Mayank Patel
Nov 30, 2023
6 min read
Last updated Jan 9, 2024
Technology has enabled developers to build complex software products in effective ways. User experience is the central goal of any application. And why not? They are the ones going to use the services.
Taking the context of online shopping, we all love to shop online. It's so easy to order anything online from the comfort of our homes with just a few clicks.
It’s a hit of dopamine for our brains every time we click that “Buy Now” button on eCommerce applications like Amazon, Flipkart, and similar other platforms.
Sure, the user experience is great.
Looking at it from a developer’s perspective allows us to see the engineering that goes into making such platforms.
The architecture of an eCommerce application serves as the backbone of the entire platform. Headless CMS is one of the approaches to architect the same.
The core principle of Headless CMS allows developers to implement functionalities with flexibility. Making it a bit less abstract, Headless CMS allows for separating concerns for the backend or the servers and the frontend.
Everyone talks about the user experience or the customer experience. Luckily for developers, headless CMS also takes care of the developer experience along with the users.
As a leading software development company, Linearloop advocates for the user as well as the developer experience. We know the complexities and challenges in developing great solutions and products. eCommerce is a very lucrative and effective way to sell online.
Using a headless CMS is one of the best ways to get up and running without sacrificing reliability. Additionally, it adds to a better developer experience with scale.
In this post, we will walk you through a holistic overview of Headless CMS for eCommerce with the following topics.
Headless CMS is exactly what it sounds like. It is a backend-only setup that uses an API-first approach. The head is the frontend part. This is where the developers can use a frontend framework of their choice.
Headless means there is no frontend to it. All the server logic is already pre-defined and available to use with a frontend of our choice.
For example, the frontend can based on React, Angular, Vue, or something else. There are no limits to it. It can be frameworks like Next.js, Nuxt.js, and similar others. Note that these are some of the most popular JavaScript libraries in the software world.
These frontend libraries (or frameworks) or “Head” get all the data through the APIs. And this pre-assembled data and logic from the backend.
Now the backend is where most of the magic happens.
The CMS or the content management system is the data store. This data store has already the schema, data models, security features, scalability features, and all the things ready to be served through the API endpoints. They usually follow the RESTful or GraphQL approach and protocols for data transfers.
This indeed does all the heavy lifting for the application. Since developers don’t have to write every piece of code for the servers, they can put all their effort into consuming the data and using it across various devices or platforms or channels taking care of the frontend part.
This approach is very effective in the eCommerce domain.
Since there are so many common workflows in eCommerce software like inventory management, product lists, categories, discounts, shipping methods, and similar things, the developer experience is just so much better.
Popular platforms that provide Headless CMS for eCommerce include Contentful, Storyblok, Sanity, and Prismic.
As per the explanation above, below is the general architecture of a Headless CMS
The gist of headless CMS has already been explained in the previous section of the post. Now go through some points that make headless CMS a go-to approach for developers:
Since there are so many types of developers out there preferring one frontend library or framework over the other, headless CMS provides them this flexibility. They can choose frontend of their choice like React, Angular, or Vue to build the eCommerce platform the way they want.
Considering there are so many devices and ways to sell products online, developers don't have to worry too much about the server or the data part. The data is already provided through the APIs. Much of the heavy lifting is done by the servers.
This also enables them to use this data and create layouts for many different platforms and devices. For example, the same data can be used to develop a desktop app, a native mobile app, a POS (Point of Sale), or any other platform.
eCommerce deals with actual money. While things are sold online, there are just so many transactions happening through it. Building servers in-house for eCommerce purposes and ensuring security for them can be an issue. Risks such as cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injections, DDoS attacks, and data breaches can put a huge dent if not properly taken care of.
Other security features like authentication methods, HTTPS, CORS policy, rate-limiting, SSL encryption protocols, and similar features can be cumbersome to implement from scratch. Since all these are pre-handled by the CMS, developers can focus on implementing frontend business logic rather than worrying about the server-side logic for handling data.
eCommerce focuses on selling to the masses. Scalability can be a huge factor in determining the fate of a business. Headless CMS offers just that. Since the frontend and the backend are decoupled from each other, both parts can be adjusted as per the requirements.
