If you're currently using Optimizely Search & Navigation (S&N), you might be wondering what's next in delivering faster, smarter, and more flexible digital experiences. Enter Optimizely Graph — the next-generation content API designed to elevate how you access and deliver content across channels.
Optimizely Graph is a headless, AI-accelerated content API built on GraphQL. Unlike Search & Navigation, which is page-centric and based on Lucene, Optimizely Graph is content-centric. It provides real-time, fine-grained access to your content, regardless of where or how it is used. Think of it as the connective tissue between your content and any digital interface: web, mobile, apps, kiosks, and more.
Technology Stack:
Performance:
Flexibility:
Indexing:
Optimizely Graph is designed with AI in mind. It enables smarter personalization by allowing you to filter and deliver content based on user behavior, segmentation, and context—in real time.
Ideal Use Cases
Complex content models with multiple types and relations
Headless CMS implementations
Sites needing fast and dynamic search/discovery features
Front-end heavy applications
Optimizely Graph isn't a forced switch—it's a strategic upgrade. Many customers run both S&N and Graph in parallel during migration. If you're building anything new or performance-critical, Graph should be your go-to.
One recent implementation for the American Retirement Association (“ARA”) involved using Optimizely Graph to power their site search experience. When comparing to previous projects which used Search & Navigation, the development effort required was no greater than what would have been needed for S&N. In fact, our team appreciated how straightforward it was to write and update Graph queries—we were able to retrieve exactly the data we needed without over-fetching.
The flexibility of Graph also made it easier to build robust filtering and faceting into the search experience. Compared to S&N, this process was far more intuitive and manageable. While co-development did require us to pay close attention to index synchronization across environments, the payoff was worth it. With semantic search enabled, ARA saw a marked improvement in the relevance of search results, leading to a better user experience.
As digital expectations evolve, so should your content strategy. Optimizely Graph offers the speed, flexibility, and future readiness needed to meet your users wherever they are. Now is a great time to explore what Graph can do for your next project.
Interested in how Optimizely Graph can revolutionize your content delivery and enhance user engagement? Contact us for a comprehensive audit, including quick-win improvements you can implement immediately. Let's elevate your digital experience together!
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