Within just 9 months, K2, a global sports apparel brand, launched over 8 K2 brands operating under 16 e-commerce platforms. How? Publishing content at a 90% faster rate by simply choosing to adopt one of the top headless commerce solutions, namely, the BigCommerce platform.
With headless commerce solutions, businesses can now break free from the stereotypical all-in-one commerce channels to multiple ones, customizing unique customer experiences. Owing to this trend, over 50% of B2B businesses embrace headless commerce solutions. But should your e-commerce platform go headless?
Statistics on headless commerce solutions going global
- Headless commerce solutions are currently valued as a $2.2 billion market.
- Businesses have experienced a 30% site performance boost with the use of headless commerce solutions.
- 77% of businesses believe that headless commerce solutions enable faster storefront modifications.
- Headless commerce solutions have been reported to accelerate the return on investment (ROI) by 47%.
- Businesses cite that over $1.4 billion in IT costs were retained using headless commerce solutions.
- 63% of businesses are willing to endorse the headless commerce solutions within the next 2 years.
What are headless commerce solutions?
Headless commerce solutions operate with a versatile front-end system that customizes your brand content reach. Allowing businesses to connect with customers with the kind of content they seek to see.
How do headless commerce solutions differ from monolithic ones?
With its unique architecture that 80% of businesses vouch to implement.
Unlike the traditional pre-built front-ends delivering content to only websites or mobile apps, it literally go without a head or frontend. So how does headless commerce architecture work? By separating two main components:
- Frontend layer: public-facing content display that guides customers to interact with the platform. Using the API interface, customers engage with product pages, messages, orders, kiosks, mobile apps, and others.
- Backend layer: empowering the platform’s logistics, mainly inventory management, shipping, discount logic, payment processing, product catalog, and others.
Why should your business consider headless commerce solutions?
With an anticipated investment of $32.1 billion in headless commerce solutions by 2027, headless commerce solutions have niched an edge. With its omnichannel retail experience, businesses can now merchandize personalized digital storefronts across various channels without disrupting their backend operations.
Businesses can leverage multiple headless applications such as:
- Digital Experience Platform (DXP)
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
- Packaged Business Capabilities (PBC)
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Progressive Web App (PWA)
- Product Information Management (PIM)
- Order Management System (OMS)
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
How would headless commerce solutions benefit you?
Advanced UX and UI control
Accelerate site speed with headless commerce solutions as platform operations are more streamlined with independent processing. Customers can promptly transition between multiple e-commerce components, such as orders or payments.
Shorten product launch timeline
Access less speed to market features as headless commerce solutions allow you to customize different services independently. Businesses believe that slash deployment rates by 50%.
Slash cost of ownership
A significant reduction in IT costs by $1.4 billion was deemed to be their ability to orchestrate the SaaS model application. As decentralizing your backend operations would automatically result in lowering your e-commerce platform’s total cost of ownership.
Swift commerce platform control
Citing a 34% reduced time frame spent on patch upgrades and debugging, they offer microservices with the best possible control. Develop your tech stack with complete control over your sales channel aspects.
Improved customer acquisition rate
With an average 42% stated increase in customer conversion rates, they are successfully driving website traffic with engaging content value. With adaptable user interfaces, customers can access faster page downloads that have reciprocated with substantial platform gains.
Scalable performance
The agile and SEO-friendly Progressive Web App (PWA) feature of headless commerce solutions is optimizing ecommerce platforms in Google rankings and user engagement. With a consistent digital experience, businesses can flexibly cope with complex technical issues and tasks, maximizing their focus on valuable content.
Top-rated headless commerce solutions
Shopify Plus
What is it?
Strategically guides medium- and large-sized retailers to launch a fully-fledged e-commerce customizable website with 24/7 support and integrated automated resources. Being an enterprise-grade platform, Shopify Plus optimizes digital storefronts with a comprehensive suite of commerce sales growth plans to target audiences via engaging website content. With a clearly defined user interface, Shopify Plus uses headless commerce systems ranging from CRM, CMS, ERP, PIM, eBay, Amazon, and others.
| Stores available | 1.75 million |
| Payment plans | Annual Subscription: $24,000
Regular subscription: $29 per month Service costs: $2000 per month |
| Languages used | 19+ |
| Integration add-ons | 4000+ |
| Applications used | Slack, Google Sheets, Apple Business Chat, Mailchimp |
Benefits
- Launch virtual storefronts within 90 days.
