ChoiceMate Documentation
Table of Contents
Introduction
ChoiceMate is an AI-powered WordPress plugin that revolutionizes the WooCommerce shopping experience by providing intelligent product recommendation assistants. The plugin creates interactive question trees that guide customers through a personalized journey to find their perfect products.
Using OpenAI's GPT models, ChoiceMate analyzes your product catalog and automatically generates smart, contextual questions tailored to each product category. This eliminates choice paralysis and significantly improves conversion rates by helping customers find exactly what they need.
Key Benefits
Increased Conversions: Guide customers to their ideal products faster
Reduced Bounce Rate: Engage visitors with interactive, helpful content
Automated Intelligence: AI generates category-specific questions automatically
Data-Driven Insights: Track customer preferences and behavior
Zero Manual Setup: Plug-and-play solution with intelligent defaults
Features
🧠 AI-Powered Question Generation
Automatically analyzes product catalogs to create intelligent question trees
Generates category-specific questions based on actual product attributes
Supports both Dutch and English with automatic language detection
Smart dynamic criteria that adapt to each product category
🎯 Intelligent Product Matching
Advanced algorithm matches customer responses to ideal products
Provides detailed reasoning for each recommendation
Supports multiple recommendation formats (single choice, multiple choice, range)
Customizable recommendation limits (1-10 products)
📊 Comprehensive Analytics
Track customer interactions and completion rates
Monitor conversion data and product performance
Session tracking with detailed customer journey mapping
Export analytics data for further analysis
🎨 Flexible Display Options
Automatic widget display on category pages
"Find Alternative" buttons on product pages
Shortcode support for custom placement
Fully customizable frontend text and styling
⚙️ Advanced Configuration
Smart caching system to minimize API costs
Performance optimization with configurable cache duration
Database cleanup and maintenance tools
HPOS (High-Performance Order Storage) compatibility
🔒 Security & Privacy
Local data storage (GDPR compliant)
No customer data sent to external APIs
Secure API key management
WordPress nonce verification for all AJAX requests
Requirements
WordPress Environment
WordPress: 6.0.0 or higher
WooCommerce: 7.0.0 or higher
PHP: 8.0 or higher
MySQL: 5.6 or higher
External Services
OpenAI API Key: Required for AI functionality
Sign up at platform.openai.com
GPT-3.5-turbo model used for cost efficiency
Typical cost: $0.001-0.003 per question tree generation
Recommended
SSL Certificate: For secure API communications
Object Caching: Redis or Memcached for improved performance
CDN: For faster frontend script delivery
Installation
Method 1: Manual Installation
Download Plugin Files
Upload to WordPress
Activate Plugin
Navigate to WordPress Admin → Plugins
Find "ChoiceMate" and click "Activate"
Method 2: WordPress Admin Upload
Admin Upload
Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
Choose the plugin ZIP file
Click "Install Now" → "Activate"
Method 3: WP-CLI Installation
Verification
After installation, verify the plugin is active:
Check for "ChoiceMate" in the WordPress admin menu
Ensure WooCommerce dependency is met
Confirm PHP version compatibility
Quick Start Guide
Step 1: Basic Setup (2 minutes)
Access Plugin Settings
Configure OpenAI API Key
Configure Basic Options
Step 2: Create Your First Question Tree (3 minutes)
Navigate to Question Trees
Select Product Category
Choose a category with 10+ products for best results
Ensure products have descriptions and attributes
Categories with varied products work best
Generate AI Questions
Step 3: Test Frontend Implementation (1 minute)
Visit Category Page
Go to the WooCommerce category page you configured
Look for the ChoiceMate widget at the top of products
Test the Experience
Click "Get Started" to begin the question flow
Answer all questions to see recommendations
Verify product matches are relevant
Step 4: Monitor Performance
Check Analytics
Key Metrics to Monitor
Completion Rate: Aim for >60%
Conversion Rate: Track product page visits
Popular Answers: Optimize based on patterns
Configuration
General Settings
OpenAI Integration
Performance Optimization
AI Engine Settings
Dynamic Question Generation
The plugin includes advanced AI capabilities that analyze your actual product data:
Dynamic vs Static Criteria:
