Next-Level Online Stores with 6 Best Headless eCommerce Solutions

Headless commerce refers to an architecture where the front-end and back-end of an online store are decoupled, or in other words, separated from each other.

In a traditional website setup, the front-end, which is responsible for the user interface and presentation layer, is tightly integrated with the back-end, which handles the business logic, data management, and processing. However, with a headless approach, the front-end and back-end are independent entities that communicate with each other through APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). This means that the presentation layer, which includes the online store interface that customers interact with, can be built and customized separately from the underlying eCommerce system.

To make an eCommerce platform headless you should utilize front-end frameworks and need a strong understanding of web development technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and API integration. They also require knowledge of frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js, which are commonly used for building dynamic user interfaces.

But why is a headless eCommerce approach considered the best choice for online stores?

The answer is obvious! By decoupling the front-end from the back-end, headless provides greater flexibility, agility, and scalability to businesses. It allows developers to use any programming language, framework, or technology to build the user interface, while using other technology for setting up the processes on the back-end. This separation enables businesses to create highly customized and engaging shopping experiences across multiple channels. Also, the components can be replaced much easier. For instance, you can migrate from Shopware to Magento without changing your front-end application or making only slight tweaks.

On top of that, headless solutions facilitate seamless integration with various third-party services, such as payment gateways, inventory management systems, marketing tools, and customer relationship management (CRM) software. This integration capability empowers businesses to add the best-of-breed tailored solutions for different aspects of their eCommerce operations that meet their specific needs.

Another extremely important feature for eCommerce that can be enabled thanks to a headless approach is omnichannel. The headless architecture enables businesses to seamlessly integrate and synchronize their online store with different channels, forming the foundation for delivering a cohesive omnichannel experience.

So, a headless approach offers businesses the freedom to innovate, experiment, and adapt quickly in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. It provides the foundation for building modern, scalable, and personalized online shopping experiences. So let’s see what solutions you can use to make your eCommerce platform headless.

We have compiled a list of the most popular solutions for online stores that offer a headless approach. So, let’s not waste any more time and let’s take a look at them!

Vue Storefront – Headless Commerce Front-End Framework

Vue Storefront is an open-source frontend framework designed to enhance and facilitate the creation of headless eCommerce sites. It helps developers make fast, scalable, and SEO-friendly headless online stores for Magento, Shopify, BigCommerce, and commercetools.

At its core, Vue Storefront is designed to be platform-agnostic, leveraging the Vue.js framework while remaining adaptable to other frontend technologies. This empowers developers to harness Vue Storefront’s fundamental functionalities while tailoring the frontend to align with specific project requirements, whether that involves Vue.js, React, Angular, or any other suitable technology.

Vue Storefront works like a regular online store but offers more options for changing how it looks and works. It comes with a ready-made design and features that can be used again, which is good if a business wants a store quickly. But, if a business needs a lot of special changes or has complex needs, setting up Vue Storefront might take a while and might not be the best choice.

Adobe Headless Commerce with PWA Studio

PWA Studio by Adobe allows developers to create a custom frontend for Magento and supports headless deployments via REST APIs. While REST is potent, especially for handling substantial data loads, GraphQL APIs, an industry standard, also works well with PWA Studio and expedite development with an intuitive interface, grant enhanced flexibility by permitting changes without affecting existing APIs, and enhance performance by fetching only necessary data.

A PWA functions as a decoupled storefront separated from the commerce backend. Through PWA Studio, merchants can construct high-performing, dependable, and cost-effective PWAs on top of Adobe Commerce, delivering a headless solution for online stores.

Though Adobe Commerce offers a coupled storefront as an option, merchants are not obliged to use this legacy frontend. They can leverage Adobe Commerce’s exceptional commerce services to manage backend processes and, using storefront APIs, seamlessly integrate their independent storefront to drive the frontend experience.

Skandi PWA Makes eCommerce Headless

Unlike Vue Storefront, Scandi PWA isn’t just a storefront – it’s an open-source PWA theme created specifically for Magento. This means it doesn’t have a middle layer that might slow down your website’s performance. Without this layer, potential bugs related to it are also eliminated. Using a Magento 2 PWA theme like Scandi PWA requires less effort for ongoing maintenance compared to a complete storefront.

Scandi’s main advantages are fast page loading times, improved conversion rates, and better visibility on search engines. It uses technologies like React, Redux, GraphQL, and Apollo. It’s really good for making sure your online store works well across devices. And its use of GraphQL as a single interface for exchanging data is a major plus. The theme expands and optimizes GraphQL to make development, testing, and maintenance easier compared to other PWA solutions.

Shopware PWA – Headless Solutions for eCom Stores

Shopware PWA, a component of the Shopware eCommerce platform, is designed to transform the way online stores function through the concept of headless commerce.

Shopware PWA places its emphasis on the Vue.js ecosystem due to the close ties between Vue.js and Shopware. This alignment provides a robust basis on which Shopware can build and extend its capabilities. The Composables API, a crucial component, is built upon fundamental Vue.js patterns, including the Composition API, reactivity, and key framework elements like provide/inject.

The technology behind Shopware PWA prioritizes speed, responsiveness, and a seamless user experience across various devices and screen sizes. Furthermore, it grants users the ability to engage with the store even when offline or in low-network conditions, ensuring continuous accessibility and encouraging higher user engagement.

Yet, Shopware stands on the principle that the idea of headless, using APIs, and creating flexible business logic isn’t limited to just Vue.js or JavaScript. The company wants to make a broad, general API that can be used as a starting point for any kind of custom website.

Hyvä Theme

The Hyva theme is a popular front-end theme for the Magento eCommerce platform and combines headless and monolith approaches. It integrates well with Magento’s APIs and GraphQL, which can serve as a solution for semi-headless architecture.

Hyva is indeed fast and has PWA capabilities, which create reliable, and engaging web experiences, aligning well with a decoupled architecture. However, it is important to note that it is still integrated within the Magento monolithic system. This is why, using Hyva may require only minimal adjustments in terms of development, support, and development team training.

Other benefits of Hyva are possibilities for extensive customization, enabling businesses to create a unique frontend that matches their brand and specific requirements, and its mobile-first approach that ensures that your eCommerce site is responsive on different devices.

Vuegento – Headless Storefront

Vuegento stands as a front-end solution, emerging from our R&D activities. Initially crafted for our project, Brocard, which is built on Magento, Vuegento has now become a Magento-centric solution. It was designed using the Vue.js framework and operates alongside GraphQL.

What sets Vuegento apart is its modular nature. It’s capable of reflecting Magento modules on the back-end, aligning them seamlessly on the front-end. This approach ensures that Vuegento remains easy to manage, as the back-end and the front-end follow the familiar structure.

For businesses seeking a tailor-made, headless solution for their Magento setup, Vuegento presents an excellent choice. Its adaptability and modular design make it a compelling solution to consider.

The rise of headless eCommerce has transformed the online retail industry by providing businesses with unparalleled flexibility, scalability, and customization options. As technology continues to advance and consumer expectations evolve, headless eCommerce is poised to play a crucial role in the future of online retail.

Whether you are a small business aiming to establish a strong online presence or an enterprise seeking to scale your operations, contact us and we’ll help you to embrace a headless approach that can revolutionize your eCommerce strategy and pave the way for unparalleled success.