FEVAD (in other words the Federation of E-commerce and Distance Selling) lists more than 200,000 online stores for e-commerce growth of 12.15% on average per year. Since the first online purchase in 1994 on the Compuserve site (it was a Sting album), the architecture of the sites has been constantly evolving. Today, the Headless trend is taking over the market. Through this article, we will explain to you what Headless e-commerce is.

Headless e-commerce in a few words

Before seeing the advantages of it is important to first define what headless is.

The architecture of an online store is based HE Tuber on two concepts: the frontend and the backend . To simplify, the visual part of the site (links, scrolling pages, clicking on a tab) is the frontend. What we don't see, but which allows an action to be carried out, is the backend, the internal code which makes the system work (server, database, programming languages).
Traditionally, the two (backend and frontend) work together thanks to the API (Application Programming Interface) which facilitates the exchange of information. The headless architecture allows them to operate separately.

Headless e-commerce is a major element of this technological evolution . In this type of architecture, the backend is separated from the frontend, that is to say the infrastructure is independent of the site visible to the client. It allows actions to be carried out on the backend without there being any consequences on the frontend.
The practical benefit of this new technology is the optimization of the customer experience .

Seven benefits

Difficult to grasp for newbies, and even for e-commerce players, the advantages of this technological revolution can be measured by their application in the daily reality of e-commerce. Adopted by most online store sites, a headless e-commerce solution has very concrete advantages:

Its open architecture allows easy integration of new applications

User experience delivers better results

Developments are cheaper

Technological independence is increased

An increase in transaction security

Greater independence from developers

An optimized purchasing journey

This is the final objective of headless: to sell better and more . Headless makes it possible to unify sales channels. This is what developers call omnichannel. This involves being able to sell a product through social networks, various applications, in the online or physical store, on marketplaces. All displays are integrated, which streamlines communication.
It also allows:

Optimized inventory, product and category management

Faster order processing

To offer a personalized purchasing journey resulting in a better conversion rate

More efficient centralization and distribution of content

New users of headless solutions report an increase in the conversion rate and better performance of their site. : more flexibility and autonomy. Publishing in a few seconds on all communication channels is undoubtedly the decisive advantage of a headless e-commerce solution.