diff --git a/modules/video_master/routes.py b/modules/video_master/routes.py
index 26b7d76..dbefb98 100644
--- a/modules/video_master/routes.py
+++ b/modules/video_master/routes.py
@@ -51,43 +51,96 @@ def match_page():
 
 @video_master_bp.route('/api/search-campaign', methods=['POST'])
 def search_campaign():
-    """Search Box for a campaign folder and return preview info."""
+    """Kick off an async Box campaign search.
+
+    Box folder enumeration on a not-found campaign can take >30s, which
+    exceeds the upstream load balancer's response timeout and produces a
+    'stream timeout' 504 to the client. We run the search in a background
+    thread and return immediately with a session_id; the browser polls
+    /api/progress/<session_id> until the search is done, then fetches the
+    cached result via /api/search-campaign-result/<session_id>.
+    """
     try:
         data = request.get_json()
         campaign_name = data.get('campaign_name', '').strip()
 
         if not campaign_name:
-            return jsonify({'error': 'Campaign name is required'}), 400
+            return jsonify({'error': 'Campaign number is required'}), 400
 
         session_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
-        box_client = current_app.get_box_client()
-
-        from .campaign_matcher import CampaignMatcher
-        matcher = CampaignMatcher(
-            session_id=session_id,
-            box_client=box_client,
-            campaign_name=campaign_name
-        )
-
         campaigns_folder_id = current_app.config['BOX_CAMPAIGNS_FOLDER_ID']
-        result = matcher.search_campaign(campaigns_folder_id)
 
-        # Always include the searched location so the UI can show it on
-        # both success and failure (helps users self-diagnose missing campaigns).
-        result['campaigns_folder_id'] = campaigns_folder_id
-        result['searched_for'] = campaign_name
+        # Initialise the progress tracker immediately so the polling
+        # endpoint has something to return on the first call.
+        tracker = UnifiedProgressTracker(session_id)
+        tracker.update(5, f'Searching Box folder #{campaigns_folder_id} for "{campaign_name}"...')
 
-        if result.get('error'):
-            return jsonify(result), 404
+        app = current_app._get_current_object()
 
-        result['session_id'] = session_id
-        return jsonify(result)
+        def run_search():
+            from modules.reporting.result_cache import cache_set
+            with app.app_context():
+                bg_tracker = UnifiedProgressTracker(session_id)
+                try:
+                    box_client = app.get_box_client()
+                    from .campaign_matcher import CampaignMatcher
+                    matcher = CampaignMatcher(
+                        session_id=session_id,
+                        box_client=box_client,
+                        campaign_name=campaign_name
+                    )
+                    result = matcher.search_campaign(campaigns_folder_id)
+                    result['campaigns_folder_id'] = campaigns_folder_id
+                    result['searched_for'] = campaign_name
+
+                    if result.get('error'):
+                        # Cache the not-found shape so the UI can render the
+                        # diagnostic links in a uniform way.
+                        cache_set(f"vm_search_{session_id}", result, ttl=600)
+                        bg_tracker.fail(result['error'])
+                        return
+
+                    result['session_id'] = session_id
+                    cache_set(f"vm_search_{session_id}", result, ttl=600)
+                    bg_tracker.complete(f'Found campaign: {result.get("campaign_name", campaign_name)}')
+
+                except Exception as e:
+                    logger.error(f"Background campaign search error: {e}", exc_info=True)
+                    cache_set(f"vm_search_{session_id}", {
+                        'error': str(e),
+                        'campaigns_folder_id': campaigns_folder_id,
+                        'searched_for': campaign_name,
+                    }, ttl=600)
+                    bg_tracker.fail(f'Search failed: {e}')
+
+        thread = threading.Thread(target=run_search, daemon=True)
+        thread.start()
+
+        return jsonify({
+            'session_id': session_id,
+            'progress_url': f'/video-master/api/progress/{session_id}',
+            'result_url': f'/video-master/api/search-campaign-result/{session_id}',
+            'campaigns_folder_id': campaigns_folder_id,
+            'searched_for': campaign_name,
+        })
 
     except Exception as e:
-        logger.error(f"Campaign search error: {e}", exc_info=True)
+        logger.error(f"Campaign search start error: {e}", exc_info=True)
         return jsonify({'error': str(e)}), 500
 
