Definition: Composable Commerce

What is composable commerce?

Composable commerce is a modern approach to building digital commerce platforms that emphasizes flexibility and customization. Unlike monolithic eCommerce systems, where all components are tightly integrated, composable commerce uses a modular structure that allows businesses to leverage microservices. These microservices are independent, specialized services that can be easily integrated or replaced, so companies can select the best tools in the market for their specific needs, such as a Product Information Management (PIM) solution or a payment processor, and build their ideal eCommerce infrastructure.

The composable commerce approach is beneficial for businesses as it offers them flexibility, scalability, and the ability to integrate best-of-breed technologies, so they can quickly adapt to changing market conditions and business requirements.

How does the MACH architecture relate to composable commerce?

Composable commerce is often built on the MACH architecture, which stands for microservices, API-first, cloud-native, and headless. The MACH architecture provides the technological foundation that makes composable commerce possible by providing businesses with a flexible and modular approach.

Each element of the MACH architecture supports the core principles of composable commerce:

Microservices ensure that each part of the commerce platform is developed and managed independently.
API-first design allows different services and platforms to communicate and work together seamlessly.
Cloud-native infrastructure offers the scalability needed to adapt and grow as and when business requirements change.
Headless architecture decouples the front-end user experience from the back-end functionality, enabling faster updates and seamless content delivery across multiple channels.

By adopting MACH architecture, businesses can move away from the limitations of traditional, monolithic platforms and fully embrace the flexibility and agility of composable commerce.