What does headless commerce mean, indeed?
Headless commerce separates the front-end layer (presentation, customer-facing) from the back-end layer (functionality).
This architecture offers brands freedom of expression to build whatever they want. Most importantly, it enables brands to improve user experience.
- How does it work?
- Traditional commerce
- Headless commerce
- Magento® 2 headless
- What are the benefits of headless commerce?
- Final words
Traditional commerce
A traditional approach to complex software design involves a single system based on huge libraries that create internal dependencies to enable their components to work together. As a general rule, details associated with a traditional model must operate in a precise order for the whole system to function as intended.
Headless commerce
The headless commerce system passes requests (products, customer reviews, blog posts, etc.) through web services or application programming interface (API) calls.
The API carries most of the workload, making it simple for organizations to manage changes.
Because headless commerce separates the front-end and back-end, it creates endless possibilities for configuration when needed. To make any changes, you only require front-end services. Changes can be large or small, from implementing your payment system to adding a new field to your client account. Headless commerce can support new technologies as soon as they arise. It is ideal for implementing new solutions for your online store customers. At the same time, you can add your product to any new platform or device, expanding your capabilities and reaching more customers.
On the other hand, headless commerce is limited in design, unlike traditional ones with ready-made templates, themes, and components. Making changes can require а lot of time, depending on the updates you need to make.
Let’s demonstrate how this architecture works in a simple example. Suppose the client presses the “Buy” button after providing detailed information about the order. In that case, the presentation layer (e.g. app interface) sends the API call request to the application layer (payment gateway and order management tools in the backend) to process the order.
While the back end is processing your query, the front end sends the API call to show the customer the last order status.
Magento 2 Headless
Along with all the benefits mentioned above, Magento also provides additional benefits when embracing the headless approach.
Magento PWA studio is a progressive web application that turns a regular website into an app and is fully functional directly from a mobile browser. PWA Studio is based on React, JavaScript, Redux, and GraphQL. However, when running such a solution through the desktop browser, everything works like a simple website.
The technology was released in 2016 and quickly gained a good deal of feedback through its many benefits.
Along with the standard website, Magento also offers a headless PWA. PWA is implemented in your store at Magento with PWA Studio. So, if you plan to install headless with Magento, consider launching a Magento 2 Headless PWA and catering to your consumers’ needs.
Every one of the platforms offers the best support for your store’s existing infrastructure. You should always choose one that best fits your needs and your store’s. An alternative platform for building PWA in stores is Vue Storefront.
Vue Storefront is an open-source PWA frontend for multiple eCommerce platforms, including Magento. Vue Storefront uses Vue.JS, Nuxt.JS, JavaScript, and Composition API. It is a progressive project started by the Divante team. The goal is to fill the void with PWA in eCommerce and to make it easy to use, modular, flexible, and upgrade by building independent tools. Because the platform has all the benefits of PWA, it is used as a tool to improve shopping and user interaction. This platform has positive feedback and supports both Magento 1 and Magento 2.
When exploring headless commerce, businesses realize vital benefits:
- A personalized customer experience. The modern understanding of eCommerce follows the tendency of personalization. We can divide the target audience into individual interests, offers, and channels where it will be comfortable to get the request from the store. If you want to stand out among competitors, you can customize your sales by including features such as promotions, personalized recommendations, and shopping benefits. It can create a strong connection between the customer and the store to increase customer retention.
- Omnichannel opportunities. Omnichannel marketing is an approach that provides clients with a consistent experience on all channels of communication through the way of an acquaintance of the client with the brand. Now customers search for products through multiple channels (social networks, websites, etc.), including IoT devices such as voice assistants and innovative home products. Customers can quickly be drawn to channels they prefer, for instance, to send them appropriate promotions and other marketing content.
- Flexible with all business scales. Flexibility covers design, template, and new promotions and allows API to work with all current systems. Developers can quickly update the front-end layer as needed without disturbing back-end processes.
- Development speed. Headless commerce helps keep up with the latest trends and technologies and implements new offerings faster. Development teams spend less time on user interface changes. The decoupled headless commerce architecture makes it easy to integrate any system that can help reach customers more quickly and increase conversions.
The above factors allow brands to create a unique user and consumer experience easily and quickly without investing significant resources.
Headless commerce is a new way to create unique customer experiences, innovate, and develop online businesses. It can help sellers achieve their goals by removing many time-consuming processes.
With the right software partner, headless commerce will be fast and easy. This technology is only developing, so there is an opportunity to get ahead. If you are interested in headless commerce, we are happy to help you. Contact us, and let’s make the magic happen!
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