Quick verdict. Choose HawkSearch if you are a distributor on a B2B commerce platform such as Optimizely and want proven site search with merchandising and part-number lookup. Choose Xearch if you also want buyers to describe a job in plain language, get compatible parts, and reach sales through an assistant that captures the requirement.
What HawkSearch is
HawkSearch is a site search, merchandising and recommendations product from Bridgeline Digital. Unlike most search vendors, it markets heavily to B2B: Bridgeline has announced a run of industrial, electrical and precision-manufacturing customers using HawkSearch to search by part number, product category or specific attributes. It integrates with B2B commerce platforms, including Optimizely through a connector.
Pros and cons
Where HawkSearch shines
- Clear B2B and industrial distribution focus
- Part number, category and attribute search
- Merchandising tools for business users
- Integrations with B2B commerce platforms
- Public references in distribution and manufacturing
Where teams hit friction
- Search-box first; conversational selling is a lighter part of the offer
- Application-style queries still depend on good attribute data
- Smaller ecosystem than the largest search vendors
- Lead capture and handover are integrations rather than the core experience
Ideal use cases for HawkSearch
- Distributors on Optimizely or similar B2B platforms replacing native search.
- Merchandising-led B2B teams that want control over boosts and landing pages.
- Catalogs with clean attribute data where faceted search does most of the work.
HawkSearch vs Xearch for industrial catalogs
| HawkSearch | Xearch | |
|---|---|---|
| B2B focus | Yes | Yes |
| Part-number search | Yes | Yes, plus compatible parts |
| Application queries (“for washdown”) | Attribute-driven | Knowledge-driven, from your guides and PDFs |
| Chat assistant | Lighter part of the offer | Core: search and chat on one knowledge base |
| Sales handover | Via integration | Built in, with requirement capture |
| Set-up | Platform integration | Deployment by Xearch engineers |
When to choose which
Pick HawkSearch when you want a dependable B2B site search on your commerce platform and your team will manage merchandising.
Pick Xearch when your buyers ask questions as well as search, and you want every complex enquiry to reach sales with the details already captured. Book a 30-minute call.
Frequently asked questions
Who makes HawkSearch?
HawkSearch is a product of Bridgeline Digital, a company listed on NASDAQ (BLIN).
Is HawkSearch good for industrial distributors?
Yes. Bridgeline has announced several industrial and electrical distributor customers using HawkSearch to let buyers search by part number, category and attributes, often on Optimizely and other B2B commerce platforms.
What does Xearch add over B2B site search?
Xearch adds an AI layer that reads application and environment queries using your own guides, resolves compatibility between parts, and runs a chat assistant that captures requirements and hands qualified buyers to sales.
Sources
- Industrial distributor launches HawkSearch to power advanced B2B product discovery (Bridgeline, April 2025)
- Bridgeline’s HawkSearch strengthens product discovery for a B2B electrical distributor (ACCESS Newswire)
This comparison is written by the Xearch team and is based on vendors’ public documentation, announcements and independent reviews available at the time of review. Features and pricing change; confirm details with each vendor. All product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.