Composable architecture

What does composable architecture do?

Composable architecture lets you assemble a set of best-of-breed technologies for your business. The technologies and operating methods used are based on the needs and goals of your business. The modular approach is the opposite of the traditional platform-based approach, boasting out-of-the-box features and functionality.

The customer experience is at the center of composable architecture, as every component can easily be replaced as new needs or technologies arise. Composable architecture is perfect for companies that want to create cutting-edge digital customer experiences and consistently keep up with digital trends.

Microservices vs. APIs: What’s the Difference?

The MACH principles

Composable architecture is based on the MACH principles, a concept centered on a modular ecosystem containing loosely coupled microservices.

The MACH acronym consists of the words: Microservices, API-First, Cloud-native, and Headless

• Microservices: Independently functioning services or systems that are each responsible for a certain function

• API-First: Microservices use Application Programming Interfaces, or APIs, to communicate with each other

• Cloud-native: Cloud-native applications provide better scalability, faster development, and improved flexibility without the burden of maintaining personal servers

• Headless: The concept of decoupling the frontend, or user interface, from the backend

Watch: Headless & composable architecture

Composable vs headless

Are composable and headless the same thing? No, but they are closely related. Headless is a part of the composable architecture concept.

A headless online store does not contain a “head” or a “presentation layer” with which end users interact. Headless refers to a completely separated backend and frontend (presentation layer) as opposed to a single platform as one entity or suite.

This provides the possibility to use systems from different suppliers for the backend, a CMS (content management system), and the presentation layer visible to customers. The backend and frontend systems generally “talk” through APIs in a headless solution.

Composable architecture refers to an ecosystem that contains independent systems and components that communicate with each other with the help of APIs. Composable architecture can contain several different headless implementations. Headless architecture allows for deeper flexibility, as developers and teams can work independently to change different functions without jeopardizing one another.

Often, headless is the first step towards a more flexible approach, such as composable architecture, where the backend is also composed of separate components, or “microservices.”

Headless Magento: Is It the Right Choice For You?

From a business perspective

When you want to offer your customers a high level of brand experience, even the most advanced ecommerce platform with a plethora of plug-and-play features may not be enough to meet all your needs. Building a sophisticated and detailed customer experience requires multiple tools and features that are tuned to peak performance in their specific area of expertise.

When a company’s ecommerce solution is composed of microservices that communicate via APIs, each separate microservice can be updated or exchanged individually. According to research by Gartner, companies that adopt a composable approach are faster than competitors when implementing new functionalities.

Composable architecture enables business drivers, with:

• A strong focus on branding

• Increasing the Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)

• Optimizing features and functions for the customer

• Forging new sales channels

• Faster return on investment (ROI) through increased value

How to go composable with Adobe Commerce

Platform-based vs composable architecture

Ecommerce companies typically choose either a traditional ecommerce platform or go the composable architecture route. Neither is necessarily a better choice, but the right solution for you is based on your company’s unique needs and current technological state.

Composable architecture (also known as microservices-based architecture) is based on microservices, where the features of the online store are divided into individual components that function independently.

The benefits of composable architecture

Since composable architecture is built from separate microservices, it’s possible to remove, add, replace and improve the components anytime. You’re free always to choose the best-of-breed tools available on the market.
Composable enables the optimization of every part of your system, and as a result, your developers can work on your system at a more detailed level.

With composable, you avoid the need for large-scale projects, such as re-platforming, which can last several months or even years.

The benefits of traditional platform-based architecture

Composable architecture requires a higher level of technical expertise in order to ensure the functionality and maintenance of your ecommerce solution. Using a single all-in-one platform can be simpler from a technical point of view.

An individual platform, or a suite, already contains a large number of well-functioning, ready-to-use functionalities out-of-the-box, which can be customized up to a certain point according to your company’s needs.

Platform-based architecture follows the specifications made by the manufacturer. As a result, it’s usually easier to integrate add-ons and plugins that belong to the same ecosystem and use the same data models.

Technical organization & delivery

Full-stack-based architecture, such as the traditional ecommerce platform, generally has fewer systems to cover processes and functionality. On the other hand, composable architecture requires slightly different capabilities, and a new way of thinking when it comes to design.

Who is a great fit for composable architecture?

Composable architecture is not the only choice, nor is it the right one for every company. For a smaller company with a straightforward business model, composing an ecommerce solution from components is a big investment that won’t pay for itself. Generally, the composable approach suits larger organizations with more complex business models. Composable architecture is an excellent fit in the following scenarios:

• A company with a marketplace operation

• A manufacturer that produces complex equipmen

• A large, internationally operating bran

• A company within the telecommunications, finance, or automotive industr

• A company that is an advanced multi-channel selle

• A company that offers IoT-based services

Choose composable architecture if you cannot allow your system architecture to slow down innovations, you have ambitious omnichannel goals and a vision of connecting all sales channels, or you want to experiment with new digital services and tech.