Dynamic (Recommended): AI analyzes your products and generates smart criteria like "Screen size (13-17 inch available)" for laptops
Static: Uses generic criteria for all categories
Display & Widget Settings
Automatic Display
Shortcode Options
For manual placement control:
Text Customization
All frontend text can be customized:
Usage
Creating Question Trees
Manual Creation
Category Selection
Choose WooCommerce categories with sufficient product diversity
Minimum 5 products recommended, 10+ ideal
Ensure products have descriptions and attributes
AI Generation Process
Question Types
Single Choice: Select one option (most common)
Multiple Choice: Select multiple options
Range: Numeric range selection (prices, sizes)
Automatic Generation
Enable automatic generation for new categories:
Widget Display
Automatic Display Behavior
The widget appears automatically when:
Category page is viewed
Category has an active question tree
Category contains in-stock products
Auto-display is enabled in settings
Manual Placement
Use shortcodes for precise control:
Customer Experience Flow
Widget Interaction
Question Progression
Product Recommendations
Analytics Tracking
API Integration
OpenAI API Integration
Request Structure
Response Processing
WordPress AJAX Integration
Frontend AJAX Calls
Backend AJAX Handlers
Database Integration
Question Trees Storage
Analytics Storage
Customization
Frontend Styling
CSS Customization
JavaScript Hooks
Backend Hooks & Filters
WordPress Hooks
Action Hooks
Theme Integration
Template Overrides
Create custom templates in your theme:
Hook Integration
Analytics
Analytics Dashboard
Access comprehensive analytics via:
Key Metrics
Engagement Metrics
Widget impression count
Start rate (impressions → starts)
Completion rate (starts → completions)
Average time to complete
Conversion Metrics
Recommendation clicks
Product page visits from recommendations
Purchase conversions
Revenue attributed to ChoiceMate
Question Performance
Most common answers per question
Questions causing abandonment
Answer distribution analysis
Question effectiveness scores
Product Performance
Most recommended products
Highest converting recommendations
Products never recommended (optimization opportunity)
Recommendation accuracy feedback
Data Export
Export Options
Custom Analytics Queries
Privacy & GDPR Compliance
Data Storage
All analytics data stored locally in WordPress database
No personal identifiable information sent to external services
Session IDs are anonymized and not linked to user accounts
Data retention settings configurable
GDPR Features
Troubleshooting
Common Issues & Solutions
1. Widget Not Displaying
Symptoms:
Widget doesn't appear on category pages
No ChoiceMate element visible
Diagnosis:
Solutions:
Create question tree for the category
Ensure category has in-stock products
Check auto-display settings are enabled
Verify theme compatibility with WooCommerce hooks
2. OpenAI API Errors
Common Error Messages:
Solutions:
3. Poor Question Quality
Symptoms:
Generic or irrelevant questions generated
Questions don't match product category
Too few or too many questions
Diagnosis:
Solutions:
Improve Product Data:
Add detailed product descriptions
Use WooCommerce attributes consistently
Ensure varied product selection in category
Customize AI Prompts:
4. Performance Issues
Symptoms:
Slow widget loading
High API costs
Server timeouts
Optimization Solutions:
5. JavaScript Errors
Common Console Errors:
Solutions:
Script Dependencies:
AJAX Configuration:
Debug Mode
Enable Debug Logging
Debug Information
API Reference
REST API Endpoints
Public Endpoints
Get Category Questions
Response:
Submit Answers & Get Recommendations
Response:
Admin Endpoints
Generate Question Tree
Test API Connection
Save Settings
PHP API Classes
Main Classes
Choicemate_Ai_OpenAI
Choicemate_Ai_Product_Matcher
Choicemate_Ai_Database
Helper Functions
Developer Guide
Plugin Architecture
File Structure
Core Classes
Main Plugin Class (Choicemate_Ai)
Loader System (Choicemate_Ai_Loader)
Custom Development
Creating Extensions
Plugin Extension Structure
Custom Question Types
Custom Analytics
Testing & Development
Unit Testing Setup
Development Environment
FAQ
General Questions
Q: What makes ChoiceMate different from other product recommendation plugins? A: ChoiceMate uses AI to automatically generate intelligent, category-specific questions by analyzing your actual product data. Instead of generic questionnaires, it creates contextual questions like "Screen size (13-17 inch available)" for laptops or "Activity level (Beginner/Intermediate/Professional)" for sports equipment.
