How Rules influence Widgets, Smart Content and Smart Bundles
How global rules shape different personalisation systems inside Liva 7
Overview
Widgets, Smart Content and Smart Bundles all rely on the same global rules. Exclusions remove items, pinning elevates items and fallback fills gaps when the eligible pool is too small. However, each system uses these rules differently because each has a different job.
This article explains:
- how rules apply consistently across all systems
- how each system interprets eligibility
- how fallback behaves differently
- how ranking and relevance vary by system
- how rules shape layout, content and bundle structure
One rule engine, three different behaviours.
How rules influence widgets
Widgets use rules to determine which products they are allowed to display. Exclusions remove items entirely, pinning elevates items and fallback fills gaps when the widget cannot meet its minimum recommendation count.
Widgets rely heavily on:
- page context
- behavioural signals
- fallback behaviour
- ranking strategies
Widgets are the most flexible system and adapt quickly to shopper behaviour.
Widgets use rules to shape eligibility and maintain layout completeness.
How rules influence Smart Content
Smart Content uses rules to control which products can appear inside dynamic content blocks. Unlike widgets, Smart Content blends product recommendations with messaging, so rules influence not only product eligibility but also the stability of the content block.
Smart Content relies on:
- exclusions to protect messaging accuracy
- pinning to support curated content
- fallback to keep product lists complete
- context to ensure relevance
Smart Content is more structured than widgets because it must maintain the integrity of the message it supports.
Smart Content uses rules to protect both product eligibility and message consistency.
How rules influence Smart Bundles
Smart Bundles use rules in a more constrained way because bundles require specific product relationships. Exclusions can remove essential bundle components, pinning can elevate bundle items and fallback is used sparingly to maintain bundle structure.
Bundles rely on:
- strict product relationships
- compatibility logic
- category boundaries
- fallback only when necessary
Bundles are the most rule sensitive system because removing a single product can break the bundle structure.
Bundles use rules carefully to maintain structural integrity.
How exclusions behave across all three systems
Exclusions behave consistently across widgets, Smart Content and Smart Bundles. If a product or collection is excluded, it is removed from the eligible pool for all systems.
However, the impact differs:
- Widgets simply skip the item
- Smart Content may need fallback to maintain list length
- Bundles may need to rebuild or replace components
Exclusions always apply globally, but their impact varies by system.
How pinning behaves across all three systems
Pinning elevates products across all systems, but each system uses pinning differently.
- Widgets surface pinned items early when eligible
- Smart Content uses pinned items to support curated messaging
- Bundles use pinned items only when they fit the bundle structure
Pinning never forces an item into a system where it does not belong.
Pinning elevates items, but each system decides how to use them.
How fallback behaves across all three systems
Fallback fills gaps when the eligible pool is too small, but fallback behaviour varies significantly.
- Widgets use fallback frequently to maintain layout
- Smart Content uses fallback to keep product lists complete
- Bundles use fallback sparingly because structure matters more than quantity
Fallback never overrides exclusions or forces pinned items to appear.
Fallback fills gaps, but each system uses it differently.
How ranking and relevance differ across systems
Ranking logic is shared, but each system applies it differently.
- Widgets rely heavily on behavioural signals
- Smart Content blends ranking with content intent
- Bundles prioritise compatibility over behavioural strength
This ensures each system remains true to its purpose.
Ranking adapts to the purpose of each system.
How rules influence multi system setups
When widgets, Smart Content and Smart Bundles appear together on the same page, they all use the same rule engine but apply it independently.
This means:
- exclusions apply everywhere
- pinned items may appear in multiple systems
- fallback may activate differently in each system
- ranking varies by system purpose
This creates a consistent but varied experience.
All systems share rules but interpret them independently.
How rules support long term consistency across systems
Rules ensure that all personalisation systems remain aligned with your merchandising strategy. They prevent unwanted items from appearing, stabilise visibility and ensure that each system behaves predictably even as shopper behaviour evolves.
Rules support long term consistency by:
- enforcing global boundaries
- maintaining curated visibility
- protecting content integrity
- stabilising bundle structure
Rules keep all systems aligned with your long term strategy.
