The idea of “headless commerce” is becoming popular in eCommerce. However, don’t ignore it just because it’s popular; there’s a good reason why it did so.
Many well-known firms use Magento, a robust eCommerce platform. Magento is renowned for its reliable performance, adaptable menu, and user-friendly complicated catalog organization as a backend solution. Magento is still regarded as a classic monolithic solution, which means that the frontend performance is significantly worse even though it is open to third-party extensions.
This post is intended for Magento store owners who wish to use headless commerce. Learn about the benefits of headless e-commerce, the primary techniques for implementing Magento headless, and how to be ready for the switch.
What is headless Magento 2?
Why consider going headless with Magento?
Numerous well-known eCommerce platform brands, such as Magento, function as monoliths. It would take more time and thought to make Magento headless.
How can Magento-based stores benefit from headless?
The headless commerce method speaks for individual layers instead of a monolithic organization. It offers the adaptability that modern organizations require.
A headless Magento shop benefits the company more in the long run than a standard all-in-one monolith architecture, even though it does need some initial costs and effort investment.
Independent frontend results in better performance
The backend, frontend, and API layer for communication are the three decoupled layers that make up a headless architecture. By reducing the amount of work the backend does to create the user interface, an API-first strategy speeds up and improves the optimization of your shop.
Now, the frontend creates its own HTML to display to the user, while the backend is mostly in charge of supplying specific data packs via API queries. Because all three levels are independent and detachable, the IT team may directly apply specific modifications, which expedites the development process.
Decoupled interface layer helps improve customer experience
Customizing a monolithic platform is difficult because a single mistake can trigger issues throughout the entire store. But backend logic remains intact in a frontend that is separated. This implies additional room for testing novel functions, cutting-edge innovations, or improved user interfaces.
One further benefit of headless Magento is its ability to generate distinct frontends for each device. Such an online store would maintain as native and fluid an experience as possible by supporting many interfaces for various devices — no decrease in conversion rates due to interface issues.
Headless architecture eases the omnichannel experience
Being where the customers are is crucial for a successful commerce brand. This indicates that the significance of a smooth omnichannel experience is increasing. Finding new channels and platforms with a headless online store is more straightforward to stay ahead of customer demands. Stores can add new “ heads “ without overwhelming the backend codebase.
Furthermore, as we have already discussed, it is feasible to adhere to adaptable design guidelines while designing a unique interface for every one of these heads. Headless maximizes the benefits of omnichannel strategy by helping organizations deliver an excellent customer experience across all touchpoints.
How to migrate to Magento headless commerce
This point presumably persuades you that switching to a headless Magento is the best action. If so, you can use one of three main approaches.
Leverage PWA Studio
You can use a simple do-it-yourself fix to maintain the same eCommerce platform. Your team can use PWA Studio tools to build a PWA-powered front end and make Magento headless.
With the help of progressive web app technology, websites may function on mobile devices just like native apps. PWAs speed up the website and give you additional capabilities for a better user experience. Additionally, they offer a more seamless experience, which raises sales and increases conversion rates.
It is a time-consuming process, though, as creating unique PWAs requires much effort. A group of skilled developers with experience creating PWAs and integrating them with backend systems is also necessary. It should be noted that you must update to Magento 2.3 if you’re still using version 1.
This method offers you great control over what and how you build but also entails additional maintenance and process oversight duties. Is it feasible to assign a portion of the procedure?
This leads us to the second, more effective tactic.
Use Frontend as a Service
It is acceptable to use a specially designed PWA-powered frontend for the Magento backend; however, it could be a more time-efficient tactic. The Frontend as a Service concept is helpful in this situation.
Frontend as a Service, or FEaaS, is a comprehensive, fully customizable solution with all the infrastructure required to build a decoupled frontend. High-performance API-first modules in the ecosystem let developers create highly flexible and performant frontends much more quickly.
An out-of-the-box Magento PWA integration is available with Vue Storefront. The solution supports versions 1 and 2 of Magento. It’s one of the quickest and most ROI-friendly ways to decapitate your store and go headless, combining the strength of PWAs with the FEaaS methodology.
Transforming from a headless Magento backend + composable PWA frontend bundle to a monolith Magento allowed TALLY WEiJL to achieve a 140% boost in conversion rate. By emphasizing enhanced performance and a mobile-first strategy, the PWA solution enables the business to lower maintenance costs and meet the demands of the Gen Z market.
Additionally, FEaaS requires less time and is more economical. The pre-made modules can be customized in every way. This makes the switch to headless on a constrained time and money more accessible. It took Winkelstraat.nl only a few weeks to familiarize itself with third-party connectors and built-in modules and a few days to develop the foundation.
Turn to full-scale headless architecture.
There is, however, always the fully customizable bespoke option if you want your online store to be as customizable as possible. In this scenario, you construct your entire store from separate building pieces, selecting your preferred tech providers for each function. Everything is up to you: CMS, CDN, checkout module, payment processors, and search engines.
LoveCrafts chose not to switch to a new version of the same platform when the time came to transition from Magento 1, having been introduced to composable commerce before it was popular. Rather, they merged Vue Storefront for the frontend commerce platform with commercetools, a headless commerce platform.
How to prepare for the headless Magento transition
You may avoid fully re-platforming charges and save money and work by continuing to run your backend logic on Magento. However, before hopping on a headless Magento train, there are a few things to consider.
- Strategy
You may find one technique more appealing than another, depending on your own circumstances. Three key questions should be asked when making a decision:
To what extent may you allocate developer resources for construction and ongoing upkeep?
How long does it take to put a new architecture into practice?
How much money do you have?
A tailored strategy is possible if your team builds and manages a custom system. Big eCommerce brands with specified module requirements and no money or time constraints prefer this technique.
You may start constructing a bespoke frontend with Frontend as a Service. FEaaS is for fast, efficient, headless Magento implementation. Vue Storefront’s PWA can quickly take your business headless and improve client experience.
Additionally, Vue Storefront’s Magento integration is open-source.
2) Developers
Whatever strategy you choose, you’ll require developers. Your team needs full-stack developers to manage the backend.
Frontend development requires PWA and API orchestration experts.
3) Third-party integrations
Composable commerce lets you choose tech vendors. Some third-party software cannot be used in a headless system. Find API-based tech vendors or build your own.
To simplify system mapping, Vue Storefront offers 30+ out-of-the-box headless CMS, payment, search, and other third-party connections.
Go headless with Magento and Vue Storefront.
Enhance your Magento-based store with a headless frontend solution to enjoy the advantages of decoupled architecture. Get the brief whitepaper to find out how it operates.
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