What is Headless Commerce? Suitable for the E-Commerce business that wants to grow up or not?

Beautiful web, but sales are not going anywhere? You may stick to the 'E-Commerce' trap without knowing it.

Are you the owner of the E-Commerce business that is headache with this? The website uses a famous platform. Encourage the product until complete The design is beautifully customized. But why ... sales are not as grown as you think? Will adjust the first page design to make an urgent campaign, can be done slowly, will not add new sales channels Like selling through the app or KIOSK screen in the event, it looks very far. In addition, the website is starting to slow down everywhere. When there are a lot of people

If you are nodding ... You are not alone. This problem is the "side effects" of the use of traditional e-commerce that everything is "tied" in one place. Which used to be good at the beginning But when your business starts to grow up These limitations will become "walls" that are invisible. In the end of your business growth

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Why does the general E-Commerce website become a 'cage' growth?

Have you ever wondered why to expand or change anything on our website? "It's so difficult"? The root of the problem is mostly from architecture called 'Monolithic' or the only 'model, including everything' that most ready -made e -commerce platforms use.

Imagine that Your website is like a "building". MONOLITHIC architecture is to build a building at the "Front" that the customer saw, such as the design, buttons, and backynd parts that are used to manage everything, such as stock, promotions, payment.

The result is:

• Would like to repair or decorate the new store (Fronntd) must always affect the main structure (Backend): To adjust the first page design, it may take a long time to develop. Because it is tied to the complex backyard system Making it unable to respond to trends or customer behavior that has changed quickly in time
• Difficult to expand the new branch: If wanting to show the product on Smartwatch, Kiosk, or even in the game, you can't do because your "storefront" is designed for "website" only. It is not flexible enough to display other results.
• When the shop is crowded, the shop is sluggish: because everything is working on the same structure. When heavy use The whole system will slow down all together. Resulting in worse customer experience and may lose the opportunity to sell unfortunately

This is the reason why many growth brands are starting to feel that the original platform that used to be well used. It began to become a "burden" that held them.

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If letting the 'sluggish' website and 'not flexible', what will happen? The disaster that is waiting for the destination

Ignoring the limitations of the original platform Not just making you "losing opportunities" but it may be "killing" your business in the long run. Because in the age of customers, there are many options The experience that "better" even a little It may mean the loss of customers to competitors forever.

The consequences that will definitely follow are:

• Lost customers to faster competitors: Research points out that only 1 second slow download website may reduce conversion rate up to 7% if your website is slow. Customers are ready to click to close and buy from the shop that is faster.
• Customer experience is not impressive: when you are unable to customize the web to match each group of customer behavior. Or create a unique experience (Personalization). They will feel that your brand doesn't understand him. And does not create any bonds
• The trend is not in time: E-Commerce world is very fast. Today, people buy things via Tiktok Shop. Tomorrow may buy via live live or via VR glasses. If your platform cannot connect to these new channels, you will be left behind immediately.
• The cost that is increasingly visible: The need to pay the developers to fix the complex code and tied together to improve the little things, which is considered a "technical debt" that is increasing. And pull the budget that you should use to develop other areas

In the end, being stuck in the frame of unhealthy technology. Will make your brand gradually Mất đI, competitiveness And may have to finally close

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Exit for brands that want to grow unlimitedly: Get to know 'Headless Commerce'

When the problem is that "head" (Fronttend) and "Backen" are too tied together. The most powerful solution is "Separate the head from the body"! This is the main concept of architecture called Headless Commerce.

What is Headless Commerce? It is an e-commerce architecture that "separates" the front of the shop (Fronntd) that the customer sees. Complete out from the backyard management system, both of which will talk and send information to each other through what is called API (Application Programming Interface).

So how is it good?

• Backd (backyard): still responsible for all important matters Whether product information, stock systems, orders, promotions, and customer information You can use a strong E-Commerce platform like Shopify Plus or BigCommerce as the backyard.
• Fronntd (storefront): This part is the point that Your "imagination"! When it was separated Your developer team will be fully free to create "storefront" in any form. By using the best technology and the most modern Whether it is:
  • The website is extremely fast and has a design. ĐộC đáo Không like
  • Mobile apps that provide specialized experience
  • Smart Mirror
  • Voice Commerce
  • Kiosk cabinet in the mall
  • Or even selling things in Metaverse!

The heart is "One house But there is an unlimited store. " Allowing you to truly create a seamless Omnichannel experience. Which channels will the customers buy? The information will be sent back to handle at the same Backer.

If you are considering moving platforms, try to study the moving manual for the E-Commerce (Repold) to see the overall process of the whole process.

Example from the real thing: when Thai fashion brands 'Salad' and then selling on a double day day

In order to be clearer Think about the story of "BKK STYLE" (assumed name), a Thai online fashion clothing brand that has encountered a heavy problem during the 11.11 campaign.

