So, whether you already have an eCommerce store or will soon have one, you want your store to be accessible. The easier it is to get to your eCommerce store, the higher your chances of making a sale. That is why you should consider having headless eCommerce, as it will be beneficial for your frontend.
So, what exactly is headless commerce? Simply put, headless eCommerce is a solution that delivers, manages, and stores content without a frontend delivery layer. It’s the separation of the backend and frontend of eCommerce applications.
Many eCommerce platforms have been around for quite some time. However, those platforms are considered to be conventional monolithic platforms.
Traditional e-commerce was a set of applications packaged in a single ‘box.’ That way, users had all these options in one: catalog, PIM, CNS, search, CMS, basket, order management, checkout process, etc.
In retrospect, techs found anything related to eCommerce in the same place. On this single platform, engineers use pages and templates to create storefronts. This means that UX is predefined and also included in the box. The suite typically predefines all languages, architectures, frameworks, and technologies. Hence the monogram; mono means “one,” i.e., to be one.
Let accessibility of your eCommerce front be your competitive advantage
What an accessible eCommerce frontend looks like
Before introducing headless commerce, technicians were told what they could use when building a storefront. So, some lucky people get basic technology like javascript language (PHP or JSP), asp.net, etc. However, most stick to the established mixed languages, specialized templates, and markup.
These traditional pages and platforms no longer fit well with an omnichannel experience as time went by. Adding weight to the need for an omnichannel experience is a study by the Harvard Business Review. The publication stated that about 70% of online shoppers purchase omnichannel.
Another research also highlighted that 10% of people making purchases via multiple channels are more likely to spend 10% more.
When you use headless eCommerce, your eCommerce frontend becomes more accessible. What’s more, you will have access to the exact brand look you aim for. You won’t have to deal with restrictions, compromises, or cookie-cutter visual themes.
There are many different options for going headless, and choosing a PWA (progressive web app) is one such way. A PWA guarantees you unique speed benefits. Thanks to the PWA architecture, this website surfed in a web browser and behaved like a downloadable native app.
What’s more, PWAs ask for as much information as a regular web page. Likewise, only the section of the screen changes when you click on a page instead of loading the entire page.
What a headless eCommerce solution will do for your eCommerce frontend
So, other than an Omni-channel experience that could potentially boost sales and increase accessibility, here are more reasons why you should and can opt for a headless frontend e-commerce solution:
1 – Seamless integration
A headless eCommerce environment is API-driven. As such, integration with other marketing automation tools, ERPs and CRMs is seamless. In addition, a headless architecture makes the eCommerce environment flexible when integrating with other systems.
2 – Conversion optimization
If you have a traditional system or template, you most likely have limited flexibility in trying different things to enhance a customer’s experience and journey.
Having headless eCommerce lets you experiment with different designs, product pages, templates, etc. This, in turn, gives a business a competitive edge.
3 – Technology
The ability to choose a frontend technology is another added advantage. This is because different template solutions come with various programming languages. This makes the template inflexible. Headless commerce gives you options depending on where the tech team works.
4 – Better customer experience
The Harvard Study Review also conducted a study that highlighted that eCommerce store owners with Omni-channels for selling their products are at an advantage. About 23% of buyers log back on to a platform to purchase the product. This means there will be more brand loyalty.
This data makes it clear that having a headless eCommerce solution enables a business to provide commerce all over by selling on different channels. The result is increased brand loyalty and sales.
5 – Fast site speed
When you have a store built as a progressive web app (PWA), the site’s architecture is different. However, all bulky backend functions remain separated from the store frontend customer experience. Initially, your customers won’t be able to tell much of a difference. Then, however, they will notice that the site’s page loading times are faster than before.
6 – Higher conversion rate
When you go headless, there are higher conversions. Since PWAs lessen fiction more so on mobile, the mobile version of your site gives an immersive and more intuitive shopping experience. This, in turn, will turn more visitors into customers.
Conclusion
Starting with headless e-commerce is a progressive decision that will make your business earn a lot. A headless eCommerce also gives your tech stack flexibility, enabling you to work faster, thus saving you on costs and keeping the platform agile.