Q: Do I need technical knowledge to use ChoiceMate? A: No technical knowledge required. The plugin works out-of-the-box with automatic question generation. Simply install, add your OpenAI API key, and the plugin handles the rest.
Q: How much does it cost to run ChoiceMate? A: The plugin itself is a one-time purchase. You'll need an OpenAI API key which typically costs $0.001-0.003 per question tree generation. Most small to medium stores spend less than $5/month on API costs.
Installation & Setup
Q: Can I use ChoiceMate without OpenAI? A: No, OpenAI is required for the AI question generation. However, you can manually create question trees and use the recommendation engine without ongoing API costs.
Q: Does ChoiceMate work with my theme? A: ChoiceMate is designed to work with any properly coded WordPress theme that supports WooCommerce. It uses standard WooCommerce hooks and provides shortcodes for manual placement if needed.
Q: What happens if I switch themes? A: Your question trees and analytics data remain intact. The widget display may need minor adjustment depending on your new theme's structure, but all functionality continues working.
Functionality
Q: How does the AI generate relevant questions? A: The AI analyzes your product catalog including prices, attributes, descriptions, and features. It then creates contextual questions that help differentiate between your actual products, ensuring relevant recommendations.
Q: Can customers skip questions? A: The current version requires all questions to be answered for accurate recommendations. This ensures the best possible product matches for your customers.
Q: How accurate are the recommendations? A: Recommendation accuracy depends on your product data quality. With detailed descriptions and attributes, accuracy typically ranges from 85-95%. The plugin learns and improves over time based on customer interactions.
Q: Can I customize the generated questions? A: Yes, after AI generation, you can edit, add, or remove questions and answer options. You have full control over the final questionnaire your customers see.
Performance & Analytics
Q: Will ChoiceMate slow down my website? A: ChoiceMate is optimized for performance with caching, lazy loading, and efficient database queries. The frontend React components load asynchronously and don't impact your site's core performance.
Q: What analytics data can I see? A: ChoiceMate tracks completion rates, popular answers, conversion rates, recommended products performance, and customer journey analytics. All data is stored locally and GDPR compliant.
Q: How do I interpret the analytics? A: Focus on completion rates (aim for >60%), conversion rates from recommendations, and popular answer patterns. Use this data to optimize your product catalog and question effectiveness.
Troubleshooting
Q: The widget isn't showing on my category pages. A: Check that: 1) The category has an active question tree, 2) The category contains in-stock products, 3) Auto-display is enabled in settings, 4) Your theme properly implements WooCommerce hooks.
Q: I'm getting "API key not configured" errors. A: Go to ChoiceMate → Settings and add your OpenAI API key. Get one from platform.openai.com/api-keys. Click "Test Connection" to verify it's working.
Q: The generated questions seem irrelevant. A: This usually happens when products lack detailed descriptions or attributes. Improve your product data with comprehensive descriptions, proper categorization, and WooCommerce attributes.
Q: Can I use ChoiceMate in multiple languages? A: ChoiceMate automatically detects Dutch and English. The AI generates questions in the appropriate language. Full multilingual support is planned for future versions.