Developers can easily utilize the pre-built features to adjust the software according to traffic or needs. It can be scaled up or scaled down. Since most of such platforms are cloud-based, this pushes for handling high user traffic without hassles and optimized costs
Since we already have data coming through the APIs from the Headless CMS, the frontend frameworks can use many techniques like code splitting, lazy loading, and caching to make the application more performant.
Frontend frameworks like Next.js and Nuxt.js love this approach and are built on top of these features. Developers heavily rely on these features for maximum performance.
Headless CMS uses a decoupled approach making the data re-usable consistently across many platforms. All the data relationships are pre-defined and available through the API calls, there are no limits to how they can be utilized.
For example, the same central data repository can be used for web apps, mobile apps, or even social media eCommerce channels. All developers need to do is define relationships of content and use those in the way they want.
The decoupling of the frontend and the backend also allows for better resource allocation as per the requirements. Managing also becomes easy with Headless CMS.
This also allows developers to use tools, languages, and frameworks of their choice. This increases the productivity of developers since there are fewer constraints or rigid requirements that can be project-specific.
Headless CMS allows the mix and match of the technology and features as per the needs. Once they are selected and integrated as per the requirements, they can be customized in many ways.
Additionally, tools like analytics, dashboards, and monitoring features are also available in most modern Headless CMS. This reduces the additional overhead of implementing such tools from scratch.
Headless CMSs are being used by so many tech giants. eCommerce can be very resource-intensive when it comes to operations. The technology stack is also very difficult to set up on our own since there are so many that go into putting them together.
Companies like IKEA, Nike, Puma, and many more use them for their eCommerce purposes. This also helps developers and companies rely on headless CMS for enterprise-level projects.
In this section, we will go through some of the most popular headless CMS platforms for eCommerce. It must be noted that they are highly customizable and they have many use cases.
We will also see some related companies and frameworks powered by them:
Contentful is a very popular cloud-based Headless CMS platform. It can help you make online content management very flexible.
Some features of the Contentful Headless CMS include:
Strapi is another great tool for Headless CMS platforms. It is open-sourced and has excellent community support. It is very popular with technical bloggers. As of November 2023, it has around 57.4K GitHub stars.
Some features of Strapi include:
Prismic is also a popular Headless CMS platform that supports a variety of programming languages. It is also used by tech heavyweights such as Netflix and Google.
Some features of Prismic include:
Sanity is another excellent choice in Headless CMS cloud platforms. It is highly customizable and is widely used by mega corporations across the globe.
Some features of Sanity include:
Storyblok is an enterprise-level headless CMS platform with immense capabilities.
Some features of Storyblok include:
In this post, we took a holistic approach to present Headless CMS for eCommerce, especially for developers. Because, Why not? Just like the user experience, developer experience is equally important.
Linearloop believes that software development is a wholesome effort. Yes, user experience has to be the core ingredient in a product. Headless CMS provides ways to not only build some very successful eCommerce products but also help developers improve productivity by providing many tools of their choice and preferences. And this indeed, is the mantra of why developers love to work with Headless CMS for eCommerce as do we.
Thanks for sticking to the end. See you again soon with more of such great content.
Happy Coding 😊!
How to Create Unique User Experiences with Your E-commerce Platform
E-commerce is a highly competitive and fast-growing industry, with millions of online stores vying for the attention and loyalty of customers. To stand out from the crowd and increase your sales, you need to create unique user experiences (UX) that delight your customers and make them want to come back for more.
UX is the overall impression and feeling that a user has when interacting with your e-commerce platform. It encompasses everything from the design and layout of your website, to the functionality and performance of your features, to the quality and relevance of your content and products.
Creating a unique UX for your e-commerce platform is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also a matter of strategy. It can help you:
But how do you create a unique UX for your e-commerce platform? Here are some suggestions and best practices.
The first step to creating a unique UX for your e-commerce platform is to understand who your target audience is and what their pain points are. You need to know who you are designing for, what they are looking for, what problems they are facing, and how you can solve them.
To do this, you need to conduct user research, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, and analytics. You can also create user personas, which are fictional representations of your ideal customers, based on your research data. User personas can help you empathize with your users and tailor your UX to their needs and preferences.
