You might have heard about headless ecommerce, an ecommerce architecture that is alternative to the traditional monolithic ecommerce.
The new kid of the ecommerce block, at least in terms of buzzwords, is the composable ecommerce.
So what is it, and how is it different from ecommerce the way we know it?
Let's start from the beginning.
What is "composable ecommerce"?
Composable e commerce refers to an ecommerce platform which delegates some of its functionalities to other off the shelf solutions or components.
If you are a Magento / Adobe Commerce merchant, it is very likely that you are already practicing some form of "composability". The moment you choose a checkout module, or implement a PIM solution, you are adding components to your ecommerce.
Typically, components are larger SaaS solutions where the vendors guarantee the solution maintenance. Looking at the literature out on the net today, there is some debate if microservices, i.e. bespoke software that has been created specifically for one ecommerce, should be considered a component of composable ecommerce.
What are the benefits of a composable ecommerce?
One of the main advantages of composable ecommerce is UX customization.
For example: to be able to offer a specific payment portal in specific countries, or to swap search engines, is a huge advantage and users will appreciate being able to pay the way they want/find products quickly.
Another benefit of composable commerce is performance.
For example: using an AI driven cached search service will lighten the job for the ecommerce core performance. Processing search results will be faster, possibly more useful results in a way that would not be possible by using the default ecommerce search engine accurately.
Additionally, leveraging third parties to manage different aspects of your ecommerce operations and functionalities, reduces the cost of migrating platforms.
For example: storing all the product information within a PIM solution instead of within the ecommerce CMS, reduces the chances of ending up boxed into a specific ecommerce platform.
What are the disadvantages of a composable ecommerce?
A possible side effect of composable ecommerce is complexity of use.
For example: dividing your operations among a range of different platforms, and possibly enabling microservices, you and your team will need to learn to use a wider range of tools. Onboarding new hires will take longer.
Another side effect might be cost.
For example: off the shelf solutions might charge an increasing amount of fees, while bespoke microservices will require additional maintenance.
Is Magento / Adobe Commerce a composable commerce?
Magento is an extremely flexible platform, with many vendors offering out-of-the-box headless front end solutions. And Magento works very well with a wider composable ecommerce architecture. With an ecosystem of certified Adobe Commerce solution providers, an official marketplace, and a solid community revolving around its open source code base, Magento allows merchants to start small, but then to grow and develop their systems modularly.
Can Pixie Media help me with my composable ecommerce project?
Yes, we can help you. With a team of experienced developers and a cross-vertical experience of B2B and B2C clients of different sizes, we will be happy to discuss your requirements.
Just call us, or drop us an email.