Headless e-Commerce vs Microservices in e-Commerce: Difference

 Headless e-Commerce vs Microservices in e-Commerce: Difference

We keep talking about microservices and e-commerce. Microservices, such as headless e-commerce, are trending right now.

It turns out that many businesses are moving away from monolithic applications, starting to implement microservices. Some studies show high adoption of microservices by different businesses, and the number tends to increase.

A microservices architecture is a loosely coupled set of services that collaborate to create a system.

Headless e-commerce

Another trend in recent years is headless e-commerce. In fact, given its characteristics, you can consider it as one more version of microservices. If you don't remember what the headless approach was, I recommend you read the following articles:

·         Headless CMS

·         Headless CMS Platforms - Why Should You Use Them?

Electronic commerce headless means (headless) decouple the presentation layer of the front end of the engine back-end e-commerce.

Headless e-Commerce vs Microservices in e-Commerce: Difference

Headless approach in e-Commerce

In this case, you have much more flexibility for content delivery, because unlike traditional e-commerce websites where "the head" controls what the end customer sees you can connect a CMS such as WordPress and Woocommerce, some Digital Experience platform, or whatever you need, because using APIs, the possibilities are endless.

This flexibility allows you to change the frontend of your e-commerce without having secondary effects on the backend operations.

Your customers will appreciate the security, speed and usability, and unique digital experience of your e-commerce. In addition, your teams and businesses will benefit from process innovation and much faster changes to the front end without compromising the backend.

Headless vs Microservices

As we have discussed previously, it is true that the headless approach allows you to have parts of your system decoupled. In this case the front end of the backend. This is a breakthrough for your online business.

If you want to go a step further, it's worth knowing that microservices architecture provides you with a totally decoupled service-oriented architecture and platform.

As we saw in last week's article, you can literally have one provider for each of the characteristics of your e-commerce. If you know how to manage it correctly, success will only be a matter of time.

What advantages are there in e-commerce with a microservices architecture or ine-commerce with a headless approach compared to monolithic e-commerce?

Advantages of e-commerce with microservices and headless

·        Microservices architecture provides a flexible foundation

·        Heavy frontend traffic does not affect backend operations

·        Possibility of having different frontends that connect to the backend .

·        Faster deployments thanks to decentralized processes and developments

·        Each microservice fulfills a business function.

·        Possibility of choosing the services and providers specialized in your need

Disadvantages of Microservices compared to Headless e-Commerce

As we discussed other times, obviously not everything is advantageous for a microservices architecture. If you decide to take the step, from monolithic to decoupled approach, and decide to choose Microservices, you will find the following:

·        The microservices architecture, more than the headless approach, requires a change in the organization and in the culture of the organization

·        A microservices system forces you to make changes to infrastructure, tools, and how to monitor all the different microservices. The costs of your e-commerce can skyrocket. The headless approach allows you to have more flexibility with fewer resources and fewer changes to your system. In fact, you can use your Woocommerce as the backend and most of the investment would be on the frontend.

·        Totally decoupled microservices architecture can skyrocket costs.

Conclusion

To conclude, I think you have been able to understand that, in today's market, monolithic architecture is no longer the only solution and you have few competitive options, if your brand has grown and you want to have a significant e-commerce presence. It does not allow you to innovate at the speed that retail currently requires.

Microservices, being an API-driven approach can take the flexibility of your e-commerce to levels you have never imagined, improving the digital experience of your users, and that of your developers .

Headless e-commerce allows you to have some of the advantages of microservices, without the disadvantages referred to in this article, since you invest in fewer resources that you will have to manage later.

What is the best option for your business? Depends. That is why you must properly research and study the needs of your business before making any decision. If you need help to do so, do not hesitate to contact us!