Even if you’re only peripherally connected to digital commerce, you have undoubtedly come across the term “composable commerce” in the last few years. In fact, the odds are good you come across it multiple times a week. Composable commerce has become something of a buzzword in the e-commerce industry. It promises unprecedented adaptability and efficiency, and the result is a boom in popularity for the still nascent term (Gartner only coined the phrase in 2020).
Despite the rise in awareness of composable commerce and its myriad of benefits, several myths still deter businesses from embracing this transformative approach. It’s time to debunk those myths, starting with the three most common ones:
- The misconception that transitioning requires a complete overhaul.
- The belief that it’s only suitable for large enterprises or those with big budgets.
- The fear that going composable leads to increased complexity and the challenge of managing multiple vendors.
Myth #1: Transitioning Requires a Complete Overhaul
One of the most pervasive myths surrounding composable commerce is that adopting it necessitates a full-scale overhaul of existing systems. Many businesses hesitate to make a transition to a modular technology approach believing it would mean scrapping their current commerce platform and undergoing a massive disruption to their operations.
This misconception stems from the belief that composable commerce is an all-or-nothing proposition. In reality, composable commerce is extremely well-suited to incremental adoption and businesses can start small by integrating one or two components into their existing system.
For example, a company might begin by replacing its search functionality with a more robust, composable search solution like Algolia, or by integrating an OMS (order management system) like Fluent Order Management. By focusing on a single portion of the commerce system, businesses can get to market with a composable solution quickly and see the benefits of it almost immediately, building the business case and the transformation processes needed for future implementations at the same time.
While the thought of integrating new components might seem daunting, the process can be streamlined with the help of experienced partners and a clear roadmap. Gradual integration allows businesses to test and refine new components without risking significant disruption to their operations.
This is the approach Psycho Bunny took, where they adopted Fluent Order Management incrementally. Starting with an MVP including key components like Home Delivery, Global Inventory, and Order Orchestration, they successfully went live within a short 4-month timeframe, avoiding a complete overhaul of their order management needs.
Myth #2: Composable Commerce is Only Suitable for Large Enterprises
Another common myth is that composable commerce is a luxury only large enterprises with vast budgets can afford. It’s rooted in the assumption that the complexity and cost of implementing composable commerce are beyond the reach of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
In fact, composable commerce can be highly cost-effective and scalable, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes. The modular nature of composable commerce allows SMBs to pick and choose the components that best fit their needs and budgets. For instance, they can start with an all-in-one commerce solution like Shopify Plus, then bring in more specialized search and order management capabilities as their business grows, enhancing capabilities where it matters most.
Cost concerns can be mitigated by selecting best-of-breed components that offer the greatest value. Additionally, many composable commerce providers offer flexible pricing models, allowing businesses to scale their investment according to their growth and requirements.
Psycho Bunny illustrates how even mid-sized businesses can leverage composable solutions effectively. By strategically implementing Fluent Order Management, they were able to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and scale their operations without requiring a large enterprise budget.
Myth #3: Going Composable Leads to Increased Complexity and Managing Multiple Vendors
The third myth is that adopting a composable commerce approach will result in increased complexity, particularly when it comes to managing multiple vendors. This myth is driven by the fear that integrating and managing multiple best-of-breed solutions will create more headaches than benefits.
While it’s true that composable commerce involves working with multiple vendors, most brands already work with a variety of vendors across e-commerce, point-of-sale, ERP, marketing automation, analytics, and many more. Working with technology platforms specifically built for composability, along with modern integration platforms and orchestration tools, significantly reduces the complexity of these integrations. At the same time, working with specialist tools, designed to enable your employees to deliver best-in-class experiences to your customers, makes it easier to scale your brand.
To address the challenge of managing multiple vendors, businesses can work with system integrators who specialize in composable commerce. These integrators can help coordinate the different components, ensuring they work together harmoniously and efficiently. Additionally, having a clear integration strategy and leveraging orchestration tools can simplify the management of multiple systems.
Summary
Debunking these myths reveals that composable commerce is not only feasible but also advantageous for businesses of all sizes. It allows for incremental adoption, making it accessible and manageable. By embracing composable commerce, businesses can achieve greater flexibility, innovation, and efficiency without the need for a complete overhaul, extensive budgets, or unmanageable complexity.
Are you ready to explore the benefits of composable commerce for your business? Check out Composable 101: An Introduction to Composable Commerce, or get in touch.
About the author
Everett Zufelt – Vice President, Product & Partnerships, Orium
As VP of Product & Partnerships at Orium, Everett leverages his extensive technical background and over a decade of experience in headless and composable commerce to lead the development of Orium’s offerings. He guides the go-to-market strategy and supports his teams in crafting solutions that enhance the digital capabilities and operational efficiency of scaling commerce brands.