Advanced Usage
Q: Can I integrate ChoiceMate with my existing recommendation system? A: Yes, ChoiceMate provides hooks and filters for custom integration. You can modify the recommendation algorithm, add custom scoring, or integrate with third-party systems.
Q: How do I backup my question trees? A: Question trees are stored in your WordPress database. Regular database backups will preserve all ChoiceMate data. You can also export specific question trees from the admin interface.
Q: Can I A/B test different question approaches? A: While built-in A/B testing isn't included, you can create multiple question trees for the same category and manually switch between them to test different approaches.
Q: Is there an API for developers? A: Yes, ChoiceMate provides REST API endpoints and WordPress hooks for custom development. See the Developer Guide section for complete API documentation.
Support
Getting Help
Documentation Resources
Installation Guide: Step-by-step setup instructions
Quick Start Guide: Get running in 5 minutes
Video Tutorials: Visual walkthroughs of key features
Developer Documentation: Technical integration guides
Community Support
WordPress Plugin Directory: Community reviews and basic support
GitHub Issues: Bug reports and feature requests
Community Forum: User discussions and tips
Priority Support
Email Support: Direct assistance from our team
Live Chat: Real-time help during business hours
Custom Development: Tailored solutions for enterprise needs
Contact Information
General Support
Email: info@velocityplugins.com
Response Time: 24-48 hours
Available: Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM CET
Technical Support
Email: technical@velocityplugins.com
For: API integration, custom development, advanced troubleshooting
Response Time: 12-24 hours for priority customers
Sales & Licensing
Email: sales@velocityplugins.com
For: Licensing questions, bulk purchases, enterprise features
Bug Reports & Feature Requests
Bug Reports
When reporting bugs, please include:
Feature Requests
Submit feature requests with:
Use Case: Why you need this feature
Description: What the feature should do
Priority: How important is this to your business
Alternatives: Current workarounds you're using
Frequently Requested Features
Planned Features (Roadmap)
Multi-language Support: Full i18n for all languages
Advanced Analytics: Conversion funnel analysis, cohort reports
A/B Testing: Built-in split testing for question approaches
Machine Learning: Improve recommendations based on customer behavior
Visual Question Builder: Drag-and-drop question creation interface
Integration APIs: Connect with CRM, email marketing, and analytics platforms
Under Consideration
Voice Interface: Audio questions and responses
Mobile App: Native mobile application for question management
White-label Solution: Rebrandable version for agencies
Advanced Pricing: Dynamic pricing based on answers
Community Contributions
Contributing to ChoiceMate
Code Contributions:
Fork the repository on GitHub
Create feature branches for new functionality
Follow WordPress coding standards
Include unit tests for new features
Submit pull requests for review
Translation Contributions:
Help translate ChoiceMate into your language
Join our translation team
Use standard WordPress translation tools (Poedit, GlotPress)
Documentation Contributions:
Improve existing documentation
Create tutorials and guides
Share use cases and success stories
Community Guidelines
Be Respectful: Treat all community members with respect
Stay On Topic: Keep discussions relevant to ChoiceMate
Share Knowledge: Help other users when possible
Provide Feedback: Help us improve the plugin
Version History & Updates
Current Version: 1.0.0
Release Date: January 2025
Features:
AI-powered question generation with OpenAI GPT-3.5-turbo
Smart dynamic criteria based on product analysis
React-based frontend widgets and modals
Comprehensive analytics and conversion tracking
WordPress admin interface with tabbed settings
Shortcode support for flexible placement
HPOS compatibility for WooCommerce
Multi-language support (Dutch/English)
Automatic Updates
Updates delivered through WordPress plugin system
Automatic security patches
Feature updates with backward compatibility
Database migration handling for schema changes
Support Lifecycle
Current Version: Full support and regular updates
Previous Version: Security updates only
Legacy Versions: Community support via forums
Thank you for choosing ChoiceMate! We're committed to helping you create exceptional shopping experiences for your customers.
For the latest updates and announcements, visit: https://velocityplugins.com/plugins/choicemate