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A leading market analyst Gartner, introduced the term “composable commerce” and indicated that this modular system would revolutionize the construction of technology systems. Over time, composability has developed into a flexible, cloud-native, and technology-agnostic ecosystem. This evolution allows companies to be more agile and view constant change as an opportunity.

Composable commerce is an innovative framework for ecommerce brands to customize their own components for a seamless customer experience, driving enhanced customer interactions, cost-effectiveness, and profitability.

In this guide, we’re going to learn how composable commerce works, its core principles, steps to implement it, and some important factors to consider before switching to composable commerce.

The Shift from Monolithic Systems to Composable Commerce in Ecommerce Platforms

In contrast to the previously popular traditional ecommerce platforms with a monolithic system, the composable commerce architecture accommodates smaller applications assembled through APIs.

This headless system provides the liberty to select flexible, best-of-breed technologies and microservices for organizations that align with their business objectives. 

As the platforms have a modular approach, organizations can specifically and independently address any non-functional component without compromising any other microservice or component.

Steps to Implement Composable Commerce 

It is crucial to implement a composable approach to realize its potential and achieve your business objectives. The following are seven stages that will guarantee the seamless implementation of a composable system across different channels.

Step 1: Assessing Business Needs and Goals

• Clearly define the transformational business goals to optimize your company’s growth and profitability. 
• Consider carefully the reasons behind your need to implement headless commerce development
• Strategically identify your requirements to suit your technology-oriented modifications and promote your business to achieve holistic capabilities.

Step 2: Choosing the Right Technology Stack

Every business is unique and requires a set of tools and services to suit its objectives.

These frameworks and tools ensure the advancement of user interfaces or manage the integration process to improve data management. It is critical to analyze and implement the ideal tech stack suited to your future developments.

If your business goal is scalability, opt for tech stacks such as Python and Nodejs for vertical scaling, and if you want to scale up horizontally, React Native is a good fit.

To maximize the output of a composable system, customize your ecommerce-specific needs by combining the best-in-breed modern technologies.

Step 3: Designing a Modular Architecture

A composable system guarantees that businesses can ideally transition between the best components without impeding the overall application due to its omnichannel attributes. 

Businesses should establish an agile architecture that facilitates business expansion without impediments to scaling up by defining each function and the appropriate microservices.

Tip: We recommend this agility to achieve greater success in the new paradigm by ensuring diversity through various new technologies for continuous innovation and refinement.

Step 5: Implementing APIs and Microservices

1. Define each microservice and assign boundaries such as domain-driven design (DDD) or the single responsibility principle (SRP).

2. Ensure smooth communication across microservices and select the API that performs the best.

3.  First and foremost, APIs should be consistent in their design and must seamlessly integrate functionalities.

4. We must develop each microservice independently to allow for separate scaling.

5. A composable commerce Ecommerce performance load test is an essential part of your testing strategy. To determine its flexibility and efficiency, assess its performance during peak loading.

6.  Every service must have an independent code to ensure seamless data management.

7.  Orchestrate data models and define the route for API endpoints.

8.      Monitor and track the microservices and APIs for performance upgrades.

Tip: We recommend businesses, especially online retailers, to adopt a combination of innovative approaches, design, deployment, development, and monitoring to implement APIs and microservices, achieve the best output, create an architecture suited to their business needs, and boost overall productivity.

Step 6: Integrating with Third-Party Services

1. After understanding your business requirements, identify the functionalities for which you require third-party services.

2. Choose third-party services that enhance inventory management, payment gateways, customer support, and their cost-effective and scalable characteristics.

3. Authorise the third-party services, familiarise yourself with their documentation, and analyze their services thoroughly.

4. It is crucial to incorporate middleware to ensure data integrity and prevent any instances of data mismanagement.

5. An excessive number of third-party integrations can impact the efficacy of your application infrastructure. 

6. Organize the integrations according to a predetermined set of functions to prevent transient errors and confusion.

7. Select API-first approach protocols such as REST (representational state transfer), SOAP (simple object access protocol), and RPC (remote procedural call) to regulate data exchanges and guarantee robust security measures.

8. Create a third-party integration testing practice, and test the integrations to ensure their functionality and suitability for your current applications.