 
+@video_master_bp.route('/api/search-campaign-result/<session_id>', methods=['GET'])
+def search_campaign_result(session_id):
+    """Return the cached result of an async Box campaign search."""
+    from modules.reporting.result_cache import cache_get
+    cached = cache_get(f"vm_search_{session_id}")
+    if cached is None:
+        return jsonify({'error': 'Result not yet available or expired'}), 404
+    if cached.get('error'):
+        return jsonify(cached), 404
+    return jsonify(cached)
+
+
 @video_master_bp.route('/api/start-match', methods=['POST'])
 def start_match():
     """Start the matching process in background."""
diff --git a/modules/video_master/templates/video_master/match.html b/modules/video_master/templates/video_master/match.html
index e267886..378ca89 100644
--- a/modules/video_master/templates/video_master/match.html
+++ b/modules/video_master/templates/video_master/match.html
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@
                 <div class="card-body">
                     <form id="searchForm">
                         <div class="mb-3">
-                            <label for="campaignName" class="form-label">Campaign Name</label>
+                            <label for="campaignName" class="form-label">Campaign Number</label>
                             <input type="text" class="form-control form-control-lg" id="campaignName"
-                                   placeholder="e.g. 1011A Spring SS2025" required autofocus>
+                                   placeholder="e.g. 1993857" required autofocus>
                             <div class="form-text">
-                                Enter the campaign folder name as it appears on Box.
+                                Enter the campaign number — folders on Box are named by the campaign number.
                                 {% if campaigns_folder_id %}
                                 Searches inside Box folder
                                 <a href="https://app.box.com/folder/{{ campaigns_folder_id }}" target="_blank">
@@ -124,6 +124,68 @@
     let campaignInfo = null;
     let sessionId = null;
 
+    function showSearchError(message, folderId, searchedFor) {
+        document.getElementById('errorMessage').textContent = message;
+        const detailEl = document.getElementById('errorDetail');
+        if (folderId && searchedFor) {
+            detailEl.innerHTML =
+                'Searched for <code>' + searchedFor + '</code> inside Box folder ' +
+                '<a href="https://app.box.com/folder/' + folderId + '" target="_blank">' +
+                '#' + folderId + '</a>. ' +
+                'Open the folder in Box to confirm the campaign exists and the name matches.';
+        } else {
+            detailEl.textContent = '';
+        }
+        document.getElementById('errorSection').style.display = 'block';
+    }
+
+    function resetSearchButton() {
+        const btn = document.getElementById('searchBtn');
+        btn.disabled = false;
+        document.getElementById('searchSpinner').style.display = 'none';
+        document.getElementById('searchBtnText').textContent = 'Search Campaign';
+    }
+
+    function setSearchButtonText(text) {
+        document.getElementById('searchBtnText').textContent = text;
+    }
+
+    async function pollSearchProgress(sid, folderId, searchedFor) {
+        const startedAt = Date.now();
+        const TIMEOUT_MS = 5 * 60 * 1000;  // give up after 5 min
+        while (Date.now() - startedAt < TIMEOUT_MS) {
+            await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 1500));
+            let progress;
+            try {
+                const resp = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/video-master/api/progress/${sid}`);
+                progress = await resp.json();
+            } catch (e) {
+                continue;  // transient — retry
+            }
+
+            if (progress.message) setSearchButtonText(progress.message);
+
+            if (progress.status === 'failed') {
+                resetSearchButton();
+                showSearchError(progress.message || 'Search failed', folderId, searchedFor);
+                return null;
+            }
+            if (progress.status === 'completed') {
+                const resultResp = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/video-master/api/search-campaign-result/${sid}`);
+                const result = await resultResp.json();
+                resetSearchButton();
+                if (result.error) {
+                    showSearchError(result.error, folderId, searchedFor);
+                    return null;
+                }
+                return result;
+            }
+        }
+        resetSearchButton();
+        showSearchError('Search timed out after 5 minutes', folderId, searchedFor);
+        return null;
+    }
+
     document.getElementById('searchForm').addEventListener('submit', async (e) => {
         e.preventDefault();
         const name = document.getElementById('campaignName').value.trim();
@@ -132,63 +194,55 @@
         const btn = document.getElementById('searchBtn');
         btn.disabled = true;
         document.getElementById('searchSpinner').style.display = 'inline-block';
-        document.getElementById('searchBtnText').textContent = 'Searching...';
+        setSearchButtonText('Starting search...');
         document.getElementById('errorSection').style.display = 'none';
         document.getElementById('previewSection').style.display = 'none';
 
