Etsy is rolling out a new visual image search feature to help shoppers locate similar products on the site, starting with iOS users, Retail Dive reported.
To use the feature, consumers must tap the camera icon in the search bar on the Etsy mobile app. A picture can then be uploaded or taken to see similar items on the ecommerce marketplace.
The company’s head of product, Han Cho, said a beta rollout will soon arrive for Android users.
Visual search came as the result of Etsy’s Hackathon event CodeMosaic, where engineers are able to show off new skills and potentially create new product solutions.
“We’re always investing in our marketplace to make it easier for sellers to grow their businesses,” Cho said.
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“We know that buyers often seek shopping inspiration outside of the marketplace, then turn to Etsy to discover items and make purchases. But sometimes they have trouble finding the right words to find the perfect items.”
Etsy follows rivals Google and Pinterest in launching an image search function, helping its customers navigate over 100 million listings on its platform.
Pinterest recently ramped up its social commerce efforts in recent months, acquiring AI shopping platform, The Yes, in June, months after launching its AR home decor feature in January.
Meanwhile, Alphabet’s Google has made a concerted effort to expand its shopping functionality.
Etsy’s new feature follows last month’s announcement that Rachana Kumar will become its new chief technology officer on 1 Jan.
Kumar brings eight years at the company working on product development and mobile app strategy.
