Price comparison platforms have emerged as indispensable navigators for modern shoppers. They do not merely show where items are cheapest; they provide comprehensive analysis, from technical specifications to price history.

E-Catalog stands out as a pioneer in the field, having helped consumers make informed choices for over two decades. Its founder, Anatolii Skrypniak, has journeyed from creating a simple product catalogue to developing a multifunctional platform capable of analysing thousands of parameters.

"Our aim is to revolutionise the online shopping process," says Skrypniak. Indeed, E-Catalog has evolved beyond a mere price aggregator. It's now an intelligent assistant, guiding users through every stage of the purchase decision-making process: from initial search to selecting a specific shop.

How does E-Catalog manage to compare merchandise across dozens of parameters? What tools does the service offer for the most convenient and effective selection? Let's delve into the details.

Highly detailed selection is E-Catalog's trump card. "We strive to consider every detail that might be important to the buyer," explains Skrypniak.

Take, for instance, choosing a monitor. Some might only care about screen size and resolution. But on E-Catalog, you can also filter models by panel type, refresh rate, HDR support, and even such details as a built-in headphone holder.

"Once, a professional photographer approached us needing a monitor with specific colour gamut and calibration. He was astonished to find these parameters in our filter system," Skrypniak recalls.

The detailed selection isn't limited to electronics. Choosing a guitar? E-Catalog allows you to specify the body shape and neck joint type. Looking for a washing machine? You can even set the door colour to differ from the body colour.

"We constantly update our selection parameters, keeping an eye on new technologies and product features," the service founder explains. "Moreover, many improvements have come from user feedback. We have a dedicated 'Questions and Suggestions' section where anyone can propose a new feature or filtering parameter."

This function proved particularly popular when E-Catalog entered the Polish market (e-katalog.pl). "Poland is a country with a rapidly growing economy. Polish consumers greatly value the ability to thoroughly compare product characteristics, juxtaposing multiple parameters," notes Skrypniak.

Detailed selection is just the beginning. When it comes to technically complex products, E-Catalog offers another powerful tool – the tabular comparison mode.

This tool presents all available modifications of a single model in a compact form. Users can immediately see key differences: processor, memory capacity, storage type. "We've made the differences stand out. In seconds, you can understand whether it's worth paying extra for a more powerful version or if the basic configuration will suffice," explains the E-Catalog founder.

Interestingly, this feature received an especially warm welcome from British users after E-Catalog launched in the UK. "The British appreciated the ability to quickly compare different configurations of a single model," Anatolii recounts. "In a country with a vast product selection and a developed online shopping culture, the ability to quickly navigate the nuances of different product versions proved crucial."

But what if you want to find similar products from different manufacturers, rather than just comparing modifications of one product? Moving to broader search capabilities, E-Catalog offers a tool that Anatolii Skrypniak calls "navigation through brand ecosystems" – searching by product series and lines.

"Manufacturers often create entire product families united by a common philosophy or design," Skrypniak explains. "We decided to use this logic to simplify the selection process for users."

Let's say you're eyeing an ASUS ROG Strix series graphics card. On E-Catalog, you can click through to other products in this gaming line with one click – from motherboards to monitors. "This is especially valuable for those wanting to build a fully coordinated system," the founder notes.

But the function extends far beyond computer hardware. Choosing bathroom fixtures? E-Catalog will help you select all elements from one series, maintaining a unified style. Furnishing a kitchen? The service will suggest appliances with matching designs.

"We're not limited to official series," Skrypniak adds. "Our algorithms can group products by similar parameters. For instance, if you like a motherboard with RGB lighting, we'll show all boards with the same feature, regardless of brand."

In the world of technology, it's crucial to ensure the chosen product is up-to-date. The E-Catalog team developed a selection function by release year which, according to Anatolii Skrypniak, "helps users stay on the cutting edge of technology."

"People often buy outdated devices simply because they once heard about them from friends or saw an advert," Skrypniak explains. "We've given our users a simple way to focus on the latest models."

The release year selection function is especially useful in categories where technology evolves rapidly. Take televisions, for example. "Every year, manufacturers offer new image processing technologies and improved Smart TV platforms. Sorting by release year allows you to immediately see models with the most modern features," E-Catalog's founder clarifies.

But Anatolii emphasises that this function isn't just a novelty filter. "We provide context. Next to the release year, users see the model's key features. This allows them to quickly understand whether the new version offers substantial improvements, or if last year's model is still relevant and could be a good purchase."

When E-Catalog entered the American market, this function required serious adaptation. "American consumers are very sensitive to novelties and technological trends," Skrypniak explains. "In a country where new gadget models often become topics of public discussion, the ability to quickly assess the advantages of new releases is crucial. We've refined our algorithm to account for the specifics of local marketplaces and the peculiarities of product launches in the US market, including release seasonality and major brands' marketing campaigns."

If you've selected your main device, E-Catalog offers another useful tool. "We noticed that after purchasing a main device, users often struggle to choose compatible accessories," the founder says. "This is especially true for devices with non-standard characteristics or rare models."

E-Catalog solves this problem simply: on any device's page, there's a tab with suitable accessories. Chosen a motherboard? The service immediately suggests compatible processors, memory modules, and graphics cards. Looking at a camera? Here's a list of suitable lenses, flashes, and tripods.

"This function is particularly useful when assembling a computer," Skrypniak notes. "Instead of spending hours studying component compatibility, users get a ready-made list of suitable parts. This saves a lot of time and reduces the risk of mistakes when choosing."

But Anatolii emphasises that this function's application is much broader: "We use it everywhere, from smartphones to home appliances. For example, if you've chosen a robot vacuum cleaner, we'll show suitable filters, brushes, and even cleaning products."

Even with such an impressive set of functions, E-Catalog continues to improve. In addition to its main tools, E-Catalog offers a range of additional features which, according to Anatolii Skrypniak, "transform the product selection process into a truly comfortable experience."

"We understand that ease of use is just as important as functionality," the founder explains. One example of this approach is the dark version of the site, available in both desktop and mobile versions.

"Many of our users spend considerable time on the site comparing different models. The dark theme reduces eye strain, especially when using the service in the evening," Skrypniak explains. He notes that after introducing this option, the time users spend on the site noticeably increased.

E-Catalog also focuses on developing its mobile version. A function for synchronising search history between devices has been developed.

"Now you can start choosing a laptop on the tube on your way to work, and continue from the same place on your home computer in the evening," Skrypniak explains. "All your search queries, selected models, and comparisons are saved in your personal account."

Another innovation is "smart reminders" about price drops. "We analyse user behaviour and if we see that someone is interested in a certain product but isn't rushing to buy, we offer to set up a price drop notification," the founder explains.

"Each of these functions might seem like a small improvement," Skrypniak summarises. "But together, they create a unique user experience that sets E-Catalog apart from other platforms."

"Ultimately," the E-Katalog founder concludes, "our mission remains unchanged: to make the process of choosing and buying as simple and enjoyable as possible for anyone. Sometimes I think about how much the process of selecting products has changed over the years. We started with laptops and smartphones, simply displaying their prices from different stores, and now we cover all essential products, using behavioural models and advanced algorithms to provide personalised recommendations. But the essence remains the same – to help people find exactly what they need. And as long as this need exists, E-Katalog will keep evolving and improving."