+        let kickoff;
         try {
             const resp = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/video-master/api/search-campaign`, {
                 method: 'POST',
                 headers: {'Content-Type': 'application/json'},
                 body: JSON.stringify({campaign_name: name})
             });
-
-            const data = await resp.json();
-
-            if (data.error) {
-                document.getElementById('errorMessage').textContent = data.error;
-                const detailEl = document.getElementById('errorDetail');
-                if (data.campaigns_folder_id && data.searched_for) {
-                    detailEl.innerHTML =
-                        'Searched for <code>' + data.searched_for + '</code> inside Box folder ' +
-                        '<a href="https://app.box.com/folder/' + data.campaigns_folder_id + '" target="_blank">' +
-                        '#' + data.campaigns_folder_id + '</a>. ' +
-                        'Open the folder in Box to confirm the campaign exists and the name matches.';
-                } else {
-                    detailEl.textContent = '';
-                }
-                document.getElementById('errorSection').style.display = 'block';
+            kickoff = await resp.json();
+            if (kickoff.error || !kickoff.session_id) {
+                resetSearchButton();
+                showSearchError(kickoff.error || 'Failed to start search', null, null);
                 return;
             }
-
-            campaignInfo = data;
-            sessionId = data.session_id;
-
-            // Show preview
-            document.getElementById('campaignFoundName').textContent = data.campaign_name;
-            document.getElementById('mastersCount').textContent = data.masters_count;
-            document.getElementById('adaptationsCount').textContent = data.total_adaptations;
-
-            const countries = Object.keys(data.countries || {});
-            document.getElementById('countriesCount').textContent = countries.length;
-
-            const countriesHtml = countries.map(c => {
-                const count = data.countries[c].count;
-                return `<span class="badge bg-secondary country-badge">${c} (${count})</span>`;
-            }).join(' ');
-            document.getElementById('countriesList').innerHTML =
-                '<strong>Countries:</strong> ' + (countriesHtml || '<span class="text-muted">None found</span>');
-
-            document.getElementById('previewSection').style.display = 'block';
-
         } catch (err) {
-            document.getElementById('errorMessage').textContent = err.message;
-            document.getElementById('errorSection').style.display = 'block';
-        } finally {
-            btn.disabled = false;
-            document.getElementById('searchSpinner').style.display = 'none';
-            document.getElementById('searchBtnText').textContent = 'Search Campaign';
+            resetSearchButton();
+            showSearchError(err.message, null, null);
+            return;
         }
+
+        const data = await pollSearchProgress(
+            kickoff.session_id,
+            kickoff.campaigns_folder_id,
+            kickoff.searched_for
+        );
+        if (!data) return;
+
+        campaignInfo = data;
+        sessionId = data.session_id;
+
+        // Show preview
+        document.getElementById('campaignFoundName').textContent = data.campaign_name;
+        document.getElementById('mastersCount').textContent = data.masters_count;
+        document.getElementById('adaptationsCount').textContent = data.total_adaptations;
+
+        const countries = Object.keys(data.countries || {});
+        document.getElementById('countriesCount').textContent = countries.length;
+
+        const countriesHtml = countries.map(c => {
+            const count = data.countries[c].count;
+            return `<span class="badge bg-secondary country-badge">${c} (${count})</span>`;
+        }).join(' ');
+        document.getElementById('countriesList').innerHTML =
+            '<strong>Countries:</strong> ' + (countriesHtml || '<span class="text-muted">None found</span>');
+
+        document.getElementById('previewSection').style.display = 'block';
     });
 
     async function startMatching() {