The pain yesterday: BKK Style uses ready -made platforms. Every time he organized a large campaign The marketing team wants to change the home design to match the campaign theme. But the correction is very slow Because having to wait for the programmers to fix the complex code Until the finished solving, then throwing into the afternoon of the campaign Causing enormous opportunities in the most important time In addition, when a lot of traffic came in, the website crashed! Causing customers to become frustrated and change their minds to buy other brands

Displaying mission: After the campaign, BKK Style decided to invest a big investment to use the Headless Commerce architecture. They use Shopify Plus as a backyard system to manage stock and order. And hiring a team of experts to build a store (Fronttend) with modern technology that emphasizes speed and easy change

The amazing result in the next 12.12 campaign:

• Prepare in a few hours: the marketing team can change the design, banner, and promotion on the webpage itself via the connected CMS. Without having to wait for the programmer Makes the webpage ready for the campaign from midnight exactly
• The web is fast, no crash: even though there are 3 times more customers to visit the web, but the webpage is still downloading because the Fronntd is designed to be loaded especially.
• Open a new sales channel: they can make a special pop-up for customers. "Try virtual clothes" via mobile apps and can also shoot feeds on the live screen of the Influencer. All of which connect to the same order system

The results are sales on BKK STYLE's campaign, an increase of over 250% compared to the previous time. And more importantly The brand has received a compliment about the experience of shopping that "smooth" and "modern" is overwhelming. This is the power of technology that is flexible and ready for true growth.

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If wanting to follow, what to do? Checklist 5 steps to be an e-commerce 'headless'

To switch to Headless Commerce, it is a careless investment. But if you are confident that this is the right direction for a business that needs scale This is the process you have to consider:

Step 1: Assessing your needs and goals (Asses Your Needs)
ask yourself clearly: Do you really want to create an omnichannel experience? What channels do you have to expand? Design and user experience (UX) that you want It's too complicated than the original platform, right? Comparison of a detailed platform in the Webflow vs Wordpress vs Wix vs Shopify may give you basic ideas.

Step 2: Choose 'Backynd' (Baccnd '(Backer) that is powerful and has an excellent API.
Looking for an e-commerce platform that is especially born to support Headless, such as Shopify Plus, BigCommerce, or Commercetools. These systems have stable API and all main functions, so developers can easily connect to Fronntd.

Step 3: Choose 'head' and technology to create
This is the part of creativity. You may use:

• Fronntd Frameworks: For example, React, Vue.js, or Next.js to create the fastest and interactive application.
• Headless CMS: Webflow , so that the marketing team can easily manage the content on the "head" or Fronntd without having to interfere with the code.

Step 4: Finding the 'Team' (Assemble Your Team),
you need a team of skills with skills and understanding in Headless architecture, especially they must be expert in connecting through API and can choose technology that is suitable for your goals. Which may be the In-House team or hiring an agent agent in Premium Webflow & E-Commerce Design .

Step 5: Plan The Migration, Migration,
Customer and Order information from the old system, must be done carefully. Including the launch plan (Go-Live) in order to affect the minimum current business If moving the platform is too big, consulting an expert in E-Commerce platform is a safe choice.

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Questions that people often suspect (FAQ) about Headless Commerce

Q1: Is Headless Commerce expensive? How much to invest?
A: More expensive than general ready -made platforms. Especially in the initial investment (UPFRONT COST) because there is a cost to develop a specific FROTEND But in the long run, it may be worth more for large businesses. Because it reduces the complex correction cost and increasing the speed of various campaigns Which helps to make money faster

Q2: Is a small business or SME suitable for Headless Commerce?
A: In general, "is not suitable". Headless Commerce is the most powerful for a business that has grown to a certain extent and starts to collide with the limitations of the original platform, wanting to create a complex Omnichannel experience, or need a maximum speed and performance if you are a SME that is just starting. Traditional platforms such as Shopify or WooCommerce are still worthwhile and sufficient options.

Q3: How big is the IT team to do?
A: You don't need a large IT team but you want. "Developers with the right skills". They must understand the work of API, Fronntd Frameworks, and modern architecture. Choosing an experienced partner or an experienced agency is a key.

Q4: How is it different from the Shopify that is currently used today?
A: SHOPIFY is a monolithic platform that combines the store and back of the house, but Shopify has a service called Shopify Plus, which opens the API to use the strong shopping backyard and hire a "head" or a beautiful FRONTEND.

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Summary: Headless Commerce is the 'upgrade ticket' to growth, not 'medicine' for everyone.

At this point, I believe that you should clearly see that Headless Commerce is not just a "technical term", but it is "door to unlimited growth" for the ambitious e-commerce business. It is a "independent" reclaimation in creating customer experience. And is the foundation of the technology that "ready" for the future, regardless of the trend of the world

Separation of "head" from "body" allows you to:

• Faster: Change the web face and launch new campaigns. Can be at an hour level Not a week
• More flexible: bring your products everywhere. Not just on the website
• Fully creative: Design a different and memorable user experience. Until the competitors could not catch up

However, Headless Commerce is not a solution for every business. It is an important investment exchanged with higher complexity and costs. If your business is still in the beginning Or current platforms still answer well There is still no need to hurry. But if you are a business that is running at full speed and feels like there is "The wall that is invisible" is blocking ... sometimes The "upgrade ticket" called Headless Commerce may be the answer you are looking for.

It's time to ask yourself ... Your business is ready to "Discarding" to "soar" to the next level of growth?

If you want a partner who understands both the E-Commerce business and in-depth technology to create leaps. Consult the Vision X Brain expert team for free. We are ready to help you assess and lay the right strategy for your business.

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