In 2025, advances in composable commerce could enable even small e-commerce sellers to build customized, flexible online shopping experiences that drive revenue growth in competitive markets.
composable commerce is an evolution of the more common headless commerce model.
Headless commerce separates the front-end presentation layer from the back-end code, resulting in faster updates and improved performance. Composable commerce takes this even further, integrating the best tools and applications for a customized, scalable, and possibly more profitable e-commerce platform.
Composable Commerce brings together the best tools and applications for a customized and scalable platform.
From headless to composable
for example, headless commerce Retailers may use APIs to complete e-commerce transactions across multiple channels, including websites, apps, social commerce systems, and point of sale.
Composable Commerce does something similar, integrating “packaged business capabilities” such as a best-in-class returns management system and an influencer marketing platform.
“Headless is still growing and evolving,” Allison “Al” Williams, general manager of B2C at BigCommerce, wrote in an email to Practical Ecommerce. “What started out as very development-centric ‘best practices’, primarily driven by front-end development teams, has now become more of a focus for managing overall e-commerce architecture (e.g. composable commerce). We turned to a comprehensive, modular approach.”
This modularity trend could benefit online sellers. Composable commerce is flexible, allowing businesses to quickly adapt to changing customer needs and market trends. Modular design is scalable, making it relatively easy to add or remove components, and fosters innovation by implementing technologies such as AI and low-code platforms.
Advantages of composable commerce
Composable commerce is compatible with and an alternative to traditional all-in-one ecommerce platforms like BigCommerce and Shopify.
Combining the benefits of headless and composable commerce creates a dynamic and personal shopping experience.
“The evolution from headless commerce to composable commerce now allows sellers to choose from a variety of applications to build the technology stack that best suits their business and customers,” BigCommerce’s Williams wrote. I am.
flexibility Allow users to custom build technology stacks. Online shops feeling constrained by their platform can use composable commerce to leverage microservices, APIs, cloud, headless, and jam stack (JavaScript, API, and markup languages).
The result could be faster mobile loading, new ways of personalization, and the potential for data-driven product placement and pricing.
adaptability Composable commerce allows you to pivot your business as your needs change. For example, a gourmet food retailer can launch subscription meal kits and use a customer data platform to provide recipes and ingredients tailored to each customer.
A modular stack means businesses can add custom tools and functionality regardless of the e-commerce or POS platform. Therefore, changes do not require complete system overhaul or disruption, allowing for rapid time-to-market.
Scalability Composable commerce means supporting growth without disrupting your existing infrastructure.
For example, a local home goods store may expand into international markets. Meet new customer needs while maintaining your existing infrastructure by adding multilingual and multicurrency applications.
configurability Customization becomes easier. Shops can create experiences tailored to their brand and customers.
Imagine a fitness equipment retailer that integrates. virtual reality toolsallows shoppers to visualize their home gym setup before making a purchase. This versatility differentiates retailers from competitors who rely on more generic solutions.
assignment
To date, most headless and composable commerce users are large enterprises and small stores with technical knowledge.
“A challenge we often hear about is the complexity of moving to a headless architecture, especially managing multiple vendors and ensuring seamless integration of components,” Williams wrote. “This complexity is compounded based on the number of brands, geographies and channels.”
But judging by the number of companies building modular services, that’s why 2025 could be a breakout year for composable commerce, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. Practical Ecommerce has identified a number of configurable commerce rollouts including releases. commerce tools, LTI Mind Tree, phase zeroand Vitex.
All-in-one platforms clearly recognize the opportunity. Shopify, big commerceand sales force It offers a configurable storefront and addresses topics with guides and blog posts.
