Headless commerce is a modern approach to eCommerce architecture that involves decoupling the front-end presentation layer from the back-end functionality. This means that the user interface and the backend system are developed and managed independently. Simply put, the frontend is separated from the backend, allowing businesses to provide a more personalized and seamless shopping experience across multiple channels.
With headless commerce, businesses can easily integrate with different touchpoints, such as mobile apps, social media platforms, and IoT devices. A great example of this in action is our work with Magnanni, where we implemented a headless solution to enhance their digital storefront.
This article will explore the use cases of headless setups where modern technology benefits businesses. If you are interested in the detailed difference between headless and headful architectures, you may refer to the MACH article.
Understanding Headless Commerce
Although headless architecture can offer numerous advantages to businesses, it’s crucial to understand that it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. The main question is, “Will a merchant’s store be better/faster on a headless architecture now and in the future?”
An important factor in choosing an architecture is the cost of ownership. Compared with traditional monolithic setups (everything packed into one application), headless commerce requires more than one application. Specifically, at least two applications: one for the backend and another for the frontend. Increasing the system complexity results in the following side effects:
- Different Development Teams: Each application (backend, frontend, and any other applications) requires dedicated development teams, which can increase costs and coordination efforts.
- Complex Deployment Systems: Deploying multiple applications separately necessitates more complex deployment systems.
- Expensive Hosting Infrastructure: Managing separate applications demands a more complex and potentially more expensive hosting infrastructure.
If it seems like creating a headless store requires more effort compared to a traditional store, you’re correct. In most cases, merchants will need additional development resources to launch a new headless store. However, the investment is worthwhile if the merchant plans to grow their eCommerce business over time.
Advantages of Headless Commerce
As businesses seek more dynamic and responsive digital solutions, headless commerce stands out for its myriad benefits. This modern eCommerce architecture allows companies to leverage innovative strategies to enhance their online presence and customer interactions.
- Flexibility in Design: Headless commerce allows for creative and adaptive design strategies without backend constraints. This flexibility enables businesses to craft unique and engaging user interfaces tailored to their brand and customer needs.
- Improved User Experiences: By decoupling the frontend and backend, headless commerce enables personalized and seamless user experiences across multiple devices. This approach supports consistent, high-quality interactions, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Faster Go-to-Market Times: The separation of concerns between frontend and backend accelerates development and deployment processes. Teams can work independently on the frontend and backend, reducing bottlenecks and speeding up time-to-market for new features and updates.
- Scalability: Headless commerce supports business growth and market adaptation through its scalable architecture. Businesses can easily expand their infrastructure, integrate new technologies, and handle increased traffic without compromising performance.
Headless commerce offers significant advantages in flexibility, user experience, development speed, and scalability, making it an attractive option for modern eCommerce businesses.
Real-World Applications
Below are two examples demonstrating how the evolution of an eCommerce business can leverage the benefits of headless commerce at different stages.
Example #1
For a business with a single sales channel (an eCommerce store) and primarily first-time buyers, a headless setup might not provide immediate benefits. With no other application connected to the backend except the storefront, the API-first system’s advantages are minimal. Additionally, the complex JavaScript storefront implementations common in headless setups can slow down performance due to the caching mechanism. Regular users benefit from Single Page Applications (SPA) or Progressive Web Applications (PWA) once cached, but sporadic visitors might experience slower performance. If the business plans to maintain this level, headless system may not be the most cost-effective approach.
Read also: Magento PWA Plugins
Example #2
For a business with multiple sales channels and many returning customers, headless commerce can offer significant benefits. Seamless integration of various systems (POS, ERP, CRM) allows for transparent stock tracking and other connections. The API-first architecture enables independent deployment of applications, minimizing downtime. Returning customers benefit from pre-loaded storefront applications, resulting in significant performance improvements. This setup provides flexibility, allowing the merchant to change backend systems without affecting the entire infrastructure.
These examples represent two extremes. Determine where your business lies on this spectrum to assess the value of headless commerce for your store now and in the future.
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Talking more about the benefits of headless commerce, it’s worth mentioning that it gives you much more freedom. For example, if a merchant sees the storefront in his own way with a unique customer journey and non-trivial set of features – with headless, there are fewer limits a monolith system provides you out of the box. A merchant may build his own storefront application and switch to another one if necessary. If, over time, the merchant decides to develop a mobile application for the store, it’s much easier with a headless setup. Also, headless setups are more flexible in terms of scalability. It’s easier to extend the infrastructure if more hardware power is required to handle more happy customers.
