Evaluating Composable Commerce: A Strategic Approach for Modern Digital Commerce
The digital world is changing fast. Organizations seek flexible ways to keep up with their customers' shifting needs. Traditional all-in-one or suite eCommerce platforms are now often seen as rigid and outdated. More companies are considering a composable approach as a flexible alternative for their digital commerce strategies.
A composable architecture typically involves a Cloud Provider and several SaaS (usually MACH-based) products that address all business needs together. Depending on the needs, business scale, and budget, you may only use a few components or go very granular and include several more focused products to meet your specific business needs.
This article examines the more common business reasons for adopting a composable commerce approach.
Reducing Dependence on Single Vendors
A significant, often overlooked benefit of composable commerce is that it helps avoid being tied to one vendor, usually referenced as vendor lock-in. Traditional all-in-one solutions can trap businesses in a complex network of interdependencies. As companies customize these systems more, switching to something else becomes harder and more expensive. Suite vendors might initially offer low prices but often raise costs significantly when it's time to renew. They know that moving away would be a big, costly project.
In contrast, composable commerce lets businesses easily swap out parts or services for better ones without disrupting everything. This flexibility reduces the risk of being stuck with one vendor and pushes SaaS providers to keep improving their products to meet their clients' changing needs.
Phased Implementation and Faster Launch Times
Composable commerce allows for a more flexible implementation than the traditional all-at-once approach. Instead of starting a massive, risky project, companies can take smaller, more manageable steps. This approach lowers the risk of failure and allows for better planning and budgeting. As a result, businesses can bring new features to market faster.
Examples of the first steps in a plan to go composable are:
· Decoupling the front-end: You may create a custom front-end, implement a template/accelerator (some SaaS commerce vendors offer these, or you can find several options (most of them free) within Vercel or similar vendors), or select one of the front-end services available in the market, like commercetools Frontend, Alokai, High Velocity, etc.
· Migrating to a new PIM: Depending on your current solution, this option may be simpler to implement or more complex and require a syncing effort between the new PIM and your all-in-one solution. However, it will significantly reduce the risk of the whole re-platforming project. The new PIM could be a specific product or a module within your new e-commerce platform.
· Implement the new composable solution for your guest checkout: This option requires you to have some control over your front-end. It involves implementing your whole composable solution (you can start with a simple one) and integrating it into your current solution, but only for the guest checkout (cart, promotions, payments, etc). This is an excellent way to ensure the new solution works as expected without disrupting your main revenue stream. You can even execute several improvement iterations until you are comfortable and ready to push all your traffic into the new solution.
Choosing the Best Tools for Each Need
With a composable approach, businesses can pick the best solutions for each critical part of their operations. Instead of being limited to what one vendor offers, companies can choose products that best fit their specific needs and goals. This allows them to create a best solution for performance, features, cost, operations, and user experience across all customer touchpoints.
You could start with something as simple as a cloud infrastructure, a commerce engine, and a CMS, or go more granular and add a search engine, promotions engine, OMS, DXP, etc. And the best thing is that you can evolve your solution at your own pace, step by step.
Considering Total Cost Of Ownership (TCO)
When evaluating the total cost of a composable commerce system over time, it's important to consider long-term savings. Unlike traditional solutions that require costly upgrades every year or two, MACH-based SaaS products use a modular approach that reduces or eliminates the need for major upgrades in the future. This can lead to significant savings over time, potentially making composable commerce more cost-effective.
Ability to Grow and Adapt
A composable commerce solution can quickly grow and change, making it great for businesses with complex needs and changing requirements. Whether you're a large or smaller company, composable commerce lets you quickly scale your operations and adapt to market changes. Also, MACH products ensure smooth integration across your entire tech ecosystem.
Is Composable Commerce Right for You?
While composable commerce works well for large companies with experienced tech teams, businesses of all sizes can benefit from its flexibility and scalability. Whether you want to implement just one modern SaaS product or build a complete composable commerce system, the key is to start small and grow your capabilities over time. If your team doesn't have experience in analyzing and designing the right composable commerce solution, it's essential to find an experienced partner. You can trust Stone Rooster to guide you through this process.
Conclusion
Composable commerce offers a modern, flexible, and future-ready approach to digital commerce. It empowers businesses to adapt and innovate in today's fast-changing market. By avoiding vendor lock-in, using a step-by-step approach, and choosing the best tools for each job, companies can set themselves up for success in the digital world. As with any significant tech change, it's important to consider if your organization is ready and if this approach aligns with your goals to get the most out of composable commerce.
