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

    • GPT-3.5-turbo model used for cost efficiency

    • Typical cost: $0.001-0.003 per question tree generation

  • 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

  1. Download Plugin Files

  2. Upload to WordPress

  3. Activate Plugin

    • Navigate to WordPress Admin → Plugins

    • Find "ChoiceMate" and click "Activate"

Method 2: WordPress Admin Upload

  1. 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)

  1. Access Plugin Settings

  2. Configure OpenAI API Key

  3. Configure Basic Options

Step 2: Create Your First Question Tree (3 minutes)

  1. Navigate to Question Trees

  2. Select Product Category

    • Choose a category with 10+ products for best results

    • Ensure products have descriptions and attributes

    • Categories with varied products work best

  3. Generate AI Questions

Step 3: Test Frontend Implementation (1 minute)

  1. Visit Category Page

    • Go to the WooCommerce category page you configured

    • Look for the ChoiceMate widget at the top of products

  2. 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

  1. Check Analytics

  2. 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

  1. Category Selection

    • Choose WooCommerce categories with sufficient product diversity

    • Minimum 5 products recommended, 10+ ideal

    • Ensure products have descriptions and attributes

  2. AI Generation Process

  3. 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

  1. Widget Interaction

  2. Question Progression

  3. Product Recommendations

  4. 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

  1. Engagement Metrics

    • Widget impression count

    • Start rate (impressions → starts)

    • Completion rate (starts → completions)

    • Average time to complete

  2. Conversion Metrics

    • Recommendation clicks

    • Product page visits from recommendations

    • Purchase conversions

    • Revenue attributed to ChoiceMate

  3. Question Performance

    • Most common answers per question

    • Questions causing abandonment

    • Answer distribution analysis

    • Question effectiveness scores

  4. 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:

  1. Create question tree for the category

  2. Ensure category has in-stock products

  3. Check auto-display settings are enabled

  4. 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:

  1. Improve Product Data:

    • Add detailed product descriptions

    • Use WooCommerce attributes consistently

    • Ensure varied product selection in category

  2. Customize AI Prompts:

4. Performance Issues

Symptoms:

  • Slow widget loading

  • High API costs

  • Server timeouts

Optimization Solutions:

5. JavaScript Errors

Common Console Errors:

Solutions:

  1. Script Dependencies:

  2. 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