Storefront teams have more control over how buyers move through the catalog. You can place global search in a more prominent location, simplify the header when category navigation is not needed, choose how much category depth to show during browsing, and give buyers a more predictable path back to the catalog.
These capabilities matter most for teams that are refining storefront usability. Some catalogs benefit from a compact header and a search-first experience, while others still need visible category navigation to guide buyers through broad or structured product ranges.
What this feature supports
Storefront browsing supports five practical patterns:
- Global search can now appear in the top navigation instead of only in the category navigation bar.
- Category navigation can be hidden when a cleaner, simpler header fits the storefront design better.
- Category browsing can be tuned to show only top-level categories or both top-level categories and subcategories.
- Predefined category setups behave more reliably when buyers need to keep seeing subcategories under a selected top-level category.
- Breadcrumb home navigation falls back more safely to the catalog when no explicit destination has been defined.
Together, these changes let teams shape browsing around buyer behavior instead of forcing every storefront into the same navigation pattern.
Put search where buyers expect it
Many storefronts rely on search as the fastest route to products, especially when buyers already know part numbers, product names, or common search terms. OrderCentral makes it possible to move global search into the top navigation so it stays visible in a familiar, high-priority location.
This layout is useful when:
- buyers usually search before they browse
- the storefront header should stay consistent across pages
- category navigation would otherwise compete with search for space
Teams that still want search to sit closer to category exploration can keep the previous pattern. Both layouts remain valid, and the better choice depends on how buyers typically find products in the catalog.
Simplify or preserve category browsing based on catalog complexity
Storefront teams can now decide whether the category navigation bar should remain visible at all. This gives more flexibility in how the storefront header is designed.
Hide category navigation when:
- search is the primary discovery method
- the catalog is small or tightly focused
- a cleaner header supports the storefront experience
Keep category navigation visible when:
- buyers often browse before they search
- the catalog contains many product groups
- category context helps buyers narrow choices more quickly
OrderCentral also gives teams more control over category depth. Teams can choose between a simpler top-level browsing experience or a richer view that includes subcategories.
A top-level-only approach works well when buyers need a short, high-level menu of product families. Showing both top-level categories and subcategories works better when buyers need more guidance inside larger catalogs.
Make category browsing more reliable for predefined catalog paths
Some storefronts open with a predefined top-level category already selected. In that situation, buyers still need to see the available subcategories so they can continue narrowing down the catalog.
OrderCentral keeps the expected subcategory options visible more reliably for predefined category setups. This is especially useful for storefronts that land buyers in a specific product family or use guided entry points from navigation, campaigns, or shared links.
Make breadcrumb return paths more predictable
Breadcrumbs are most useful when they help buyers retrace their steps without confusion. OrderCentral improves the behavior behind the breadcrumb home action so buyers are less likely to be sent to an unexpected destination.
When no specific home destination has been configured for catalog browsing, the storefront now falls back more safely to the main catalog experience. That makes the return path more predictable and reduces friction when buyers want to move back out of a category view and continue browsing.
When to review your storefront layout
Review this functionality if your team wants to:
- make search more prominent in the storefront header
- reduce visual weight in the header area
- support either shallow or deep category browsing patterns
- improve catalog return behavior for buyers navigating with breadcrumbs
A quick layout review is usually enough to decide which combination of search placement, category visibility, and browsing depth best fits the storefront.
Related setup guidance
Use the related configuration articles when you are ready to apply these changes in Experience Builder:
- Configure global search and category navigation
- Configure category browsing and breadcrumb navigation
After configuration, validate the storefront from a buyer perspective:
- confirm that search appears in the intended header location
- verify whether category navigation should remain visible or hidden
- test top-level and subcategory browsing with real catalog structures
- check breadcrumb return behavior from category and subcategory pages