What is headless trading and why is it important?

the next stage of ecommerce evolution has been building for several years. As businesses look to catch up with omnichannel demand, they will likely read more and more about “headless commerce” and its benefits. Companies should be aware of several aspects of this type of architecture when deciding if headless commerce is right for them.

Let’s dive into it: Exactly one headless architecture industry? In essence, that’s where the UI presentation layer is decoupled from any backend. All backend systems become “headless”, with the front-end presentation layer becoming “head”. You can have multiple heads: website, mobile app, watch app, in-store kiosk.

They all use the same backend system in the same way. The backend systems include commerce, content management, product information management, and order management, etc. The key to these backend systems being able to work in this architecture is that they has powerful application programming interfaces (APIs) that let you do everything an app can do.

Pros and cons of headless trade

There are several benefits to adopting a headless architecture. These include greater flexibility, faster release of new features, seamless experience across all channels, security, and scalability. Break down these benefits and how they work:

• System Swap: Some systems or platforms will improve over time and some will not. The latter will become unsupported or reach the “end of life”. Some may need improvements or upgrades as the business grows.
• more agile: If a new system is needed, it can be easily added via API connections and placed in the head. An example would be a loyalty program added to an e-commerce company. Add the system once and connect it from each end if needed.
• Stronger: Separating the UI presentation from the backend logic makes the system more robust because changes on the front end won’t affect your backend logic. Each system is powerful, making the complete system more reliable.

While there are several benefits to a headless architecture, there are also potential challenges that need to be addressed:

• Value: Separating the user interface system and the backend system means that each system will require its own maintenance and storage. Having good partners or a strong in-house IT department will help reduce this cost, but it can still be higher than with a single system.
• Complexity: Managing systems that are independent of each other means understanding failures in two different systems or building security for two different systems. Each team will have a learning curve as they build and deploy separate front-ends and backends.

Getting their systems to a state where the benefits become a reality can be a challenge for many companies. The benefits of headless commerce really shine when most of an organization’s systems (or at least the systems in an area) have become headless and detached. As an organization builds towards this state, it will be in a mixed world where it blends the old and the new, working to overcome these challenges. Companies should be fully aware that the headless transition can be challenging and time-consuming. This can leave a bad impression on those involved in the process until the entire system or a specific area is transformed and resolved.

Do not settle for one area; digital transformation plan

Companies embarking on this convert be aware of its process. You can’t just have a headless commerce and content system to get the real benefits of a headless customer experience. Customer service, order management, inventory, loyalty, and CRM all need to be part of any transformation. If you don’t architect the entire customer experience this way, you’ll slow down your own conversions and limit the customer experience.

Beware of missionaries

In this space, it is easy to find missionaries – people who are closely tied to their future version. They often disparage other systems and are quick to label them “old” or “difficult to integrate”. This is easy to do when sitting in a company that calls itself “modern”. the reality of digital transformation, systems and architecture is that every company is on a transformational scale, and some companies go further than others and have their own unique challenges. The right way to transform is different for everyone. While there are some inferior systems, buyers should be aware that claims from evangelists must be fact-checked or somehow substantiated when evaluating options.

Conclusion

To answer our original question, do people need headless? Organizations must weigh the pros and cons listed above to determine what best suits their needs. Organizations should be cautious with the process of adopting this architecture. Separating the “head” of the frontend from the “headless” system of the backend provides reliability and performance benefits, setting the stage for agile future growth.

This transition takes time: Many legacy and legacy systems cannot function inside a headless architecture, especially in ERP systems (generally, the older they are, the worse it is if not refactored). Companies must be strategic in their investments as they decouple their systems and begin headless commercial deployments. Understanding the benefits and challenges allows organizations to create a plan that recognizes and enables them to overcome obstacles along the way.

Gerry Szatvanii is the CEO of digital OSF

Rob Smith is the Vice President of Go-To Market at OSF Digital