In today’s fast-paced e-commerce landscape, shoppers are looking for more than just a great product—they’re seeking confidence in their purchasing decisions. That’s where reviews come in. Authentic reviews, clear summaries, and user-generated content fuel the shopping journey, helping customers feel secure in their choices. But in a world where information overload is common, and attention spans are shorter than ever, brands need to meet shoppers with tools that make the buying experience as effortless and informative as possible.

That’s why we’re excited to announce five powerful new features for Ratings & Reviews—designed to not only help brands and retailers collect more high-quality content but also to help shoppers make quicker, more confident decisions. Each feature is built with the shopper in mind, reducing friction and amplifying trust throughout the buying process. And with AI-powered solutions that are secure and unbiased, these updates will level-up your customer experience while reinforcing data security and trust at every step.

Let’s explore how these features make shopping smarter, faster, and more engaging:

1. Content Coach: Jumpstart higher quality reviews with unbiased coaching

We’ve all experienced moments of writer’s block—whether writing an email or leaving a review. In fact, 68% of consumers say they at least sometimes feel unsure about what details would be helpful when writing a review (Bazaarvoice AI Consumer Study, 2023). This hesitation can lead to incomplete or vague reviews, reducing their impact for future shoppers.

That’s why we developed Content Coach, a feature powered by Bazaarvoice’s HarmonyAI Engine that helps consumers overcome this hurdle. By generating unbiased topic suggestions, Content Coach guides shoppers through the review-writing process, encouraging richer, more informative content. The best part? The AI draws from the publicly-facing product name, description, and category—so the guidance is both secure and specific to each product.

For shoppers, this means higher-quality reviews that provide the details they need to make informed decisions. For brands and retailers, it results in more engaging content that boosts shopper confidence and drives conversion. You’ll also benefit from the extra insights being shared to help inform your business decisions! In fact, nearly half (49%) of consumers (same study) said they would prefer to write reviews on sites that offer AI-generated prompts because it helps them share more useful feedback.

2. Review Summaries: Move from review overload to purchase acceleration

In a world where shoppers rely heavily on reviews, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of feedback available. And when potential buyers feel they have to sift through countless reviews to get a balanced perspective, it can slow down decision-making.

Introducing Review Summaries. Powered by Bazaarvoice’s HarmonyAI Engine, this feature condenses reviews into easy-to-digest summaries, highlighting key product strengths and weaknesses without compromising review authenticity. With Review Summaries, shoppers get the gist at a glance, making it easier to move from consideration to purchase.

In fact, 94% of respondents (Bazaarvoice Study, 2023)  said they would find an AI-generated review summary to be useful when looking at products online.

Available first on Product Detail Pages (PDPs) and soon expanding to Product Listing Pages (PLPs), this feature speeds up the decision-making process for shoppers. And with Bazaarvoice’s commitment to security, no client data is used to train third-party AI models, ensuring a secure and trustworthy experience for all.

3. Keyword Filters: Match shoppers with reviews they care about—and close the sale

At the heart of every shopping decision is one critical question: “Is this product right for me?” The quicker a shopper can answer that, the more likely they are to make a purchase. With Keyword Filters, shoppers can now cut straight to the reviews that matter most to them.

This feature allows users to filter reviews by unbiased, AI-generated topics like size, fit, and color, giving them a personalized and streamlined experience. By providing direct access to the targeted insights that matter most, shoppers make more confident decisions faster, reducing friction in the buying process.

For example, Michael Kors saw a 9% increase in review engagement after implementing Keyword Filters, demonstrating how this feature enhances shopper interaction with reviews and accelerates purchase decisions. The AI behind Keyword Filters is designed to prioritize shopper relevance while maintaining the unbiased, secure nature that Bazaarvoice is known for.

“We are thrilled by the results of Bazaarvoice’s new AI-powered Keyword Filters for Ratings & Reviews, which led to a 9% increase in review engagement and quickly became one of the most-used reviews filters amongst customers. Customers could easily find feedback from other shoppers tailored to key product attributes they cared about most like size and fit. The feature exceeded our expectations and is a great example of the ongoing innovation that we have come to love from Bazaarvoice!”

– Anneka Austin, Senior Director, Digital Commerce & Strategy (North America) at Michael Kors

4. Product Picker (Revamp): Drop the link, collect reviews, anytime

We understand that gathering high-quality reviews can be a challenge, especially if the submission process is cumbersome. That’s why we’ve revamped the Product Picker Experience to make review collection easier and more efficient than ever before.

With a sleek, mobile-first design and a progressive in-page submission form, the new Product Picker simplifies the review process, allowing customers to share feedback with minimal friction. It’s already proven to be a game-changer, with a +65% increase in review submission rates.

For brands and retailers, this feature is a true review magnet, effortlessly collecting the content needed to fuel future shoppers’ decisions whenever and wherever the link is shared. And with new customizable options like logo inclusion, the Product Picker also reinforces brand identity while enhancing the user experience.

5. Closed Captioning API: Say it loud, say it clear—caption your videos for all to hear

In today’s mobile-first world, 92% of consumers watch videos with the sound off (Verizon Media Consumer Survey, 2019).

Ensuring that videos within reviews are accessible to all shoppers is essential for driving engagement and inclusivity. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce the Closed Captioning API, which enables brands and retailers to add captions to videos submitted alongside reviews.

For shoppers, this feature creates a more inclusive and accessible experience—whether they’re in a noisy environment or relying on captions for understanding. And with support for 56 languages, brands can deliver a consistent, global experience across their entire customer base.

By ensuring that all consumers can engage with video reviews, this new API capability helps ensure that shoppers can gather the information they need to make a confident purchasing decision.

Bringing It All Together: Empowering Shoppers, Driving Success

Each of these five features plays a critical role in transforming the shopper journey, from overcoming writer’s block to making reviews more accessible and personalized. At every step, we’re helping brands and reduce friction and empower their customers to make faster, more confident purchasing decisions.

With capabilities powered by Bazaarvoice’s HarmonyAI Engine that prioritize security and unbiased insights, these innovations not only streamline the shopping experience but also ensure that every interaction is built on trust. By making reviews more engaging, accessible, and tailored to individual shoppers’ needs, brands and retailers can deepen customer relationships and drive measurable success—turning casual browsers into loyal buyers.

For more information on each feature’s availability and how to get started, please see this article!