Is the world of eCommerce changing too rapidly? Some would say that it is, especially when we consider the multitude of fairly new concepts like headless commerce that are reshaping online shopping. In this article, we will look closely at headless commerce, so that you can decide whether it’s right for your business.
What is Headless Commerce?
Headless commerce is a concept that involves separating an eCommerce website’s front end (what the shoppers see) from the back end (inventory, checkout, payments, etc.). This promotes flexibility when making changes and modifications to the eCommerce platform, thus it’s easier to meet customer needs.
With a flexible front end and back end supported by an order management system (OMS) suited for headless commerce from a renowned provider like Deck Commerce, you can optimize operations and experiences. You can also leverage other headless tools such as ERPs, CMSs, CRMs, and others to deliver fantastic customer experiences.
How Does Headless Commerce Work?
If the front and back end layers of a headless commerce system are not connected, then how do they become functional? Simple – APIs do all the magic. Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) work as communication pathways, allowing different software solutions to communicate and work alongside each other.
In the case of a headless commerce system API calls are responsible for facilitating communication between the presentation and functionality layers. A good example is when a user is shopping. Once the customer clicks the “Add to Cart” button, the front end part of the system sends an API call to the back end to process the action from the user. After processing it, the back end sends a different API call to the front end so the customer can see the added item.
The benefit of using these APIs is that they can pull information from any source, including smart appliances (IoT), and wearable tech accessories.
Headless commerce Vs. Traditional eCommerce
The traditional eCommerce system is what most people have been familiar with until now. Such systems present an all-in-one solution for online vendors to publish, manage, and sell content through a setup that has an integrated front end and back end.
The main drawback of this arrangement is that you can’t modify one layer without affecting the other. There are additional challenges such as limited customization options, difficulties enforcing automation, and restricted abilities in offering a seamless experience to the customers.
Headless commerce, on the other hand, offers the main benefit of flexibility when it comes to customization. If, for example, the vendor wants some changes made to the front end, the developers can work on that first, and then concentrate on the back end once done.
This guarantees a consistent customer experience and ensures availability. Since headless commerce focuses on offering the best customer experience, it’s a viable candidate for pursuing omnichannel performance at a grand scale.
Benefits Of Headless Commerce at A Glance
The reasons that would make you want to choose headless commerce for your business include:
- A smoother navigation experience
- Unlimited customization options
- Improved security
- Better search engine visibility
- Faster page-to-page load times
- Support for omnichannel management and delivery
Of course, there are other weighty benefits of using headless commerce for your business, with some being unique to specific fields.
Challenges of going headless
Though headless offers a myriad of benefits that make it worth the investment, you may encounter the following challenges trying to adopt it:
- It’s rather expensive
- It can be difficult to manage compared to traditional platforms
- You pay complexity as the price to access unlimited customization
Wrapping It All Up,
Headless commerce is an intuitive eCommerce architecture that uses two separate layers to deliver a lovable customer experience.
As more businesses adopt this new concept, you may be asking if you too, should take a similar approach.
The answer to this question lies in understanding your business and the connection you have with your customers. Nonetheless, it doesn’t hurt to offer better experiences, as that will increase the popularity of your brand.