So, in the long run, headless commerce provides you with much more flexibility in different scenarios. Before creating a brand-new store, it’s a good idea to create a plan for extending your store for the next couple of years.
There’s another “child” of headless commerce, which we may call PWA-commerce. PWA-commerce has headless architecture under the hood and provides additional benefits for business. But, once again, it’s important to understand the business cases where it’s the most efficient way to build your system. We are going to cover this part in consecutive articles.
Choosing a Headless Commerce Platform
When selecting a headless commerce platform, it’s essential to consider the features, flexibility, and costs involved. Here is a brief comparison of some popular headless commerce platforms available in the market:
1. Adobe Commerce (Magento)
Adobe Commerce, formerly known as Magento, offers a highly customizable headless commerce solution with strong integration capabilities. This platform is ideal for businesses seeking extensive customization and integration features to enhance their eCommerce operations.
Features:
- Comprehensive inventory management.
- Enhanced data visualization and analytics.
- Custom integrations through REST and SOAP APIs.
- Omnichannel support.
Pricing: Custom pricing upon request.
Best For: Businesses needing extensive customization and integration capabilities.
Learn More: Atwix Magento Services
2. Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus is a high-performing headless commerce platform known for its ease of use and scalability. It is ideal for medium to large-sized businesses.
Features:
- Developer-friendly with React-based framework (Hydrogen).
- Customizable themes, products, checkouts, and payments.
- REST and GraphQL APIs.
- Extensive app marketplace for additional functionalities.
Pricing: Starts at $2,000 per month.
Best For: Medium to large enterprises needing a reliable and scalable solution.
3. BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a flexible SaaS eCommerce platform that supports headless commerce through robust APIs and integrations.
Features:
- Open API architecture.
- Integrations with popular CMS platforms like WordPress.
- Supports multiple front-end frameworks (Next.js, Gatsby.js).
- Omnichannel marketing and extensive design capabilities.
Pricing: Starts at $29.95 per month, with custom pricing for enterprise plans.
Best For: Mid-sized to large enterprises with high-volume sales.
4. OroCommerce
OroCommerce is a flexible headless commerce platform designed for B2B eCommerce, offering a robust ecosystem for complex business needs.
Features:
- Centralized management of multiple platforms.
- In-built CRM with multi-channel support.
- Advanced segmentation and reporting tools.
- Customizable workflows and access controls.
Pricing: Community edition is free; Enterprise edition requires contacting sales for a quote.
Best For: B2B businesses with complex needs such as custom catalogs and pricing levels.
5. Commercetools
Commercetools is a headless commerce solution built on the MACH principles (Microservices-based, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless), offering a composable platform for digital experiences.
Features:
- High flexibility and scalability.
- Supports B2B and B2C business models.
- Integration with various front-end frameworks.
- Real-time data access and omnichannel support.
Pricing: Custom pricing upon request.
Best For: Businesses needing a flexible, scalable, and customizable headless commerce solution.
6. Elastic Path
Elastic Path is a headless commerce platform designed for delivering consistent digital shopping experiences across multiple touchpoints.
Features:
- Composable commerce solution.
- High API response rate.
- Integration with various business systems.
- Real-time analytics and reporting.
Pricing: Starts at $50,000 per year.
Best For: Enterprises requiring high flexibility and scalability.
7. Salesforce Commerce Cloud
Salesforce Commerce Cloud provides a unified platform for B2B and B2C commerce, leveraging cloud-based solutions for comprehensive customer experiences.
Features:
- AI-driven personalization.
- Real-time data access.
- Extensive integration capabilities.
- Robust security features.
Pricing: 1% of Gross Merchandise Value.
Best For: Businesses looking for a unified commerce platform with strong B2B and B2C support.
When choosing a headless commerce platform, it’s crucial to align the platform’s capabilities with your business needs and growth plans. Each platform offers unique features and pricing structures, so consider your specific requirements and budget when making a decision
The Bottom Line
If you’re unsure how and when to choose the proper workflow for going headless, feel free to contact Atwix for consulting. Our expertise spans both monolithic and headless architectures, and we specialize in headless Magento development. We can guide you through the complexities and help you implement the best CMS for ecommerce tailored to your business needs.
Ready to transform your eCommerce platform? Contact us today and let’s get started on building a seamless, scalable, and efficient headless commerce solution.
