The benefits of headless e-commerce – 6 application examples
A term that is cropping up more and more frequently in the e-commerce world: "headless". What's behind it is a revolutionary concept that turns classic e-commerce on its head. It allows more freedom in design, more functionalities and more integrations for unique customer experiences.
Doesn't sound bad, does it? We think so, too - and we can think of a few more benefits, too.
1 – Individual design
Especially for individual brands that value customer experience, Headless e-commerce offers maximum flexibility thanks to the decoupling of front-end and back-end.
In a traditional e-commerce platform, also known as a monolithic all-in-one model, the front end and the back end are closely linked. Headless e-commerce, on the other hand, provides for a separation of these two areas: More details
Imagine a store where the storefront and warehouse are separate. You can change your storefront, i.e. your website, individually at any time without affecting your warehouse, i.e. your database with prices and inventory.
With traditional e-commerce platforms, changes to one side are accompanied by changes to the other. While this connection can be convenient, it limits creativity. With headless ecommerce, brands don't have to worry about data or logic behind it and can design their online store however they want.
2 – Personalization
A wholesale business can use a headless e-commerce system to create a personalized customer experience. It can choose the front-end technology that best suits its needs and develop a dedicated interface for wholesale customers. With this, customers can place orders, track their past purchases, and access tailored discounts and offers.
3 – Multichannel distribution
A fashion retailer with both physical stores and online stores could use a headless e-commerce system to facilitate sales across multiple channels. The backend of the headless system can manage product information, pricing and inventory. In parallel, various front-ends designed specifically for the online store, mobile apps or even in-store kiosks can interact seamlessly with the back-end.
4 – Easy expansion
A company looking to expand into multiple countries could opt for Headless E-Commerce to create different front-ends for different markets. Each frontend could be available in the local language and provide specific features or offers for that market. The backend data remains unchanged, ensuring consistency and accuracy.
5 – IoT integration
A home and kitchen goods company can use a headless e-commerce system to enable IoT applications, such as smart refrigerators or voice-assistant devices. Customers can order products directly from these devices while the backend processes the orders and forwards them to the inventory management system.
6 – AR/VR experiences
A furniture company can use a headless e-commerce system to offer AR/VR shopping experiences. Customers can use VR glasses to see how the furniture would look in their own homes and order products directly from the VR environment.
Conclusion: headless e-commerce is for everyone
These examples illustrate the flexibility of headless e-commerce and how it enables businesses to create innovative customer experiences. The type of business or their specific market requirements do not matter.
We've had the pleasure of leading several clients into the new age of headless solutions, and we look forward to possibly joining you on this exciting journey!
