Why Can’t We Search for Product Web Links on Ecommerce or DTC Brand sites and apps?

A feature I have found much needed but missing across practically all e-commerce and DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) brand websites and apps is the ability to be able to paste a web-link to a product listing in the search bar and locate the product.

Imagine a scenario where, you are on your phone browser searching for a product, and finally shortlist a few you could consider buying. Say one product is listed on Amazon, another on Flipkart, and a third, a DTC brand that has its own app.

Now, if you were to copy the respective website links and paste them in the Amazon, Flipkart and DTC brand’s app or websites, they will not return the same product in search results. Good chance it won’t return any result.

Which means, if you are signed into the mobile app, but found a product on a web browser, you’d have to copy the name of the product and paste it in the app to be able to locate and order it. An inconvenience.