Headless commerce: E-commerce integration with automation systems like ERP or CRM

The term ‘Headless’ is coined in 2013 by businessman Dirk Hoerig, which simply refers to the ability to update the visible part of a solution (website/application) without even touching the frontend, unlike the usual development process.

Before becoming a trend, there existed multiple content management systems, which were already capable to provide headless functionality, called headless CMSs.

And once, the headless CMSs were started getting praised by the users who were also the entrepreneurs at some level, this technology has then fully been dragged into businesses, especially in the eCommerce ones.

Since then, headless commerce is not just a type of development for ecommerce software solutions, but it has also been used for the purpose of integration with third-party resources.

In this article, we will talk about-

• The basics of Headless Commerce.
• How does Headless Commerce work?
• Ecommerce integration with automation systems like ERP and CRM, which is considered the most crucial for large-scale enterprising businesses.

Basics of Headless Commerce

In simple words, Headless Commerce is basically a combining tool for the back-end and front-end part of an eCommerce solution. It manages both the layers separately and frees one end from being operated.

In this, the front end or the “head”, which in most cases is a theme only, gets decoupled. Leaving only the backend to operate and freeing the developer to depend on the front-end designer.

As far as its working is concerned, let us see how it comes into action-

How Does Headless Commerce Work?

Headless commerce architecture is a decoupled architectural modal that consists of two independent layers. We know those layers as front-end and back-end. In this form of architecture, the main focus stays on delivering the content using APIs, but the controlling of both the layers would stay at one end only.

For Example, if a user is requesting an order through a mobile application or website, the frontend, and backend both would use an API call separately to execute the order, the same way it would have happened in the traditional eCommerce solution.

The only difference here is the singular control over both the ends i.e. the front end and the back-end. Ultimately, here also the layers have communicated with each other but via APIs.

Let us see now, how headless commerce does facilitate various crucial integrations especially the ERP and CRM simultaneously-

Headless Commerce In ERP Integration

It is a fact that to keep things running smoothly in a large-scale enterprise, ERP integration plays a vital role and therefore is equally important as any other resource.

Back-office management comes under ERP and it is thoroughly controlled by ERP solutions in enterprise-level businesses. To scale and draw benefits from it, an eCommerce solution would require to have ERP management integrated within the software.

Know more: Enterprise Application Integration: Types, Benefits, and Challenges Unlocked

To do so, an easy adaptation of a new interface within the primary software is a challenge.

Headless e-commerce architecture comes here and allows easy adaptation of any new software, which is to be integrated and provide one of the major strengths that any business solution requires to attain ‘single-point operation control.’

ERP basically manages the data belonging to products, customers, transactions, inventory, and almost every data generating dimension within an enterprise-level business or a small business.

Using headless commerce architecture and getting ERP solutions integrated with the eCommerce solution, businesses can draw maximum advantage from eCommerce capabilities.

Headless Commerce in CRM Integration

Unlike traditional architecture, headless commerce has a separate inventory management system. It doesn’t require external resources to manage the same or to store the content.

However, the traditional ones use dedicated resources like CRMs, POS solutions, and extra safety systems like EDI integrated security managing tools.

What happens with the headless commerce-based platform is, it adapts the integration like a part of it and almost vanishes the need for external or partial integrations that usually require plugins, and from time to time update.

However, post getting a hint of why CRM integration is essential, let us now look into some of the benefits of Headless Commerce-

Benefits of Headless Commerce

If it is being used by many tech giants, that must not be happening without a reason for sure. The following are the reasons because of which, you should also consider it in the case of having a business as you might not regret switching to this new ‘Headless Commerce’ version of a business.

It Provides Omnichannel Experience

It does not bound or restrict the content to be shared to or on any other platform. It offers the liberty to share the content irrespective of time and location.

It Provides Personalized Customer Experience

Headless commerce is known to provide a familiar feel when it comes to doing shopping on an eCommerce website. It uses the data that keeps on getting stored on its own content storing system and provides a perfectly personalized experience to every user.

It Provides Flexible Developing Environment

With the main objective of mitigating the dependency over the two layers at both ends, and controlling them from one end only, Headless Commerce allows the developers to work on one end without worrying about its effect on the other end at the same time.

In addition, it allows working in any framework that the developer wants to develop the solution in.

It Allows Easy integrations

The headless architecture allows easy connection with external resources and such that one can easily outreach the limitless channels to reach limitless audience irrespective of its geographical existence in no time.

It Consumes Less Time

With Headless Commerce, one can develop multiple touchpoints and interactive eCommerce solutions without consuming the time that is ordinarily taken by traditional development tools.

It Is Comprehensive

With more of what is desired, Headless Commerce is quite easy to learn, as well as to develop. Apart from the several benefits that have been mentioned above, there exist plenty of ones yet remaining. Make sure, that you hire the best enterprise software development company to get your business solution developed.

It isn’t a game to play on but a business that requires smarter solutions with ever-changing generations. Proceed ahead with a game-changing environment and get things done in an easier way.