Composable Commerce: what is it? A comprehensive guide

What Is Composable Commerce?

Composable Commerce is a modular and flexible approach to building eCommerce solutions, allowing businesses to create a customized ecosystem by integrating various specialized software components. At its core, Composable Commerce offers choice and adaptability.

The Importance of Composable Commerce

Innovation in eCommerce is essential for staying competitive, but outdated systems and rigid platforms can hold businesses back. Composable Commerce changes this by enabling a more dynamic way to manage online sales.

Why Is Composable Commerce Needed?

Traditional, all-in-one eCommerce platforms, while comprehensive, often lack flexibility. They’re usually difficult to tailor to specific business needs and challenging to update. As a result, many merchants are moving away from these monolithic systems in search of more scalable and adaptable solutions. This shift is driving the adoption of Composable Commerce.

Global Adoption of Composable Commerce

As more merchants recognize the need to move beyond legacy systems, modular and flexible solutions are becoming increasingly important. Changing consumer behaviors, sustainability demands, and global trends like the “Amazon effect” are pushing businesses toward Composable Commerce. Organizations like the MACH Alliance are helping to lead this transition by promoting the benefits of interoperability and flexibility.

Understanding Composable Commerce

Composable Commerce involves building eCommerce solutions using multiple specialized components rather than relying on a single, do-it-all platform. This approach offers greater flexibility, scalability, and adaptability, allowing businesses to evolve as market demands change.

The Role of MACH Technology

Composable Commerce is powered by MACH technology, which stands for Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless. These principles ensure that components within a Composable Commerce ecosystem work seamlessly together.

• ‍Microservices: Breaking down applications into smaller, independent processes for easier updates and scalability.
• ‍API-first: Designing systems with integration in mind, enabling smooth communication between components.
• ‍Cloud-native: Optimizing applications for cloud environments to reduce costs and improve performance.‍
• Headless: Decoupling the front-end from the back-end, allowing businesses to customize the user interface without affecting the underlying system.

MACH vs. Composable Commerce

While MACH principles make Composable Commerce possible, they are not the same thing. MACH is the “how,” providing the technical framework, while Composable Commerce is the “what,” offering the flexibility and choice businesses need.

Components of Composable Commerce

In a Composable Commerce ecosystem, various specialized components work together to create a comprehensive eCommerce solution. There is no one-size-fits-all setup, but common components include:

• ‍Front-end Layer: The user interface, which can be a website, mobile app, or IoT device.‍
• Cart and Order Engine: Handles cart creation, order processing, and payments.‍
• APIs: Facilitates communication between the front-end and back-end.‍
• Content Management System (CMS): Manages content like product descriptions and blog posts.‍
• Search and Personalization Engines: Enhances user experience with personalized content and search capabilities.‍
• Order Management System (OMS): Manages order processing and tracking.‍
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Manages customer data and interactions.‍
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): Integrates various business processes.‍
• Content Delivery Network (CDN): Ensures fast and reliable content access for users.‍
• Product Information Management (PIM): Centralizes product data across channels.‍
• Warehouse Management System (WMS): Optimizes warehouse operations.‍
• Digital Experience Platform (DXP): Manages user experiences across digital channels.‍
• Analytics and Monitoring Tools: Provides insights into user behavior and system performance.

Read more about the Composable Commerce Alphabet Soup

Each component in a Composable Commerce ecosystem should be designed to be interchangeable, allowing businesses to swap out or upgrade individual parts without disrupting the entire system.

Advantages of Composable Commerce

• ‍Best of Breed Approach: Choose the best components for your needs.‍
• Sustainability: Reduce carbon footprint with serverless infrastructure.‍
• Agility: Adapt quickly to market changes without overhauling your platform.‍
• Business Acceleration: Integrate components efficiently with modern APIs.‍
• Cost-Effectiveness: Pay only for what you need, avoiding unnecessary costs.‍
• Data Freedom: Easily access your data without being locked into a single platform.‍
• Scalability: Scale globally with serverless infrastructure.‍
• Microservices Architecture: Upgrade components independently.‍
• API-first Connectivity: Seamlessly connect components.‍
• Cloud-Native Benefits: Reduce costs and boost energy efficiency.‍
• Headless Approach: Connect any front-end to your back-end, supporting various digital channels.

Challenges of Composable Commerce

• ‍Complexity: Managing multiple components can be complex, especially with different vendors.
• ‍Vendor Dependency: Relying on various vendors can make problem-solving harder.‍
• Initial Setup Time: Building a tailored solution takes time initially.‍
• Skill Requirements: Managing a composable system may require specialized skills.

Businesses must weigh these challenges against the benefits. Composable Commerce may not fit everyone. Learn more about the pros and cons of Composable Commerce.

Differences in Composable Commerce

• ‍Composable vs. Headless: Headless focuses on separating the front and back ends, while Composable Commerce emphasizes modularity across all components.‍
• Composable vs. Composed Commerce: “Composable” allows for flexible component selection, while “composed” typically refers to pre-set combinations.

