full-code and medium-code were favored for high-level work, including app creation (85%) and data integration (78%).
Search is a team effort
- Executives, developers, product managers, marketers, and merchandisers are the primary roles in search builder teams.
- While the roles that come together to build and deliver search and discovery experiences exhibit different development priorities, search performance objectives, technical expertise, and soft skills, no single role can make an outstanding search experience alone.
- The majority of search team members (70-80%) say they collaborate frequently with their colleagues in other functions. However, only 58% of non-developers report working frequently with developers.
To see how Algolia’s AI Search technology can support search teams to work collaboratively and effectively, try Algolia AI Search free here or request a demo here. To learn more about the trends driving how search teams develop sites download a free copy of the 2025 B2B Ecommerce Site Search Trends Report.
Report Methodology
The report is based on input from 1,245 participants from the Americas, EU, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific regions, working for companies of all sizes and across industries. The study placed a particular focus on search builders in the ecommerce and retail sector, making up 66% of participants.
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