The next step to creating a unique UX for your e-commerce platform is to choose a suitable e-commerce platform and technology that can support your vision and goals. You have to take into account aspects such as:
One of the emerging trends in e-commerce technology is headless commerce, which is a way of decoupling the front-end and back-end of your e-commerce platform. This means that you can use any front-end technology or framework to create your user interface, while using a separate back-end system to manage your data and business logic.
Headless commerce can offer you many benefits, such as:
If you are interested in headless commerce, you can check out What is Headless Commerce?.
The third step to creating a unique UX for your e-commerce platform is to design a simple and intuitive user interface that can guide your users through their journey and help them achieve their goals. You must examine aspects such as:
When designing your user interface, you should follow some basic principles, such as:
For more tips and examples on how to improve the user interface, you can read Aligning UX with Business Goals through Design Experts
The fourth step to creating a unique UX for your e-commerce platform is to optimize your product pages and checkout process, which are the key touchpoints of your user journey and conversion funnel. You need to ensure that your product pages and checkout process are:
Also read: How Core Web Vitals Are Helpful in SEO E-commerce
The final step to creating a unique UX for your e-commerce platform is to test and improve your e-commerce UX based on user feedback and data. You need to measure and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of your e-commerce UX, such as:
To achieve this, you need to apply different tools and techniques, such as:
By testing and improving your e-commerce UX, you can ensure that your e-commerce platform is always up to date and aligned with your user needs and expectations.
Creating a unique UX for your e-commerce platform is not a one-time task, but an ongoing process that requires constant research, design, testing, and improvement. By following the tips and best practices outlined in this blog post, you can create a unique UX for your e-commerce platform that can help you attract and retain more customers, increase conversions and revenue, and build brand awareness and loyalty.
If you need any help or assistance with creating a unique UX for your e-commerce platform, you can contact us, where we offer headless e-commerce development services that can help you create more flexible and customized e-commerce experiences for your customers. We have a team of experienced and skilled developers and designers who can help you with your e-commerce project from start to finish. Reach out to us today and share with us how we can support you. 😊
Mayank Patel
Apr 3, 20246 min read
Custom Ecommerce Software Development: Key Features + Costs
The e-commerce industry, which is one of the most swiftly-growing and competitive in the world, will witness global e-commerce sales go up from $4.3 trillion in 2020 to $6.5 trillion by 2024, according to Statista. This suggests more opportunities, but also more challenges, for online retailers.
If you want to stand out from the crowd and grow your online business, you need a powerful and reliable e-commerce platform that can handle your specific needs and requirements. However, finding the right solution can be tricky, as there are hundreds of options available in the market, each with its own pros and cons.
One way to overcome this challenge is to opt for custom e-commerce development. This is a process of creating a tailor-made e-commerce platform that suits your unique business goals, preferences, and budget. With custom e-commerce development, you can have full control over the design, functionality, and performance of your online store, and enjoy the benefits of scalability, security, and flexibility.
In this blog post, we will explore the key features and costs of custom e-commerce software development, and how it can help you achieve your online retail objectives. We will also share some tips and best practices on how to choose the right custom e-commerce development company for your project.
Custom e-commerce software development can offer you a range of features that can enhance your online store and improve your customer experience. Some of the most important features are:
With custom e-commerce development, you can create a unique and attractive design for your online store that reflects your brand identity and values. You can also customize the layout, navigation, colors, fonts, and images to match your vision and style.
Custom e-commerce development allows you to add any functionality and feature that you need for your online store, such as product catalog, shopping cart, checkout, payment gateway, shipping, inventory, order management, customer service, analytics, and more. You can also integrate your e-commerce platform with other software and systems that you use, such as ERP, CRM, SCM, or EMR, to streamline your operations and data flow.
Custom e-commerce development ensures that your online store can handle high traffic and transactions without compromising speed and reliability. You can also scale your e-commerce platform as your business grows, adding new features and capabilities as needed, without affecting the existing functionality and performance.
Custom e-commerce development provides you with a high level of security and compliance for your online store, protecting your data and transactions from cyberattacks and fraud. You can also implement the necessary security measures and standards to comply with the regulations and laws of your industry and region, such as PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA, etc.