 9. Effectively implement third-party services to create a robust, composable architecture.

Step 7: Testing and Quality Assurance 

1. Develop a customized testing strategy that encompasses criteria and evaluates the cost efficiency, scalability, modularity, and greater flexibility of the composable commerce approach system you plan to implement.

2. For individual software components to function optimally in isolation, QA should integrate integrity tests to ensure seamless communication between the best components and APIs.

3. Test automation is essential when assessing a headless architecture system to ensure consistency and assess the pace at which constant changes can be integrated. Jenkins or Github can effortlessly run automation tests to set the consistency of your composable commerce platform.

4. To evaluate transparency and common vulnerabilities, integrate security testing into your testing strategy. Zap and the Burp Suite are essential tools for assessing any security vulnerability bottleneck.

5. A composable commerce performance load test is an essential part of your testing strategy. To determine its flexibility and efficiency, assess its performance during peak loading.

6. Conduct an end-to-end test on decoupling, the most sought-after attribute of the composable commerce approach. Test the entire front-end presentation layer and back-end to identify any discrepancies in the user journey.

7. Maintain standard operating procedures for a fully functional composable commerce system by regularly documenting and monitoring the test strategy for timely detection of any discrepancies.

8. One should prioritize the quality assurance aspect when implementing this increasingly important approach, which will change ecommerce growth and profitability.

Recommended Read: Migrate to Composable Commerce 

8 Core Principles of Composable Commerce 

Here are the core principles that make composable commerce platforms a digital commerce breakthrough.

1. Modularity

• Composable commerce leverages a modular approach by deconstructing different components into microservices and providing a customized single solution for each component.
• It isolates specific challenges for specific functions without disrupting other completely functional components of ecommerce systems.
• It enables online retailers and enterprises to exercise control over their technology infrastructure. 
• This pick-and-choose function is an exceptionally cost-effective and tailored solution that poses minimal risk factors and facilitates the seamless addition of any new features.

2. Flexibility

• Organizations can modify or replace any component in a composable commerce architecture without affecting or impeding the functionality of other components because of their decoupled nature.
• This navigation allows online retailers to easily adapt to the most recent market trends, satisfy customer needs, and actively access all aspects of their business. 
• Mobile apps, trending in scaling up businesses, are an apt example of technological advancement that caters to customers’ personalized and high expectations.
• The composable commerce platform, a cloud-native software architecture, is extremely agile in reconfiguring ecommerce platforms to adapt to market changes and consumer demands while catering to customers’ unique needs in real time, hence giving brands a competitive advantage.

3. Scalability 

• Businesses can scale because of the flexible nature of a composable approach, which allows for prompt implementation of customer-recommended changes and new features.
• This results in immediate customer delight and satisfaction because it provides customers with a more personalized ecommerce experience.
• In the case of a selected malfunctioning software component, the other microservices stay unaffected and the business remains unharmed, making this feature cost-effective along with performance optimization.
• Monolithic frameworks are associated with hefty operational costs, whereas composable software architecture is agile and, with its interconnected framework, can make tailor-made constant changes that suit the end consumer.

According to LinkedIn, the ecommerce market size is set to record a CAGR of nearly 14.8% over the period from 2022 to 2028; hence, scalability is critical for optimum growth for ecommerce businesses.

4. Interoperability

• This cloud-native framework ensures seamless integration and connections with third-party services, enabling brands to optimize their performance by achieving a unified view of every business operation. 
• This interoperability attribute enables dynamic ecommerce solutions that assist in creating stunning digital experiences for end-users.

5. Business centricity:

• It assists businesses in the strategic planning of their entire system and digital commerce functionality to facilitate the development of optimal consumer interactions, the implementation of new features, incredible ecommerce experiences, and innovative business models. 
• It promotes the development of customized solutions and the right tools that align with real-time business needs, reducing IT dependence.

6. Customer loyalty

• It creates an engaging shopping experience for end consumers, and composable commerce platforms are sacrosanct to customer loyalty as they adhere to the customer journey. 
• Mobile apps have conveniently catered to customer expectations by providing personalized digital experiences.