- High-speed back-end performance and automated scalability with sales, promotion, and marketing campaigns
- Customizable frontends for content display with themes, order checkouts, discounts, and others.
- Advanced built-in tools with over 1500 applications to develop wholesale experience to commute with bulk orders.
- Seasoned e-commerce specialists stationed for platform development assistance.
- Compliant payment processing schemes
Limitations
- Shopify Plus URL structure can’t be modified.
- Hard to manage international storefront architecture
- Restricted collections access
- Basic search access with many loopholes
- Costly expenditures incurred with monthly subscription and transaction fees
BigCommerce
What is it?
Revolutionizing the e-commerce era with enterprise-level functionality. B2B and B2C businesses can now scale their platforms using customer-centric interfaces that run their stores across multiple channels from one location. With a clean user interface, track sales records effectively. A 24/7 helpdesk serves retailers and developers with tutorials and insights on how to secure one’s digital base.
| Live stores available | 43,133 |
| Payment plans | Annual subscription: Custom
Regular subscription: $29 per month Pro subscription: $399 per month |
| Languages used | 1 |
| Integration add-ons | 1000+ |
| Applications used | Google, eBay, Amazon, Mailchimp, Stripe |
Benefits
- Multiple DDOS, SSL, and PCI-1-compliant security
- Flexible platform design with a suite of customized themes
- Easier account management with better product filters
- Top-notch SEO capabilities and customer analytics
- Superior customer experience with affordable pricing rates
Limitations
- Limited payment gateways
- Relies heavily on third-party applications
- Single language support
- Reported bugs and software update concerns
Adobe Commerce
What is it?
Combining headless and traditional commerce architecture with several omnichannel solutions. With enhanced data visualization and analytics, Magnento offers e-commerce retailers customizing applications to fit customer requirements. With a clean user interface, create customized integration tools in API frameworks. Consistent monitoring and diagnostic tools channel its support system.
| Stores available | 240,000 |
| Payment plans | Annual subscription: $22000 |
| Languages used | 10 |
| Integration add-ons | 750+ |
Benefits
- Independently scale frontend and backend operations with a cloud-based platform.
- Forecast and detect supply chain issues with advanced inventory management.
- Personalized customer experience with a well-secured DDOS protection wall
- SWAT tool monitoring and superior application integration
Limitations
- Costly domain experience with additional charges on hosting websites
- Complex user interface lacking the capability of editing orders.
- Induces the need for hiring technical skills and knowledge
Commercetools
What is it?
A cloud-based interface that delivers an API-driven approach promoting information transfer between frontend customers and backend systems. Allowing users the flexibility and scalability to venture into customized infrastructure solutions. An easy to use UI interface and consistent integration options are consistently featured.
| Stores available | 300,000 |
| Payment plans | Annual subscription: $30,000 |
| Languages used | 3 |
| Integration add-ons | 25+ |
| Application used | Contentstack, Cybersource, Frontstatic |
Benefits
- Quickly adapts to market changes with new feature adaptations
- Lower maintenance costs as it limits payment to unwanted features or processes.
- Unlimited flexible scalability
Limitations
- Cumbersome campaign handling
- Limits a wide range of parameters, such as cart discounts or order sizes
Frequently Asked Questions
What are headless commerce solutions?
Headless commerce solutions support diverse digital storefront content customization with their independent frontend and backend operations.
What are the kinds of headless commerce solutions available?
Shopify Plus, Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce, and CommerceTools are among others.
Why should businesses consider headless commerce solutions?
With an omnichannel outlook, these solutions reduce the time to market, cut the total cost of ownership, improve commerce platform control, offer scalable performance, and much more.
Conclusion
As only a mere 29% of commerce platform decision makers are able to fully understand the outstanding potential of headless commerce solutions, we have managed to give a concise review on it. Depending on the business size, scope, and targets, e-commerce retailers can now scale a high magnitude of profitability.
Also Read:
Composable Commerce: Future Goes Headless Into Customization
Ecommerce Business Ready for Instant Commerce: Best Business
