Discover books instead of just searching for them: Kolibri360 / Zeitfracht Medien brings digital book recommendations to online bookstores
A new AI-powered search feature is now available to all affiliated booksellers with their own online store.
Erfurt, May 18, 2026 – When people look for books, they’re often looking for more than just a specific title. Many readers are searching for inspiration, recommendations, or the exact book that matches their mood or interests.
This is exactly where Zeitfracht Medien/Kolibri360’s new AI-powered search feature comes in. Following a successful test phase on buchkatalog.de, the feature is now being made available to all affiliated booksellers with their own online stores.
With this move, Zeitfracht Medien is introducing a new form of digital book search to independent bookstores on a large scale for the first time.
More guidance when exploring books
Traditional search functions work best when users already know exactly what they're looking for. In the book industry, however, searches often start out much more open-ended—for example, based on topics, interests, or the mood of the moment.
The new AI-powered search helps users find books that match such queries, creating a much more intuitive search and discovery experience.
The technology was previously tested on buchkatalog.de for three months. The results show that users are actively taking advantage of this feature:
- more than 1,000 users
- high engagement with suggested titles
In about 40 percent of product-related queries, users interact directly with the suggested results.
Greater visibility for bookstores' product ranges
For booksellers, this offers a clear benefit: books become more visible—even when customers don’t have a specific title in mind.
This makes it easier to discover titles that aren't bestsellers. At the same time, customers get more guidance and inspiration as they browse the online store.
“Online book retail shouldn’t just be efficient—it has to inspire. That’s exactly what we’ve been working on. We want to bring the digital discovery of books closer to what readers are used to in a good bookstore,” says Oleg Shishkin, Head of E-Commerce Solutions & Digital at Kolibri360.
“With the new search feature, we’re helping booksellers make their selection more engaging online and better guide customers through the wide variety of books,” Shishkin added .
A step toward more digital counseling
With this rollout, Kolibri360 is continuing to refine the product search feature of its e-commerce solution—moving toward an intuitive, AI-powered shopping experience.
The new search feature is now available to all affiliated booksellers with their own online store.