Driven by the rapid growth of e-commerce and the increasing expectations of consumers, retailers have been rushing to adapt to new technologies and business models. Until recently, monolithic platforms were the go-to systems for retailers to get all their e-commerce functionally in one place.
Monolithic platforms are large, all-in-one solutions that handle every aspect of a retailer's online operations, from inventory management and order processing to customer service and marketing. While retailers once considered these platforms the gold standard for e-commerce, they can be hard to manage and inflexible, making it hard to keep pace with changes in the industry and customer expectations.
In comes composable commerce. Composable commerce is an e-commerce architecture that aims to break down rigid self-contained platforms into smaller, independent components. The concept emphasizes using flexible services, a modular architecture, and emerging technologies from different vendors to enable best-of-breed functionality and make it easier to update individual functions without interfering with other systems. This innovative approach supports retailers' and marketplaces' needs to quickly build new features and adapt to changing consumer demands.
What are the Benefits of Composable Commerce?
Increase Agility & Innovation
The modular nature of a composable commerce architecture allows businesses to add, remove, or modify e-store components as needed without overhauling their entire e-commerce platform. This agility enables retailers to stay ahead of the competition and swiftly respond to changing market conditions, customer needs, and technological advancements.
Enhance Customer Engagement
Composable commerce allows businesses to create highly customized e-commerce platforms where they can select the necessary components and integrate them in a way that makes sense for their unique business requirements. This level of customization empowers businesses to differentiate themselves in the market and provide more personalized buyer experiences that increase transactions, improve customer satisfaction, and promote retention.
Easily Scale
Cloud-native technologies facilitate handling high traffic volumes and sudden spikes in demand while keeping costs low. This scalability allows companies to grow their e-commerce operations without worrying about infrastructure limitations. Businesses can quickly scale their e-commerce platforms without investing in costly infrastructure.
Streamline Operations
Composable commerce enables businesses to build interoperable e-commerce platforms with technologies from various vendors. This interoperability allows enterprises to integrate their platforms with third-party applications, services, and APIs, which can help streamline operations and improve the overall customer experience.
Improve Conversions
The technologies that enable composable commerce make e-commerce sites faster. Faster page speeds lead to better performance against Google’s Core Web Vitals, higher search engine rankings, and improved user experience. The more discoverable a site is and the better the user experience, the more likely it is to lead to increased revenue.
Building Composable Commerce Solutions using MACH Architectures
Microservices
Microservices are a development architecture where an e-commerce application is built as an assemblage of small, independent services that communicate with each other through APIs. Each microservice is focused on performing a specific function, such as product catalog management, payment processing, or order fulfillment.
They are developed, deployed, and scaled independently of other microservices in the system. These microservices are designed to be stateless, meaning they don't store any session data, which allows them to be easily scaled up or down to meet demand. They are also highly resilient, with automatic failover and self-healing capabilities that ensure high availability and reliability.
API-first
API-first architecture refers to an approach where the Application Programming Interface (API) is the primary connection method between different system modules. This enables the various parts of the platform to communicate effectively and efficiently, allowing for more flexibility and customization in the platform's features and functions. API-first architecture focuses on creating a set of well-documented and well-structured APIs and is critical to building composable commerce platforms.
Cloud-native
Cloud-native architectures are an approach to building and deploying e-commerce applications optimized for cloud environments. This involves designing and developing applications to fully exploit cloud services and capabilities like elasticity, scalability, and resilience.
Cloud-native development also uses containerization, serverless computing, and data streaming services. For example, containers can package and deploy microservices, while serverless computing can automatically scale up or down the platform based on demand. Data streaming enables real-time communication between different parts of the platform.
Headless
In a headless e-commerce architecture, the frontend presentation layer can be developed using popular frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular. Businesses can create a custom user interface tailored to their needs and brand image. The backend e-commerce functionality, including product management, order processing, and payment processing, is handled by separate backend systems.
Composable Commerce vs. Headless Commerce
Composable and headless commerce are two approaches to building contemporary e-commerce applications that offer greater flexibility and agility to businesses. Headless commerce was the first evolution away from monolithic e-commerce platforms as retailers sought to overcome the challenges of updating content on their sites. While both methods aim to address the constraints of traditional, monolithic e-commerce platforms, they differ in a couple of ways.
Composable Commerce
Composable commerce refers to building an e-commerce platform by assembling independent, modular services that are combined and orchestrated to create a customized solution. These services may include product catalog management, checkout and payment processing, inventory management, and shipping and logistics. The advantage of a composable commerce approach is that it allows businesses to mix and match different services to create a tailored solution that meets their unique needs.
Headless Commerce
On the other hand, headless commerce refers to separating the front-end presentation layer from the back-end e-commerce functionality. With a headless architecture, businesses can use any front-end technology they prefer, such as a mobile app, a website, or a voice assistant, while leveraging the same underlying e-commerce capabilities. The main benefit of a headless commerce approach is that it allows businesses to innovate more quickly on the front end without worrying about the underlying e-commerce infrastructure.
Deciding between headless and composable commerce architecture relies on several factors, including a company's needs, technical proficiency, and financial constraints. Exploring a hybrid strategy that blends components from both architectures may be worthwhile, allowing for a tailored solution that satisfies specific business requirements.
Implementing Composable Commerce Solutions
Transitioning to a composable commerce architecture is a complex process that requires meticulous planning and execution to ensure a smooth transition. The first step is determining the overall site's business objectives and the architecture needed to meet those objectives. These goals include enhancing customer experience, boosting operational efficiency, improving speed to market, and generating new revenue streams.
After establishing your objectives, evaluating your current technology stack and identifying the areas for improvement is critical. This process involves scrutinizing your existing systems, processes, and data architecture.
To achieve the maximum benefit quickly and efficiently, retailers and brands should collaborate with experienced technology partners who can help guide them through the process and ensure the successful implementation of composable commerce solutions.