Popular online marketplace Etsy (NASDAQ: ETSY) recently launched a new image search feature, which will help customers to find items that they are looking for faster and efficiently.
Users are now able to upload or take photos in the search bar, effectively searching without using keywords. In users' results, they will now be able to discover images that are similar to the photos that they search for.
According to Etsy, this new image search feature will allow users to search for items in entirely new ways, since they will be able to capture visual representations if users are unable to come up with the right words or descriptions.
"With more than 100 million items in our marketplace, odds are that if you can dream it - or snap a photo of it - you'll find something you love on Etsy," Etsy wrote in a blog post. "We're always investing in our marketplace to make it easier for sellers to grow their businesses. We're excited for this new, innovative feature to make it easier for sellers to get discovered and connect with our built-in base of nearly 90 million buyers around the world."
Etsy, a marketplace for those who are interested in crafting homemade items, is always searching for entirely new ways to convince customers to find items that are truly one-of-a-kind. This feature in particular, according to the company on its website, was established as part of CodeMosaic, which enables engineers to exercise new skills in terms of finding ways to enhance Etsy's overall market and community.
Although it would seem that Etsy is trying to get ahead of the game with this new image search feature, platforms such as Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) and Pinterest (NASDAQ: PINS) have already had image search features for awhile. Google recently added a Lens image search to its home page this past week, which allows users to obtain access to the advanced image search recognition tool.
In adding this new image search tool to Etsy, the company is playing catch-up. But according to its Q3 earnings report, Etsy has seen an 11.7% increase in overall revenue. This increase is likely due to an increased transaction fee from 5% to 6.5%, in its overall plans to make "significant investments in marketing, seller tools and creating a world-class customer experience".