Composable Commerce case studies

The Composable Commerce principles provide scalability, and a host of features tailored for modern businesses. Here are just a few examples of success stories:

Happy Socks: From a monolith to composable in under 16 weeks

"It was a massive shift away from that kind of old-school architecture to something new." - Isaac Kuenhle-Nelson, Head of Engineering, Happy Socks

The Swedish friends' big idea turned global. Growing fast, Happy Socks migrated to Composable Commerce in 16 weeks.

Read the case study here

Zero downtime for C'est Normal

“We didn’t really know how to react at first?! This is the first time we’ve ever done a drop without anything crashing” — Warner Nickersson, C’est Normal CEO

The first drop using their new solution resulted in zero downtime and no payment gateway timeouts. A first for C'est Normal.

Why the Total Cost of Ownership (TOC) is Lower

Composable Commerce offers cost savings in multiple areas. Businesses can realize significant financial benefits from avoiding unnecessary features to efficient integrations and updates.

Learn more about the TOC of Composable Commerce.

Getting Started with Composable Commerce

Transitioning to a composable approach involves:

• Evaluating current needs and pain points.
• Researching and selecting the right components.
• Ensuring smooth integration and testing.

Learn more about how to get started with Composable Commerce.

Composable Commerce Glossary

• Microservices: Small, independent processes that communicate with each other to form a complete application or ecosystem.
• API: Application Programming Interface, a set of tools for building and connecting software applications.
• Cloud-native: Cloud-native products are designed to provide consistent development and automated management experiences across private, public, and hybrid clouds.
• Headless: An approach where the front-end is decoupled from the back-end.

Composable Commerce FAQs

What is Composable Commerce?

• Composable Commerce is a modular approach to building eCommerce solutions. It allows businesses to select and integrate various components based on their specific needs rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all platform.

How does Composable Commerce differ from traditional eCommerce platforms?

• Unlike monolithic platforms, Composable Commerce offers flexibility and scalability by allowing businesses to pick, choose, and integrate different components, ensuring a tailored fit for their unique requirements.

What are the core principles of Composable Commerce?

• The core principles are encapsulated in the MACH architecture: Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless.

Why is the "headless" approach critical in Composable Commerce?

• A headless approach decouples the front-end from the back-end, allowing businesses to customize user interfaces without affecting the underlying system. This offers flexibility in presenting content across various platforms, from websites to mobile apps.

How does Composable Commerce enhance scalability?

• By utilizing microservices and cloud-native architectures, businesses can easily scale specific components of their system based on demand without overhauling the entire platform.

Is Composable Commerce cost-effective?

• Yes. Composable Commerce can be more cost-effective as businesses only integrate necessary components, avoiding costs associated with unnecessary features in monolithic platforms.

How does an API-first approach benefit businesses?

• An API-first approach ensures seamless integration of various components, allowing businesses to adopt new tools or platforms as they grow.

What challenges does Composable Commerce address?

• It addresses issues like rigidity in monolithic platforms, scalability concerns, slow time-to-market for new features, and the need for a tailored eCommerce solution.

Can I switch from a traditional platform to Composable Commerce?

• Yes. Many businesses transition to Composable Commerce to benefit from its flexibility, scalability, and adaptability.

Is Composable Commerce suitable for small businesses?

• While Composable Commerce offers features that benefit enterprises, its modular nature means that even small businesses can adopt components that fit their specific needs and budget.

How does Composable Commerce support international expansion?

• With its cloud-native architecture and support for multiple languages, currencies, and regional integrations, Composable Commerce is well-suited for businesses aiming for global expansion.

Are there any security concerns with Composable Commerce?

• Like any digital platform, security is paramount. However, Composable Commerce, with its modern architecture, often benefits from the latest security protocols, especially when utilizing reputable components and services.

How does Composable Commerce impact customer experience?

• By offering businesses the flexibility to tailor their platform, Composable Commerce can lead to a more personalized and efficient customer experience.

What's the learning curve for businesses adopting Composable Commerce?

• The learning curve can vary based on the components chosen. However, the modular nature of Composable Commerce often means businesses can implement changes gradually, easing the transition.

Where can I find resources or experts in Composable Commerce?

• Organizations like the MACH Alliance offer resources and guidance on Composable Commerce. Additionally, many vendors and consultants specialize in this area, ready to assist businesses in their transition.

Where does Brink Commerce API come in?

Brink Commerce API is just that; a commerce API. We see it as the foundation for Composable Commerce. It's built to handle the most critical eCommerce process: orders; the order engine can handle massive amounts of orders worldwide. Furthermore, it enables you to integrate all the necessary components in your ecosystem. You can add, remove or replace functions for any market as you see fit.

On top of that, Brink Commerce API is framework agnostic, allowing for any front-end technology you want to use. This enables you to build just the customer experience you want. Speak to us today to get started.