How Does Headless Commerce Work and Why It Matters?

The eCommerce market has undergone several changes in the last few years, which have helped reduce traditional issues. We have seen various new trends start to pop up, which have attracted multiple businesses.

Whether it’s the introduction of Artificial Intelligence or parallax scrolling, every change has transformed the industry to a different level. One such change is the introduction of Headless commerce.

This approach is popularly known as decoupled, where the front end is separated from the back end. It allows a business to create a front end separately using the desired framework.

This way, you can make a visually appealing user interface that is quick to load (if lightweight front-end frameworks are used).

Headless commerce is trending on the list of recent innovations in eCommerce development and has become one of the popular approaches.

However, the development process is not as easy as it looks. You must have a certain level of expertise in order to create a headless eCommerce store.

Otherwise, you can opt for headless commerce development services to get the work done on your behalf. This frugal saving of time and money can help you focus on other important tasks.

Overview of Headless CMS

The name itself states a lot about this method in eCommerce, where the head, which is the front end, is decoupled from the data layer, which is the back end.

The front end, or the presentation layer within which users interact, is developed separately, whereas the data layer part remains the same.

This way, a user can have enhanced flexibility in choosing the front-end frameworks and building the front-end as envisioned.

This flexibility translates to a faster and more consistent experience for users. In short, a Headless CMS handles only the back-end portion.

How Does Headless Commerce Work?

As of now, the working of a headless approach is evident, where the presentation layer is separated from the business logic layer.

The headless CMS provides data through APIs, which allows a web developer to utilize any technology to create a front-end part of a web solution.

Online merchants can independently utilize their headless stack to add, remove, or alter particular services based on their wants.

This makes this mode of development one of the essential assets to existing eCommerce operations.

Traditional vs Headless Commerce

A report suggests that most of the failure behind an eCommerce store is due to not applying modern tech. This showcases how important it is for a business dealing in electronic commerce to stay updated with the updates.

However, this does not mean that traditional commerce methods are outdated. Here is a detailed comparison between both of them:

Monolithic or traditional commerce offers all the required components. These help handle the business logic, showcase the user interface, and manage and publish content with a tightly coupled CMS.

On the other hand, a headless or decoupled approach separates the presentation layer from the business logic layer. These layers interact with each other via the Application Programming Interface (API).

Why Headless Commerce Matters?

We have covered extensive information on headless development thus far, which might have clarified its importance.

But have you ever wondered why businesses all around the globe are vying for this development mode? The reason is crystal clear: the advantages of this development approach. Here are some of the main ones:

1. Enhanced Control and Flexibility

The traditional way of developing an eCommerce store restricts one’s ability to control a website’s appearance. This mode provides themes and templates that offer limited flexibility to make changes.

Meanwhile, headless commerce offers enhanced flexibility to a business when developing an online commerce website.

The freedom to create the front end separately allows you to make the desired changes in the presentation layer.

.2. Ease in Third-party Integration

Headless commerce makes it easier to integrate third-party applications and extend the functionality of an eCommerce website.

You can seamlessly include different third-party tools and platforms in your online commerce site. Using your preferred tech stack, you can integrate your existing systems like CRM, ERP, IMS, and PRM into your website.

This all becomes possible with the help of powerful API. Therefore, you can change and integrate new functionalities in your eCommerce site without changing the full tech stack.

3. Scalability

An electronic Commerce website must be scalable enough to handle excessive traffic without affecting performance.

In fact, scalability is a concern that a business should consider because it can severely impact performance and reputation.

The headless approach helps improve the scalability of an eComm website. This approach reduces the complexities associated with the process of scalability.

The major reason behind extensive scalability is that a website can work freely by creating a separate front end and integrating various extensions.

Still, the deployment ratio of the headless method is lower than that of traditional commerce, which significantly enhances the scalability and performance.

4. Quick Launching

The headless approach allows you to perform various changes and experiments, which the traditional method has restricted.

Today’s users’ preferences are changing rapidly, and it is equally essential for a business aiming to sustain longer in the market to match the level of users’ expectations.

Compared to the monolithic approach, you can change the front end of your headless website without touching the data-based layer.

Therefore, any changes implemented, whether integration of a feature or update in the design of an online store, will be made faster.

This results in reducing the time to market a web solution and helps you attain a promising competitive edge.

Suitable Platforms for Headless Commerce

So far, we have discussed various advantages of this new and innovative mode in eCommerce website development.

Headless commerce development not only helps you meet the users’ demands promptly but can also help you stay ahead of the competitive curve because of the greater control required to build a website.

Indeed, scalability and enhanced flexibility are two of the prominent advantages. Moreover, you can implement this approach by migrating your existing site to a headless website to enhance the user experience.

The question that stands here is: which platforms allow headless development? Various platforms are available in the market, but you must be wise when selecting one for your business needs.

The platform should handle the growing needs of your business. Here are some of the leading platforms:

Adobe Headless Commerce

Popularly known as Magento, Adobe Headless Commerce provides businesses a platform to develop a decoupled online store.

Using this platform, you can develop a highly adaptable to user preference-based front-end by keeping Magento’s power-packed database. This will result in a quickly crafted personalized user interface.

Adobe/ Magento headless commerce offers various benefits, from enhanced control to future-proof architecture, helping you stay competitive.

You can utilize this platform’s full potential by working with a headless commerce development company with hands-on experience in Magento.

Shopify Plus Commerce

Shopify, a proprietary-based eCommerce store, also does not stand behind applying this trend and altering the user interface.

Shopify Plus, an enterprise-based version of this platform, makes it easier for a business to develop a headless store. It provides all the essential tools required to complete the headless journey.

PrestaShop Headless Commerce

PrestaShop is an eCommerce website development platform that big names like eBay, Fujitsu, and others utilize.

This platform has also applied this transformative change, making it easier for businesses to change their front end the way they want without shifting to any other platform.

By using PrestaShop, you can create an experience-driven headless store. Moreover, you can migrate your online store to this platform by following a simple procedure and enhancing the user experience.

WooCommerce Headless Commerce

One of the most utilized online store development platforms is WooCommerce, which makes headless development more manageable for a business.

It uses the Rest API and a platform like WordPress, which seamlessly detaches the front-end layer from the database layer. This means that you can create a template-free eCommerce store.

Conclusion

Headless commerce is an excellent way of creating a personalized and highly scalable eCommerce website.

This method will help you deliver a better user experience, improving the retention and conversion ratio. The headless approach has emerged as a solution that can help brands to innovate faster by staying competitive.

You can create one for your business. Various platforms can help you along; some are premier and most known.

While choosing one for your project, consider all the critical aspects, from your needs to the platform’s credibility. Hire experts who can help you transform your online presence based on your selected platform.

About the Author!

Emily White is a project manager at CSSChopper, a top-rated web development company with a wide range of technical expertise. She is not just a manager but also loves writing. In her spare time, she listens to music and composes knowledgeable articles.