Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered search is no longer a ‘nice to have,’ but a foundational capability for B2B e-commerce, according to the findings of Algolia 2026 Ecommerce Site Search Trends Report,
The fourth annual report, with insights from data analytics and advisory firm Escalent, found that a growing majority of organizations now not only rely on AI-driven search to meet rising consumer expectations, but to improve relevance and usability as well as support broader digital transformation efforts.
AI has moved from experimentation to baseline infrastructure in B2B ecommerce as 71% of B2B businesses are using AI technology for e-commerce, up from 67% in 2025. Additionally, 83% of respondents say they’re more likely to select a search and discovery solution with AI capabilities, signaling why it is now a “must-have,” not a differentiator for search vendors.
Algolia’s Barad on Search Shift
Nate Barad, Vice President of Product and Technical Marketing at Algolia, commented that this is a “clear” shift from adoption to optimization of AI-powered search.
“As buyers demand more relevance, speed, and ease of use, it’s critical that companies optimize their AI capabilities to drive real business outcomes,” said Barad in a statement. “If organizations fail to make this shift, they risk underdelivering on customer expectations, leading to a negative impact on ROI.”
Report Results
Algolia, an AI search and retrieval platform that powers 1.75 trillion searches a year for more than 18,000 businesses, found that search and discovery are now central to meeting rising customer expectations, not just driving sales. Search has become a frontline customer experience lever, with B2B buyers expecting the same relevance, ease, and support they see in B2C environments— 44% cite increased customer expectations as the top driver of search and discovery investment, a 7% increase from 2025.
Respondents at 36% point to competitive differentiation as a key driver, underscoring search as a brand and experience battleground; the same percentage are investing specifically to improve the online customer experience, up 2% year over year.
The authors of the report stated the next phase of B2B digital transformation is about optimization, not expansion. Rather than piling on new tools, B2B organizations are focused on strengthening what they already have— especially around security, integration, and operational efficiency as 51% say they already have a well-established e-commerce experience and are not prioritizing new investment next year, favoring reinforcement over expansion
To learn more, download a free copy of the 2026 B2B E-commerce Search Site Trends Report.
