What is Headless Commerce - Is It The Future?

Virginia Miller

October 11, 2023

Those that run an online store or work closely with eCommerce platforms may have heard the term "headless commerce" used before. As a strange-sounding word, it might leave you a little perplexed.

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Do you know what headless commerce is and why someone may use it? In this article, we'll explore the definition of headless commerce, discuss the benefits and drawbacks of this eCommerce solution, and explain why it may or may not be the right choice for your business. Read on to learn more.

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What is headless commerce?

Headless commerce is a form of eCommerce architecture that doesn't have a front-end delivery layer (such as a theme or template). Instead, the front-end and back-end are separated. This allows developers to manage the system and tailor customer experience to be how they want it to be, without the restrictions of a template or theme. It also means you can easily change the front end to keep up with what a business requires.

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Instead of being directly connected like monolithic commerce is, with headless commerce architecture, the front-end and back-end communicate through application programming (APIs). This allows a developer or company to integrate tools such as headless CRM and CMS as needed. Headless commerce is built for the modern world, and IoT

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Advantages of headless commerce

There are several advantages to adopting headless commerce architecture for your online storefront:

While a more traditional, monolithic eCommerce system may limit what can be changed, headless commerce architecture allows endless customization options.

Built for use within the modern world, multiple channels and IoT.

They are designed to make eCommerce integration with wearable tech simpler.

It provides developers with better control of the experience customers receive while shopping.

You can easily create mobile-first experiences.

Generally, cost saving as changes tend to be easier to make, meaning a developer is not required to do so.

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Disadvantages of headless commerce

There can also be a few disadvantages of headless commerce architecture:

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You'll be required to build the storefront from scratch rather than utilizing a theme or template.

Finding the right experts to manage headless commerce architecture can be challenging, as it's still a relatively new concept.

Integrating a headless commerce system with an existing website can be complex.

App integration tends to be more complicated than it is when using monolithic commerce.

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If you run a business that utilizes eCommerce and wishes to set up an architecture that integrates with IoT and the future of the web, consider headless commerce. This can keep you competitive in the field while allowing easy customization and changes to your eCommerce store as your business grows. Knowing the disadvantages, such as the need to build a storefront from scratch and the complexity of integrations, is essential. Whether or not headless commerce is right for your business will depend on personal needs, preferences, and marketing plans.

Conclusion

So, is headless commerce the future of ecommerce? It's hard to say for sure. However, it does offer some clear advantages over traditional ecommerce setups, and its popularity is only going to continue to grow. If you're looking for a more streamlined, efficient way to run your online store, then headless commerce may be right for you. Need help getting started? Simpl can help! We offer fulfillment services that will take care of all your Amazon order fulfillment needs. Contact us today to learn more.

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