Headless vs Composable Commerce: Which is right for you?

What is headless commerce?

Headless commerce means that the “head” (the customer-facing side) is separate from the back-end systems. This setup allows brands to quickly adapt their front-end designs without altering the back-end processes. 

Headless commerce emerged as a counterpoint to the rigidity of traditional, monolithic e-commerce platforms. These platforms bundled a range of different tools and solutions into one system, making it difficult for retailers to innovate without overhauling the entire setup. To increase flexibility, brands began “decoupling” the front end (the user experience or UX) from the back end (the technical systems). This gave them the freedom to design unique front-end experiences while still relying on a single, robust backend. Now, whether a business wants to launch a mobile app or update its website, the two sides can operate independently. 

When headless commerce works best

Headless commerce is a great fit for businesses that: 

• Want to deliver consistent, branded experiences across different channels 
• Need flexibility to change their front-end without touching the backend 
• Have in-house developers who can manage custom front-end builds 

In headless commerce, an advanced Product Information Management (PIM) system is key to ensuring consistent product data – like descriptions, specifications, and images – flows seamlessly across different channels, whether it’s a website, mobile app, or IoT device. This consistency is essential for cohesive customer experiences across multiple touchpoints. 

Moving beyond headless: the rise of composable commerce 

While headless commerce addresses front-end freedom, composable commerce goes even further. It tackles the limitations of the backend as well by creating a fully modular e-commerce system. Each function (like payment processing or inventory management) can be chosen independently. Instead of being tied to one large platform, composable commerce allows businesses to “compose” their ideal tech stack using best-in-class services. 

Composable commerce is like having a collection of individual tools – each one selected for a specific purpose. If your business needs a high-performing search feature, you can choose the best solution for that function. Later, if a new search tool becomes available, you can swap it in without disrupting other parts of the system. This gives businesses much more flexibility and customization while avoiding vendor lock-in. 

When composable commerce works best

Composable commerce works best for businesses that: 

• Want complete control over each part of their e-commerce operations 
• Prioritize flexibility to add, remove, or replace components easily 
• Have complex needs or are scaling quickly and need their tech stack to evolve with them 

With composable commerce, each part of the tech stack – including product data – can be chosen and managed independently. A PIM solution provides the flexibility needed to adapt and scale product information quickly without disrupting the entire system. Since composable commerce relies on having the best solutions for each task, a dedicated PIM can be easily integrated with other modular components like search, CRM, or inventory, allowing businesses to swap out or upgrade parts of their system while maintaining reliable product information. 

Headless vs Composable Commerce: What’s the right approach for you? 

While headless and composable commerce share a focus on flexibility, they serve distinct purposes. Headless focuses on separating the front-end and back-end, making it easier to deliver custom front-end experiences. Composable, on the other hand, breaks down all parts of the system – not just the front-end – allowing you to choose each component independently. 

The choice between them depends on lots of factors, like your current capabilities, customer experience (CX) goals, and whether you need back-end customization. Let’s consider these factors in more detail: 

1. Customer-experience goals: Are you focused on delivering a unique front-end experience, or do you want to build a fully customizable ecosystem? If you prioritize design freedom, headless may be ideal. For those seeking full flexibility, composable is likely a better fit. 
2. Technical resources: Headless commerce typically requires in-house developers to manage the custom front-end, while composable commerce requires technical expertise for integrating and maintaining a multi-component system. 
3. Budget considerations: Headless may have lower initial costs since it focuses on separating the front and back ends. Composable commerce often involves higher setup costs but offers long-term value by reducing vendor lock-in and enhancing adaptability. 
4. Scalability: Both headless and composable architectures support growth, but composable commerce allows for more specific scalability. You can add or upgrade individual services as your business evolves. 

The MACH Alliance: The engine of modern commerce

Composable commerce often operates on the MACH framework (Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless). These principles allow each component to communicate via APIs and function independently in the cloud. With the benefits of MACH Alliance vendors, businesses can combine best-of-breed components with ease and flexibility, ensuring that each part of their tech stack performs optimally. 

The MACH Alliance is a group that promotes a modern, flexible approach to e-commerce architecture. Essentially, it encourages businesses to adopt open, adaptable tech that keeps them competitive and ready for future changes. When a business adopts MACH principles, they’re choosing systems that aren’t just useful today but can be adjusted as technology and customer expectations evolve. Following MACH guidelines can give companies the tools they need to thrive in a digital world that’s always moving forward. 

inriver: The flexible PIM for future commerce

Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all PIM systems. In an increasingly uncertain world, businesses are understanding the need to be agile across their tech stack so they can pivot their digital commerce strategies as necessary. That’s why so many businesses are choosing composable PIM solutions like inriver.

Built on the foundation of the industry’s most adaptable data model, the inriver PIM platform gives our customers the flexibility they need to succeed. It provides the complete solution for all their digital commerce needs, including AI-powered content enrichment, API-based single-click syndication, and digital shelf analytics technology. Combined with the substantial internal benefits, such as automated cross-department workflows, simplified supplier onboarding, and enterprise-grade data security, it’s clear the inriver PIM platform could revolutionize your business.