Beyond Commerce APIs: Building Modern Commerce Sites with iPaaS and DBaaS

Composable commerce involves selecting API-first, best-of-breed commerce components, and then composing them into a cohesive solution that meets unique business needs. Composable promises innovation but requires managing several vendors. To truly harness the benefits of a composable architecture, leveraging an Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) and a Database as a Service (DBaaS) becomes imperative.

The Limitations of Traditional Commerce APIs

APIs have revolutionized the way we build commerce platforms. They allow developers to create custom front ends and connect with various backend services seamlessly. However, the integration of a commerce platform with other systems, such as customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), and various marketing tools, is not always straightforward. Each of these systems has its own set of APIs, requiring significant effort to learn, integrate, and manage.

The Need for iPaaS

Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) offers a solution to this complexity. iPaaS provides a cloud-based platform for integrating applications and services. Elastic Path Composer is the only iPaaS solution fully integrated in a commerce platform.  It simplifies the process of connecting disparate systems, enabling data to flow smoothly across the ecosystem. Here’s why iPaaS is crucial for modern commerce:

1. Streamlined Integration: iPaaS offers pre-built connectors and integration templates that reduce the time and effort required to integrate various systems. This means faster development cycles with our instant on integrations and quicker time to market.
2. Improved Monitoring and Management: With Composer, businesses can monitor their integrations in real-time, ensuring that data flows without interruption. This level of oversight is essential for maintaining a seamless customer experience.
3. Scalability: As the business grows, so do its integration needs. iPaaS platforms are designed to scale with the business, allowing for the addition of new integrations without significant overhauls.
4. Eliminate hosting and management costs: No need to pay other cloud providers, learn new technologies and train your team. We host and manage all integrations, making it easier and more affordable to build a composable architecture.
5. Reduced Complexity: By centralizing integrations, iPaaS reduces the complexity of managing multiple API connections, making it easier for developers to maintain and update the system.

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The Role of DBaaS in Modern Commerce

While iPaaS handles the integration and data flow, Database as a Service (DBaaS) plays a pivotal role in creating, storing and managing the data that is not natively supported in the APIs. Each of our customers have bespoke data requirements that are not natively available in modern commerce platforms. At Elastic Path we have created Commerce Extensions to manage large, private datasets efficiently, offering both simple and complex multidimensional filtering options.

Here’s why having a DBaaS is indispensable:

1. Centralized Data Storage: DBaaS provides a unified repository for all commerce-related data, which might not be available on the commerce platform itself. This centralized storage is crucial for maintaining data integrity and consistency.
2. Enhanced Performance: With DBaaS solutions like Commerce Extensions, companies can leverage high-performance databases that are optimized for read and write operations, ensuring quick access to data and faster transaction processing.
3. Scalability and Flexibility: DBaaS solutions are designed to scale with the business. Whether it’s handling peak shopping seasons or expanding to new markets, DBaaS can accommodate growing data needs without compromising performance.
4. Data Security and Compliance: Leading DBaaS providers offer robust security features and compliance certifications, ensuring that sensitive commerce data is protected against breaches and meets regulatory requirements.

Conclusion: The Composable Future of Commerce

Building modern commerce sites is no longer about just connecting APIs to a front end. The complexity and integration needs demand a more sophisticated approach. By leveraging iPaaS, businesses can streamline their integration processes, reduce development time, and maintain better oversight of their data flows. Meanwhile, DBaaS ensures that all commerce-related data is stored securely and accessed efficiently, enabling businesses to deliver seamless and scalable shopping experiences.

In this composable commerce era, iPaaS and DBaaS are not just optional add-ons; they are essential components that empower businesses to innovate and thrive in a competitive market. By embracing these technologies, businesses can focus on what they do best: delivering exceptional value to their customers.

The good news is that embracing a commerce iPaaS and DBaaS no longer requires a huge upfront investment. Instead, if you want to see this technology in action, you can try our 30-day free trial. You’ll get access to our full suite of solutions, and be able to experiment with tools that are made for developers and merchandisers. Sign up for the free trial today to get access.