Headless eCommerce: not always the holy grail

It is the solution to differentiate yourself in eCommerce, it is the evolution of online business and it is suitable for every organization. Just a few statements that you find online when you search for “Headless eCommerce”. But don't let it fool you! Headless eCommerce can be interesting, but it can also be an investment that is disproportionate to what it brings you. In this blog, we will explain the benefits of headless eCommerce and which points you should definitely consider before you start with headless eCommerce.

What is headless eCommerce?

With headless eCommerce, the frontend presentation (“the head”) is disconnected from the backend commerce functionality. This means that you update or change the frontend independently of the backend and do not use the frontend which the eCommerce platform offers.

Benefits of headless eCommerce

Let's start with the bright side. Headless eCommerce has a lot of advantages that make it interesting to consider for your organization::

1. You have maximum flexibility in the design of your webshop because you are not bound by predefined templates of platforms.
2. It is a way of offering a uniform omnichannel image to your target group. This way you can use the same tone of voice at every touchpoint of the customer journey without restrictions.
   Fun fact: A Harvard Business Review of 46,000 shoppers found that shoppers who had used multiple channels bought more online than shoppers who only consulted one channel.
3. As a marketer you want to have the freedom to test the usability (UX) and to continuously optimize it. New designs and campaigns can be tested with headless eCommerce without having to adjust a line of code in the backend, with the risk of delays or downtime of the website.
4. It contributes to optimal loading times of your webshop pages and that gives you a strong(er) SEO position. Google values ​​the speed of your website. Some companies report that they have achieved an improvement of as much as 70% in loading time with headless eCommerce.

Considerations before you start with headless eCommerce

We already revealed it in the introduction, headless eCommerce does not only have advantages. Above all, remain critical and research carefully whether it is worth the investment for your organization. Does the potential competitive advantage outweigh the consequences of opting for headless eCommerce?

Moving to a headless eCommerce platform can involve overhauling large parts of the existing architecture. You also need developers who develop, improve and maintain the frontend of the webshop. You do not set up the frontend once, as it needs continuous development. So also keep the future in mind.

Do you have your own developers? Great! Do they have enough time to manage the full frontend? Hmm, maybe not. If you don't have your own developers, you look for them externally. However, this does mean that you are dealing with two different partners for the front and backend. How practical do you think this is for your business?

Costs are a consideration, but not necessarily the most important. Functionality, understanding of the sector, support and cultural fit also determine whether the collaboration with a partner is successful.

What is most important to you? Before you choose headless eCommerce, list the pros and cons.