Customers access information through several touchpoints and are slowly but surely moving from traditional online platforms in favor of mobile, IoT and progressive web applications (PWA). Traditional e-commerce companies and business owners are also realizing this and trying to adapt to these modern technologies by producing content on these platforms and fulfilling the consumer’s rising expectations. But putting this technology into practice calls for the development and IT teams, who are skilled programmers and hiring them could be very expensive for most e-commerce enterprises. 

What Is Headless E-commerce?

In its simplest form, headless commerce is a separation of the front end and back end of an ecommerce application. This architecture offers brands freedom of expression to build whatever and however they want by updating the front end without touching the backend.

An e-commerce setup typically consists of two primary aspects:

• Frontend. The customer-facing digital storefront that in addition to the traditional website, also includes other touchpoints such as social media, mobile apps, and the numerous IoT devices like self-serve kiosks, vending machines, wearables, and voice-assisted technologies (like Alexa).

• Backend. This includes all the systems and tools that run in the background to ensure a smooth operation of these frontend business touchpoints. The backend processes successfully run activities such as merchandising, order fulfillment, third–party integrations, data storage, and checkout processes.

This distinction between the frontend and the backend is vital as traditional e-commerce platforms combine them. Organizations can cater to a wide customer base using multiple touchpoints, all of which are pulled together at the backend.

A headless e-commerce platform helps businesses create and operate their online stores by eliminating the requirement of a conventional front-end interface. Instead, the platform offers a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) that programmers may use to create a unique front-end experience or incorporate the platform with an already-existing website.

With the headless e-commerce platform, you have more freedom to use the current one and combine it with other services without migrating to a new one. Some benefits of using headless e-commerce include:

• It gives you total control over the user experience and design of your online store.
• You can swiftly combine your online business with other platforms and systems like marketing automation tools, CRM systems and payment gateways.
• The content is delivered and shared through channels like IoT, mobile and other modern technologies.
• It separates the front and backends of the e-commerce platform, thus allowing businesses to manage what the customer sees and the data, inventory and transaction processing that is required.
• It can create customer-centered stores that enhance the purchasing experience and can be changed over time.

Top 7 Headless E-commerce Platforms

1. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is one of the world’s most rapidly expanding e-commerce software platforms. It enables entrepreneurs to create an online store, personalize it as desired and then sell an infinite amount of digital, physical or even service-based goods. You may run multiple stores simultaneously across various channels from one central location by decoupling the business from the customer-facing user interface.

BigCommerce is perfect for store owners looking for a robust and effective e-commerce platform to support a vast number of product sales and enjoy profits. It is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, which offers several customized templates to assist you in creating your online store for a monthly fee. Some core features that BigCommerce offers are:

• Gift vouchers and discount coupons
• Complete CMS function
• SEO features
• An easy to use drag-and-drop page-design tool called Page Builder
• Ability to review products
• Unlimited user accounts

Popular companies like Old Spice, Toyota, Ben and Jerry’s and GE Appliances all trust BigCommerce. These well-known platforms have a wide range of clients that include people from the fashion and jewelry, electronics, luxury products, health and beauty, sports and outdoors, food and beverage, automotive, toys and games, publishing and education industries.

2. OroCommerce

OroCommerce is an open-source B2B e-commerce platform with integrated CRM and third-party application connections. It is a popular headless e-commerce platform with wholesalers. With the help of pre-installed functions the platform can be tailored to meet any B2B, B2B2B or B2B2C commerce requirement. OroCommerce provides solutions to help all types of enterprises manage their e-commerce including corporate account management, access controls, permissions and content management. Some benefits of OroCommerce are:

• Effective client categorization
• Controlling price lists
• Individual catalog management
• Flexible workflow
• Inventory management

3. Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus allows you to separate your front-end design from your back-end infrastructure, allowing you to deliver to any channel and make any device into a platform for your brand. It can transform any screen into a virtual storefront because of its connectivity with many leading content management systems (CMS) and other front-end solutions. Both mid-market and enterprise organizations can benefit from it. 

Brands can create quick and interesting storefronts for web, mobile, video games and other platforms with the Shopify Plus Storefront API. With the help of its extensive partner network, Shopify Plus can quickly and easily set up a headless shop. Allbirds, Gymshark, Decathlon, Huel and Absolute Collagen use Shopify Plus.

4. Adobe Commerce (Magento Commerce)

Adobe Commerce combines AI and powerful data-sharing capabilities to develop end-to-end customized B2C and B2B commerce experiences from a single platform that is adaptable, extendable and scalable. Whether your business relies on a B2B model, B2C model, or involves both it enables you to manage many channels and brands and expand into new markets effortlessly from one platform. It lets you streamline your workflow and provide flawless client experiences from the initial impression through fulfillment and retention.  

Adobe Commerce allows custom integrations with the help of API frameworks like Representational State Transfer (REST) and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) web API frameworks. You can create connectors for inventory management, accounting, marketing, ERP and CRM. Ford accessories, Bulgari, HP, Coca-cola and Asus use the Adobe powered headless e-commerce platform.

5. Nacelle

Nacelle enables e-commerce businesses to benefit from headless commerce while maintaining code, infrastructure and third-party application freedom. Organizations utilizing Nacelle can be confident that PR evaluations, support check-ins, project scoping knowledge, and best practices guidelines are adhered to. You can create a custom integration with the CMS of your choice using the Nacelle API.

To keep up with changing needs, it is compatible with most of the widely used e-commerce technologies and merges quickly with new systems using APIs. Nacelle administers and manages all backend infrastructure needs on your behalf. BlendJet, Boll and Branch, Enso Rings, The Sill and Privacy Pop are some brands that use Nacelle.

6. Commercetools

To provide cloud-based point-of-sale features, headless commerce technology combines an omnichannel platform with Commercetools. It has grown to be a well-liked choice for both B2B and B2C businesses. Customers can make extensive use of Commercetools to offer e-commerce experiences across numerous touchpoints. 

This covers webpages, VR applications, smartphone apps and even voice assistants which are accomplished by using an API-driven methodology that separates the front and back ends and enables users to create unique solutions. Companies like Berlin Brands Group, Medline Industries and Corra use Commercetools. 

7. Spree Commerce

Spree is a headless open-source e-commerce platform that is free with React and Vue 

Storefront starters and designed for expanding brands internationally. Some features of Spree Commerce are:

• It can be used for single as well as multiple brands.
• It offers you more options for ownership, multichannel operations and globalization.
• It is continually updated with new features to enhance performance and functionality.

Spree Commerce is the leading headless platform for brands like Ruby Developers, GitHub, Peach, Stylemyle, Mitchell Stores and ChefSteps to name a few.