7. Best-of-breed technologies stack 

• The assembly or unification of specialized tools, the composable approach, is a boon for profitability and customer satisfaction because it maximizes each software component’s performance, resulting in better business strategies and transformations.

8. Broad ecosystem

• Composable commerce encompasses different vendors and partners, providing organizations with a wide range of services to choose from. 
• This reduces dependency on a single vendor and gives businesses greater flexibility to choose specific components suited to their business goals.

Read Also: Benefits of Composable Commerce

How Composable Commerce Differs from Traditional Ecommerce Platforms

Traditional commerce legacy systems have a one-size-fits-all approach based on a single monolithic infrastructure, unifying the front-end and back-end with a single codebase that requires reprogramming the entire application for any changes.

The composable approach uses a headless system that decouples the front and back ends, promoting a modular structure. This API-driven method allows businesses to choose specific tools for specific functions, integrate best-of-breed vendors, and make real-time changes to individual components without affecting the entire application.

Attributes	Traditional Ecommerce	Composable Commerce
Cloud Maximisation	A cloud-based service that relies heavily on on-premises data storage.	Leading cloud service providers seamlessly integrate it as a cloud-native.
Infrastructure	Monolithic infrastructure with a single code base	API-driven interaction and microservice-based infrastructure.
Customization	Limited customization is a result of a single code structure and predefined experience.	It is extremely flexible, allowing endless possibilities for customization.
Control	Centralized management, results in less control.	Omnichannel management, resulting in more control.
Customer Experience	The time to market is relatively slow, deterring customer satisfaction.	A faster time-to-market enhances the customer experience.
Vendor Lock-in	Vendor lock-in reliability is high.	There is no dependence on any one single vendor.
Cost and Maintenance	High maintenance due to limited flexibility results in higher costs.	The high degree of greater flexibility leads to low maintenance, which in turn reduces costs.

3 Examples from the Real World to Demonstrate the Successful Adoption of Composable Commerce.

Here is a sneak peek at real-world examples of top-notch brands that accelerated profitability by embracing a composable approach. 

1. Miko

Miko, faced with global expansion challenges and the need for an efficient front-end, adopted Alokai with Shopify to restructure child education by personalizing and globalizing the experience through the solidarity of a composable ecommerce architecture.

2. Nike

To improve customer interactions, Nike implemented a composable system to provide exceptional experiences tailored to customer demands across its apps and websites, resulting in increased sales worldwide.

3. Pella

Pella is another example of successful composable commerce adoption. By strategically opting for a modular structure, Pella, a window industry leader, revolutionized the shopping journey of its consumers and transformed its innovation game.

While the list of real-world examples of online retailers that have transformed their business modules and online stores by moving away from traditional commerce platforms, implementing composable commerce solutions, and creating impressive digital experiences is limitless, the following are 13 additional companies whose success stories can provide additional insight into business transformations.

Role of MACH architecture in composable commerce

• Microservices, API-first, cloud-native, and headless technologies (MACH) are critical to the success of adopting headless commerce. 
• It is a component-based solution design approach capable of deploying the most recent features, separating business functions, and generating exceptional customer experiences.
• It is a cost-effective tool suitable for all types of ecommerce businesses because it has a cloud-native MACH architecture. 
• It creates omnichannel experiences, providing a modern approach to ecommerce solutions across all user interfaces, unlike the one-size-fits-all legacy systems.
• Unlike single codes, the MACH architecture integrates multiple isolated codes for specific functions.
• APIs are essential connectors that facilitate the seamless integration of new products and services. An API-first approach ensures decoupling the front end and back end, which disables any dependability on a specific vendor.
• With a faster and heavier load time, MACH architecture helps brands adopt new strategies faster, ensuring a delightful and innovative customer experience that caters to customer demands throughout their end-to-end journey.
• The Mach alliance and its certified MACH ambassadors provide ecommerce organizations with the necessary technical expertise and support to manage their business operations. 
• It is an advisory company that certifies those who play a pivotal role in adopting best MACH practices for continuously developing the digital landscape.

Also Read: Composable Commerce vs Headless Commerce 

Shifting from Monolithic to Microservices for Better Ecommerce Performance and Growth with Klizer

When innovation, profitability, advanced customer interactions, growth, cost-effectiveness, and adding a competitive edge are your priorities to upscale your ecommerce game and provide an exceptional online store experience, the transition from monolithic to microservices is mandatory.

