Forum Discussion
Is a Modern SharePoint Search Center also on the Modern SharePoint roadmap?
They could definitely use a better advanced search functionality at the very least, and some algorithm tweaks. The #1 compliant from our users is that they can't find anything in search.
* domain knowledge
* knowing the mental information model of employees
* knowing if content they are looking for is indexed
* aligning how people search with the content you have
* etc etc :)
Most users don't want training and advanced techniques to find their content. They don't want to have to understand how it works. They want to type in the box and have it magically bring up their results, like Google does. Somehow Google narrows down millions of times more results and still comes up with better suggestions, so it's not unreasonable. A high standard, I know, but that is what people are used to. :/
I've had the google argument thrown at me so many times over the years, and it's wrong. For a user it's correct, but from an enterprise search standpoint it's wrong.
Give me an organization with millions of active users, and I will show you pretty good hits on page one. What enterprise search lacks the most is cross-linking. People don't link documents and information internally, while internet is built up from links.
I'm also not a fan of advanced search and just want it to work. In order to do that you need to try to build a context around a query, and try to apply magic from the context combined with the query terms. Certainly no easy feat, and why users complain about not finding stuff.
I think the graph data in O365 is starting to help, ordering content on popular closeness to you as a starting factor (trending in Delve). And I hope we get the tools to work in the glue between tech and users to make enterprise search actually work - in one form or the other.
I've said it before, I think the enterprise search center might be dead/dying, but I still think enterprise search lives on.
As an anecdote...I don't think enterprise search has really changed the past 15 years at all, except Google stopped doing it :)