Headless Commerce Platforms to Consider in 2023

Headless Commerce Platforms to Consider in 2023

The term “headless ecommerce” has gained significant popularity in the ecommerce industry. Consumers today access content through various touchpoints, ranging from mobile devices to IoT to progressive web apps (PWA). As a result, conventional web platforms are no longer sufficient for delivering content to these platforms and meeting customers’ evolving demands. Traditional ecommerce stores and their owners are struggling to keep pace.

To assist you in choosing the best option for your business, we’ve provided an overview of the top 8 headless ecommerce tools that can enhance the growth and future-proofing of your online store. 

Shopify Plus

One option is Shopify Plus, a cloud-based ecommerce platform for small and medium-sized businesses. It offers headless commerce and is tailored to meet the needs of high-growth enterprise customers. With Shopify Plus, you can turn any device into a potential sales channel, and there are unlimited possibilities for customization through integrations with various tools.

Developers can choose the frontend frameworks that best suit a particular sales channel and incorporate third-party tools and systems. While established enterprise businesses will find the pricing of Shopify Plus suitable for their needs, growing brands that fall between traditional Shopify and Shopify Plus may find it costly.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) based ecommerce platform that allows merchants to build and expand their online stores. It offers enterprise-grade capabilities and ease of use and can be personalized to meet specific needs. BigCommerce is a headless-ready platform that allows any frontend to create content-rich experiences.

Furthermore, it provides flexible APIs and a multi-storefront option that allows companies to expand their business in various regions or launch multiple brands. Although BigCommerce has all the features needed for an ecommerce platform, integrating with other essential tools may sometimes pose a challenge.

Adobe Commerce

Adobe Commerce, formerly known as Magento, is a commerce platform now part of the Adobe product suite. It allows businesses to create multichannel commerce experiences tailored to their unique needs. With native integrations to other parts of the Adobe Suite, including Analytics, Experience Manager, and Creative Cloud, Adobe Commerce provides a robust foundation for building personalized shopping experiences.

This platform also offers a broad range of extensions and integrations, allowing easy eCommerce store customization and scaling. However, the platform’s complexity and the associated learning curve may make it challenging for some businesses to get started, particularly those with limited resources.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a commerce platform part of the Salesforce suite of products. It offers an agile solution built on top of Salesforce CRM, making it effortless to connect with other products within the suite. Through Salesforce Commerce, eCommerce stores can implement API-first commerce and deliver an exceptional shopping experience to their customers.

Moreover, Salesforce provides a library of pre-built integrations that eCommerce stores can use to enhance their website and develop mobile apps. However, relying solely on the Salesforce suite can create difficulties when integrating with tools outside the suite and maintaining a lightweight tech stack that allows for the flexibility and adaptability of eCommerce stores.

Commercetools 

Commercetools is a prominent commerce platform that follows MACH principles: Microservices-based, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless. This approach allows eCommerce stores to customize customer experiences according to their specific requirements. Being API-first, Commercetools provides a flexible and modular solution that can be integrated with other systems and tools.

Moreover, the platform is cloud-native, which means it can handle high traffic volumes and scale quickly without compromising performance. Being headless, Commercetools allows businesses to decouple the front-end presentation layer from the back-end commerce logic, enabling greater flexibility and agility in creating customer experiences.

However, the MACH approach may require additional expertise and resources to set up and maintain, making it challenging for smaller businesses with limited technical capabilities.

Kibo Commerce

Kibo Commerce is a cloud-based eCommerce platform that empowers businesses to launch personalized commerce experiences using a future-proof and modular architecture. Kibo Commerce’s API-first and microservices-based architecture aligns with modern headless commerce platforms and helps businesses meet customer demand while remaining agile.

The platform’s flexible and scalable architecture enables businesses to customize their eCommerce solutions according to their unique needs. With Kibo Commerce, businesses can easily integrate with other systems and tools, allowing for seamless management of their eCommerce operations.

However, the platform’s pricing may not be suitable for small businesses and may require additional technical expertise to set up and maintain. Nonetheless, Kibo Commerce’s modular architecture and API-first approach make it an excellent option for businesses looking to create personalized eCommerce experiences and stay future-proof.

Elastic Path

Elastic Path is a composable, API-first headless commerce solution that empowers brands to create and deliver digital commerce experiences across various touchpoints and markets. With Elastic Path, businesses can support omnichannel commerce, providing a seamless shopping experience for their customers across any touchpoint.

The platform’s composable architecture allows businesses to build and customize their eCommerce solutions by leveraging existing components, modules, and microservices. Moreover, Elastic Path’s headless approach provides flexibility and agility in creating and delivering customer experiences.

However, the composable architecture may require additional technical expertise to set up and maintain, making it challenging for smaller businesses with limited resources. The platform’s API-first approach may require additional development efforts to integrate with other systems and tools.

Spryker Commerce Cloud

Spryker Commerce Cloud is a platform as a service (PaaS) solution that offers an API-based and composable architecture. Its Glue API enables developers to connect to any frontend and create a unique headless experience, even integrating with voice assistants or smart shelves using sensors. However, Spryker has a steep learning curve for those unfamiliar with the platform, which may result in longer implementation times.

Ready to go Headless? 

It’s important to note that headless commerce can be a complex concept for some businesses to understand and implement. Additionally, not every solution offers a user-friendly experience to get started on your headless commerce journey.

Our crew at vtlabs are experts at headless commerce, and we’re ready to chat with you about your dream e-commerce platform. Give us a shout for a free consultation!