At Klizer, we assist you in thoroughly understanding your business requirements and selecting top-tier ecommerce best-of-breed solutions to integrate into your systems. 

This approach eliminates vendor lock-in issues and incorporates onboarding best-of-breed vendors, which enhances time management, allowing you to focus on productivity and innovation, ultimately providing your users with a delightful end-to-end consumer entire journey.

FAQ

What are packaged business capabilities?

• PBCs, or packaged business capabilities, are a collection of microservices that enhance the functionality of each microservice by simplifying the overall functions and enabling limitless customization. 
• You can combine them with other PBCs to improve interface functionality, reduce interactions, and accelerate your time-to-market strategy.
• Both minor and major ecommerce platforms can employ these highly adaptable PBCs. It encompasses various technologies such as data models, business logic, and user interfaces that facilitate innovation and scalability, thereby contributing to the overall expansion of any e-commerce business.
• Both PBCs and microservices are similar but not identical. Microservices are micro, whereas PBCs are macro. 
• Microservices are used for specific business functions, whereas PBCs are used for microservices, data models, and user interfaces. Similar to microservices, every PBC can also deploy the latest features independently.

What is the content management system and what are its examples? 

A content management system is an organized way to create, publish, and manage web content effectively. It is a browser-based interface that provides excellent accessibility for any user, technical or not, as it does not require programming to run its show.

Its collaborative feature gives access to admins, editors, and other users to schedule and manage content flexibly in real time, enabling dynamic content creation and optimization.

Since non-technical editors can easily change and incorporate the design, CMSs do not heavily rely on front-end development teams. CMS social media integration simplifies content publishing on a variety of social media platforms, allowing for innovative customer experiences.

To facilitate convenient formatting and personalized digital experiences, CMSs offer drop-and-drag tools and plugins, as well as customizable templates, resulting in lower costs.

 Popular CMSs are:

• WordPress
• Wix
• Magento
• Shopify
• Squarespace
• BigCommerce 

What is the difference between composable and modular?

Modular components are a composable commerce solution. Every web application possesses unique features, such as a shopping cart, a product catalog, or a payment page. The seamless integration of these individual components ensures a wonderful user experience.

This is where modularity, or modular commerce, plays a unique role in composable solutions. Modular components are self-contained units that are reusable, function independently, and ensure no or minimal impact on other individual components.

Composability is the amalgamation of various components that combine these microservices to create unique, specific functions to fulfill specific business needs.

Both function as design principles with subtle differences. While modularity sustains maintenance and reusability, composability ensures flexibility and scalability.

What are the core capabilities of an ecommerce platform? 

Ecommerce platforms are a content management system solution that smooths the buying and selling process online for seamless ecommerce operations. 

It is a boon for both online retailers and customers. The ecommerce architecture, which includes product management, shopping carts, order management, payment processing, mobile app interactions, shipping, and other parameters of a dynamic online store, is an enabler that allows seamless buyer-seller interactions.

It is revolutionary in terms of secured inventory management, catalog management, streamlined check-out processes, and customer management. Global brands use this powerful ecommerce system for an enhanced digital commerce experience.

What are the advantages of using a composable commerce platform?

Any digital business that demands multi-vendor associations will significantly benefit from the implementation of the composable commerce platform due to its innovation and upgrade strategy. 

While composable commerce has many advantages, it is transitional in terms of overcoming ecommerce obstacles and eliminating a single vendor lock-in issue, as well as being extremely agile in adapting to the latest feature updates.

How does composable commerce differ from monolithic architecture?

Unlike monolithic platforms, where all features and services are bundled into one system, composable commerce allows businesses to select best-of-breed components. It’s more flexible than a traditional monolithic architecture because you can integrate pre-built solutions or SaaS tools, rather than relying on one rigid platform.

What are the advantages of a pre-built solution in composable commerce?

Pre-built solutions in composable commerce save time and effort by offering ready-made components such as checkout systems, CRM integrations, and pricing modules. These can be plugged in without the need for custom development, making the process more time-consuming than building everything from scratch but highly efficient overall.