Introduction
In software development, developers traditionally had two options: build a new system from scratch or buy a monolithic software and hope it meets the requirements. A new paradigm labeled as composable, driven by APIs and the need for new UX touchpoints, has emerged to provide a new option.
Understanding the Terms
What is Composable Commerce?
Composable Commerce and Composable Architecture is creating a new solution by combining (or composing) multiple API-first software into a cohesive and powerful final experience. The final design involves multiple APIs covering the different business requirements, data orchestration, Backend-for-Frontend, and multiple frontends including a robust website. A good example is leveraging an authentication provider or email sending service instead of building one from scratch.
What is Headless Commerce?
Headless Commerce is similar in that you have an API layer and multiple frontends. The major difference is that in a headless solution all of the APIs may come from a single source. This brings it much closer to a monolithic software system where everything is built together, except instead of creating a theme which is rendered via the server, a SPA/PWA is deployed which calls the APIs. This provides more flexibility in theming and design, but lacks the same level of customization and selection you get with a composable system.
What is a Monolith or Monolith Commerce System?
Monolithic Commerce Systems provide a single software solution where everything is built together often in a single project and code base.
The spectrum of commerce systems ranges from a monolith - one massive piece of software, to composable - breaking the system up into more manageable, customizable chunks.
Major Differences
Customization
Composable solutions offer easier customization, allowing businesses to mix and match components and retain full control over the User Experience (UX). Monoliths, conversely, are difficult to customize. While composable solutions rely on multiple API-first software components, these components are small enough to be generic - there is no need to “reinvent the wheel.” Unique features, on the other hand, can still be built out with custom code.
Maintenance
If you build the composable system with SaaS APIs, such as Twilio for messaging or Amazon S3 for storage, maintenance costs are lower, and updates are easier. The underlying systems can be patched and improved without impacting the overall software. Monoliths, on the other hand, require everything to be patched, updated, and maintained together, which means higher maintenance costs. This also raises the risk of downtime.
Level of Effort
Composable Commerce systems requires a similar level of effort to deploy, regardless of business complexity. The bulk of the work is in setting up the initial design and infrastructure, but changes, improvements, or adding functionality over time are considerably easier. Monoliths start extremely easily, enabling a basic setup in a matter of hours or weeks. However, as business requirements increase in complexity, the level of effort rises exponentially.
This makes composable the obvious choice for complex, unique, or large software projects, but also for any projects that will grow over time.
Key Benefits and Drawbacks of Each
Monolith Commerce Systems
Monolith Commerce Systems present certain advantages such as out-of-the-box functionality. The decisions and architecture are predefined by the vendor, saving businesses the task of deciding on each aspect of the system. However, these benefits come with certain disadvantages. There's the risk of vendor lock-in, meaning that businesses are tied to their vendor's system and can't easily switch to another provider. This setup can also lead to slower adaptation to market changes. Businesses might find themselves struggling to update their commerce systems as quickly as they would like due to these constraints.
Composable Commerce
On the other hand, Composable Commerce brings flexibility, agility, and scalability to the table. Businesses can adapt more swiftly to market changes, enabling a faster time to market for their products or services. Additionally, they have the freedom to leverage any coding language or tools, as composable commerce systems make use of standard APIs. However, these benefits require careful management. Businesses might find themselves handling multiple vendor contracts, and it's essential to have a clear understanding of their requirements right from the beginning. These potential challenges need to be weighed against the benefits of a composable commerce system.
Potential Use Cases
Monolith Commerce Systems
Suitable for small businesses, website-centric businesses, industries with stable and standard requirements, and companies with basic processes and less competition.
Composable Commerce
Ideal for large businesses, businesses with unique requirements, companies that need a multi-touchpoint solution (website, mobile, etc.), companies aiming for modern technology, complex business models like B2B2C, and businesses that require a high level of differentiation through unique branding and experiences.
Blend
Composable is not all-or-nothing. You can borrow aspects of composable architecture into a larger monolithic system, start the process of going composable with headless solutions, or integrate composable services in your custom-built software.
Conclusion
Every software decision involves trade-offs - there is no one-size fits all answer. The choice between a monolith and composable commerce system depends on the business needs, scale, and the level of customization required. Composable Commerce offers significant advantages in terms of flexibility, customization, and scalability, but has a higher upfront level of effort.
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