What is Composable? Understanding E-Commerce Architectures
As the commerce industry continues to evolve, so does the technology behind it. Terms like "monolithic," "headless," and "composable" are often used to describe different approaches to e-commerce platforms.
But what do these terms mean, and how can they impact your business?
In this article, we'll break down and compare BigCommerce’s definitions of these architectures and discuss which situations they are best suited for.
Monolithic Architecture: The Traditional Approach
In the traditional e-commerce model, platforms have been monolithic. Think of this as a tightly integrated system—a single entity, like a Rubik’s Cube, where all functionalities are built into one platform.
For instance, platforms like BigCommerce manage everything in a single platform, including:
Product catalogs
Orders and customer data
Taxes and payment processing
The storefront layer that customers interact with
This all-in-one solution is beneficial for retailers who are new to online selling. The simplicity of monolithic architecture makes it easy to manage, as you’re confined to a single platform’s capabilities. However, as businesses grow, they may find these platforms limiting, especially if they need more flexibility, customizability, or advanced features.
Headless Commerce: Decoupling the Frontend and Backend
As customer expectations evolve, so does the demand for a more flexible approach to e-commerce. This is where headless commerce comes in. In a headless model, the "head" (your storefront) is separated from backend systems (the headless backend).
With headless commerce, you can design a completely custom frontend experience using any technology of your choice. Meanwhile, you still rely on the robust backend services of platforms like BigCommerce. Typically, you’ll use an API or tools like GraphQL to connect the frontend and backend.
One common misconception is referring to the frontend as a “headless website.” To clarify, the frontend is the "head" connected to a "headless" system. This distinction helps in understanding the roles and interactions of each component in a headless architecture.
Multi-Channel Possibilities with Headless Commerce
One major advantage of headless commerce is the ability to have multiple presentation layers. This setup is particularly useful if you serve different types of customers or sales channels. For example, you might have:
A separate storefront for B2B and B2C customers
A Catalyst-based storefront, paired with a mobile iOS application for sales reps to place orders while on the go
This flexibility in presentation layers is a key reason why many growing e-commerce businesses are turning to headless commerce.
Composable Commerce: Assembling Best-of-Breed Solutions
Taking flexibility one step further, composable commerce allows businesses to build a fully customized e-commerce architecture using best-of-breed solutions. With composable commerce, you choose the best tools for each part of your platform.
For example:
Search functionality: Integrate Algolia for robust search capabilities.
Blog functionality: Use a headless CMS like Payload to streamline content management.
Composable commerce isn’t about quick fixes or immediate returns on investment. It’s a long-term strategy aimed at decoupling your business from reliance on a single platform, reducing business risks, and maximizing adaptability to new technologies.
The Benefits of a Composable Architecture
By adopting a composable architecture, you build a flexible, scalable ecosystem. If a component becomes too expensive or fails to meet your needs, you can replace that single component without needing a full replatforming. This “plug-and-play” flexibility is invaluable for businesses looking to keep up with rapid changes in e-commerce technology while managing costs and reducing risk.
What’s next?
After reading this article, you should have a fairly solid understanding of the differences between monolithic, headless and composable architectures. While monolithic platforms offer simplicity and ease of use, headless and composable architectures provide greater flexibility, customization, and adaptability.
Understanding the distinctions between monolithic, headless, and composable commerce is essential for any e-commerce business looking to grow and scale. For businesses considering a shift toward headless or composable commerce, it’s important to view these transitions as long-term investments where - despite requiring a bit more setup and resources initially – the benefits in scalability, customization, and future-proofing can pay dividends over time.
If you’re interested in Catalyst, our latest starter composable commerce, learn more here!