eCommerce Blog | IronPlane

Headless Commerce: A Simple Guide

Written by Jeff Zoldy | October 25, 2024

Headless commerce is changing how online stores work. It separates the part of the website customers see from the behind-the-scenes stuff that makes the store run. This guide will help you understand headless commerce and how to use it for your online store.

Key Takeaways

  • Headless commerce separates frontend and backend for greater flexibility
  • Benefits include faster performance, unique designs, and improved omnichannel capabilities
  • Implementation involves choosing a platform, frontend tools, and connecting via APIs
  • Proper design, optimization, and testing are crucial for success
  • Regular maintenance and updates ensure long-term performance

What is Headless Commerce?

Headless commerce splits the part of the website customers see from the part that handles things like inventory and orders. This allows store owners to create unique designs while keeping the store running smoothly behind the scenes.

Headless commerce with BigCommerce is a good example of this. It lets businesses use BigCommerce for the backend while having full control over how their store looks and works for customers.

Why Use Headless Commerce?

There are several reasons to use headless commerce:

  • You can create a unique design for your store
  • Your website can load faster
  • It's easier to add new features
  • Your store can work well on phones, computers, and even smart speakers
  • More people might buy from your store because it works better

Some businesses have seen their sales go up by 42% after switching to headless commerce!

How to Start with Headless Commerce

If you want to try headless commerce, here's what you need to do:

  1. Choose a headless commerce platform
  2. Pick tools to build the part of your store customers will see
  3. Set up your computer with the right software
  4. Plan how the front and back parts of your store will talk to each other

Theme development in Magento can teach you a lot about creating online stores, even if you're not using Magento.

Designing Your Store

When designing your store, think about:

  • Making it easy for customers to find products
  • Making sure your store looks good on phones and computers
  • Using your brand's colors and style
  • Making your store fast
  • Making sure everyone can use your store, even people with disabilities

UX review and design can help make your store better for customers.

Connecting the Front and Back of Your Store

The front and back of your store need to talk to each other. This happens through something called APIs. When connecting them, think about:

  • Choosing the right type of API
  • Planning how information will move between the front and back
  • Keeping your store's information safe
  • Making sure everything works quickly

If you need help, Magento development services or other experts can help set up your store.

Making Your Store Fast

To make your store fast:

  • Save information so it loads quickly
  • Make your images smaller so they load faster
  • Use special networks to send information quickly
  • Make your code smaller
  • Load the most important parts of your page first

A faster store makes customers happier and can help more people find your store online.

Testing Your Store

Before opening your store, you need to test it. Make sure to:

  • Check that all parts of your store work together
  • Test your store on different phones and computers
  • Make sure your store is fast
  • Ask people to try your store and give you feedback
  • Check that your store is safe from hackers

Accessibility audits help make sure everyone can use your store, even people with disabilities.

Running Your Store

After you open your store, you need to keep it running well:

  • Update your store regularly to keep it safe and working well
  • Watch how your store is doing
  • See how customers use your store and make it better
  • Change what you sell based on what customers like
  • Learn about new ways to make your store even better

Getting Help

If you need help with your store, you can ask experts. E-commerce consulting services can help you:

  • Choose the right tools for your store
  • Set up your store
  • Make your store faster
  • Learn how to run your store

Conclusion

Headless commerce is a new way to build online stores that gives you more control and can make your store work better. It might seem hard at first, but it can really help your business. By following this guide and asking for help when you need it, you can create a great online store that your customers will love.

Key Benefits of Headless Commerce

  • Full creative control over storefront
  • Improved site performance and speed
  • Easy integration with preferred tools
  • Better omnichannel capabilities
  • Future-proof scalability