Also read: Future of Digital Commerce: How Headless eCommerce Can Scale Your Business
The costs of custom e-commerce software development can vary depending on several factors, such as the complexity and scope of your project, the features and functionality that you need, the technology stack and tools that you use, the development team and company that you hire, the timeline and quality of your project, and more.
However, to give you a rough estimate, custom e-commerce software development can cost anywhere from $10,000* to $500,000* or more, depending on the size and type of your online store. For example, a small e-commerce website with basic features and functionality can cost around $10,000* to $50,000*, while a large e-commerce platform with advanced features and integrations can cost around $100,00* to $500,000* or more.
Of course, these are just ballpark figures, and the actual costs of your project may differ based on your specific requirements and expectations. To get a more accurate and detailed estimate, you should consult with a professional custom e-commerce development company that can analyze your project and provide you with a realistic quote and proposal.
Also read: Maximizing Engagement with Headless CMS: A Marketer’s Guide to Content Agility
Choosing the right custom e-commerce development company for your project is crucial, as it can determine the success and quality of your online store. However, finding the right partner can be challenging, as there are many options available in the market, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
To help you make the right decision, here are some tips and best practices on how to choose the right custom e-commerce development company for your project:
Before you start looking for a custom e-commerce development company, you should do some research on your own, and define your goals, needs, and expectations for your project. You should also have a clear idea of your budget, timeline, and quality standards, and the features and functionality that you need for your online store. This will help you narrow down your options and find the most suitable company for your project.
One of the best ways to evaluate a custom e-commerce development company is to check their portfolio and reviews, and see the previous projects that they have completed and the feedback that they have received from their clients. This will give you an insight into their skills, experience, and expertise, and the quality and reliability of their work. You should also look for examples of projects that are similar to yours, and see how they handled the challenges and requirements of those projects.
Another way to verify the credibility and reputation of a custom e-commerce development company is to ask for references and testimonials from their past and current clients, and contact them directly to get their honest opinions and feedback. This will help you understand their level of satisfaction and trust, and the results and outcomes that they achieved with the company. You should also ask them about the communication, collaboration, and support that they received from the company, and how they handled any issues or problems that arose during the project.
Once you have shortlisted a few custom e-commerce development companies that meet your criteria and expectations, you should request them to provide you with a detailed proposal and quote for your project, and compare them carefully. You should look for the scope, deliverables, timeline, costs, and quality of their proposals, and see how they align with your goals, needs, and budget. You should also look for the value and benefits that they offer, and the risks and challenges that they anticipate and mitigate.
After comparing the proposals and quotes of the custom e-commerce development companies, you should choose the one that offers the best fit for your project, based on your research, evaluation, and comparison. You should also consider the culture and values of the company, and the rapport and trust that you have with them, as these factors can also influence the success and quality of your project.
Also read: Why Developers Love Working with Headless CMS for eCommerce Platforms
Custom e-commerce software development can be a great option for online retailers who want to create a powerful and reliable e-commerce platform that can meet their specific needs and requirements, and provide them with a competitive edge in the market. However, custom e-commerce development can also be a complex and costly process, that requires careful planning, execution, and management.
Therefore, it is important to choose the right custom e-commerce development company for your project, that can offer you the best solution, service, and value for your money. By following the tips and best practices that we have shared in this blog post, you can find the ideal partner for your project, and achieve your online retail objectives.
If you are looking for a professional and experienced custom headless e-commerce development company, you can contact us.
We are a leading custom e-commerce development company that can help you create a tailor-made e-commerce platform that suits your unique business goals, preferences, and budget. We have a team of expert e-commerce developers who can deliver high-quality and cost-effective custom e-commerce solutions, using the latest technologies and tools. We also provide end-to-end e-commerce services, from design and development, to testing and deployment, to maintenance and support.
We have successfully completed many custom e-commerce projects for clients across various industries and regions, and we have received positive feedback and testimonials from them. You can check out our portfolio and reviews to see some of the examples of our work, and the results and outcomes that we have achieved for our clients.
We look forward to hearing from you and helping you with your custom e-commerce development project.
Mayank Patel
Mar 29, 20245 min read
