eBay have today launched eBay Image Search on their UK country site. Image search offers a new way to search for items that are hard to describe and, through the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning, enables consumers to search for them as easy as taking a picture.
With Image Search, shoppers can take a photo or use an existing photo from their camera roll of an item they want to purchase and enter it into the Search bar. eBay will then surface listings that are a close match or visually similar so users can purchase.
How eBay Image Search works
- See it – find something you like
- Snap it – take a photo of it on our app
- Shop it – eBay will find items from our sellers that match your search for you to buy
We are well aware that some readers consider image search a bit frivolous and wonder why users can’t simply type in a few keywords, and that may well be true for many products, especially generic consumer electronics for example. We are also aware that some think consumers will now go out stalking strangers trying to take a snap of their handbags or clothing but that’s also not likely to generally be the case. What is much more likely is that consumers will start to take photos of things which are relatively hard to describe but that they actually want to buy such as antiques, handbags, clothing etc as it’s simply easier to take a photo than to describe the item.
Tamebay Tip
Read our How to do SEO optimisation for image search for tips on tailoring your product shots for eBay Image Search.
“Moments of shopping inspiration can come at any time, whether you’re walking down the street or browsing your social media feed. At eBay, we’re focused on creating new complementary technology that helps our millions of customers. Whether this is helping buyers to easily find the things they love at the best value, or by surfacing relevant inventory from sellers on the platform in a new and engaging way. eBay Image Search makes it possible for people to shop and sell on eBay by using any image or photo that inspires them.”
– Rob Hattrell, Vice President, eBay UK
To help people solve the challenge of spending hours scouring stores or the web for certain items, eBay applied artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. These technologies are already embedded across the eBay experience making the Marketplace’s vast product catalogue easily searchable. As people continue to use eBay Image Search, eBay will be able to surface even richer results and filtering – from new, nearly new and used items.
“When it comes to creating new, innovative shopping experiences, eBay is at a technological advantage due to the rich set of user-generated images and item data we’ve accumulated through the years. By applying machine learning technology, eBay can deliver a fast and reliable shopping experience backed by one of the world’s largest commerce data sets.”
– Rob Hattrell, Vice President, eBay UK
9 Responses
Hilarious great fun
Hugely entertaining
A bit like the fun you can have with translation results
A photo of Fairy washing up liquid
Gives you a page of marmite for sale
We took a picture of our dog and we got results of the floor it was sitting on
Though on some things it gets it spot on
We think its sucess will depend on the skill of the user and the information entered ,,much like text search
I’ve just taken a photo of a Sky box. It’s come back with treadmills….
Picture: yellow bottle of propane gas.
Results: yellow hazard tape, concrete hardener and … red pencils.
#ebayway
which sort of contradicts
a picture being better than a thousand words
Can just see it now, buyer opens item not as described case saying they took a picture and got sent something completely different. ebay sides with the buyer as they are always right and have never seen the item.
“By applying machine learning technology, eBay can deliver a fast and reliable shopping experience backed by one of the world’s largest commerce data sets.” YES MAN Rob whatever and takes you straight to one of your brand partners with your fixed search.
We are finding our OWN images being replaced by misleading ebay stock images. Total nightmare they cant even get the right products.
Anyway it is happening, I have the BEST test sample next to me in bed every-night. She does shop via image all the time. The one place she does not do it however is eBay, ( I always hear this APP is awful, look at the junk it brings up).
Anyway it is happening, this is where Pinterest and Insta need to get a move on an create a proper direct checkout, what are they waiting for, open it up for everyone.
whats the point of taking a photo of something that’s hard to describe
then receiving a result thats nothing to do with your search even harder to describe
A picture of 3 pin 13 amp plug
Brings up anything from apple iphones to replacement record stylus
At least ebay are consistant keeping photo results erratic as text searches