Composable Architecture: The Key to Modern Customer Experiences

In today’s digital world, every click, swipe, and tap is an opportunity for growth. That’s where a composable CMS solution steps in, empowering retailers to streamline workflows and enhance the digital journey.

Let’s explore how choosing a composable architecture, with a headless CMS and eCommerce solution can revolutionize customer experiences for enterprise retailers. 

The challenge: rigid systems that limit innovation 

Retailers, especially those with complex and rigid software architectures, often focus so much on their infrastructure that they overlook the most important part: the user. As a result, content often takes a backseat to catalog and pricing complexities. Enterprise retailers often operate in complex, highly integrated environments, where eCommerce platforms are tightly linked to enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. This integration is intended to streamline operations, but it often creates rigid infrastructures that stifle innovation.

Monolithic CMS platforms bundle everything—front-end, back-end, content management, and data storage—into a single, rigid system, meaning any changes to one part of the system can require modifications to the entire platform. This makes even small updates a complex, time-consuming task. 

On the other hand, at Brave Bison, we’ve seen how changing the CMS and eCommerce solution can dramatically transform a retailer’s setup and customer experience.  The user is the one driving sales, loyalty, and long-term success. Ignoring the power of a headless CMS and eCommerce solution is a massive missed opportunity.

The solution: composable architecture for flexibility and scalability 

In recent years, composable commerce, with best-of-breed, modular components that work together seamlessly, has emerged as a powerful solution for IT-centric enterprises looking to modernize their systems without compromising the complex functionalities they rely on. With an API-first architecture, composable commerce enables businesses to connect specialized solutions for checkout, cart management, merchandising, promotions, and content management—each integrated into a cohesive, seamless experience.

Additionally, changing your monolithic CMS with a headless CMS, like Storyblok, will ensure that your eCommerce team can rapidly iterate on content and user experiences without being bogged down by legacy code or ERP integration dependencies. This is exactly where Brave Bison’s expertise comes in. We’ve delivered over 300 ecommerce projects - many of which involved replacing legacy monoliths with composable setups. We act as system integrators, bringing together Storyblok with eCommerce platforms to create streamlined digital experiences across the web, mobile, in-store, and beyond. Our experienced architects and delivery teams manage complex integrations, ensuring every component works seamlessly together.

For example, the SAP Commerce Cloud (or any eComm integration of your choice) can be integrated with Storyblok to provide a more flexible, user-friendly experience. 

More than that, with Storyblok, you benefit from:

Faster development cycles and enhanced agility

Storyblok offers built-in workflows, content previews, and page builder functionalities that streamline content creation. This makes it easier for non-technical teams to manage and deploy content, reducing bottlenecks and improving the overall efficiency of your eCommerce operations. When combined with Brave Bison’s proven delivery processes, clients can accelerate time to market without sacrificing quality. Our discovery and solution design phases ensure a robust foundation, while our iterative approach to implementation means teams can start seeing results faster. We also offer tailored training to ensure internal teams are equipped to scale these operations in-house.

Personalization and omnichannel experiences 

Storyblok is equipped with powerful personalization tools that can serve dynamic content tailored to individual customer preferences. It integrates seamlessly with AI-driven solutions enabling retailers to personalize content based on browsing history, location, or past purchases. At Brave Bison, we help retailers leverage Storyblok’s personalization features alongside data from CRMs, CDPs, and AI-powered recommendation engines.

Additionally, by using an omnichannel approach and enabling content reuse and automation, businesses can scale their operations while ensuring a seamless experience across all channels. 

Better integration with eCommerce and other systems 

The composable architectures enable easy integrations with tools such as PIM (Product Information Management), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), and AI-driven recommendation engines, ensuring that the right content, products, and messaging are delivered to the right customer at the right time. For enterprises with legacy ERP systems, this integration is vital to ensure data consistency across all channels while continuing to leverage the core functionalities of your ERP. 

Future-proofing and scalability 

As consumer expectations evolve, so must your technology stack. A modern CMS allows for easy updates and the ability to adopt new technologies as they emerge. With a composable, API-first approach, your CMS can integrate with new platforms, third-party solutions, or AI capabilities that keep you ahead of market trends and evolving customer needs.  

Conclusion 

Composable architectures with headless CMSs and eCommerce solutions allow enterprise retailers to break free from legacy limitations, creating flexible, scalable solutions that prioritize customer experience. By decoupling the front end, integrating best-in-class tools, and delivering personalized, omnichannel experiences, retailers can boost satisfaction and adapt to future challenges. At Brave Bison, we’ve helped global brands navigate this transformation - delivering over £3bn worth of transactions through composable solutions. Our partnership with Storyblok ensures our clients benefit from an agile, best-in-class CMS that’s easy to scale and custom-fit to complex commerce environments.

As more embrace the composable approach, the potential for exceptional customer experiences grows, and those who make the shift will stay competitive, improve efficiency, and meet the high expectations of today’s digital consumers.