Getting a Handle on Application Connectivity in Composable Commerce

Composable architectures are becoming an increasingly popular option for many industries, including commerce. Many teams want the flexibility to use modular components to build a best-for-me architecture. However, an often-overlooked DevOps challenge with this approach is monitoring all of the component parts of a composable commerce system.

That’s why organizations shouldn’t underestimate the importance of an integration platform as a service (iPaaS). Here are three reasons why an iPaaS is important for API-first, composable commerce systems, and how you can get a handle on application connectivity and performance within your own system.

1. Instant-On Connectivity

Backend development and design decisions have a critical impact on what customers see on the front end. However, it can be difficult for development teams to manage API connectivity between in-house systems and third-party components. A commerce iPaaS can help manage this process, providing a simple way to input authentication credentials, enter API endpoints from third-party applications, map data fields between applications, and get started right away. Instant-on connectivity drives faster time to market and simpler maintenance, with templatized integrations and automatic updates to APIs over time.

2. Building for Unique Systems or Requirements

A single pane of glass can help DevOps teams understand the status of their composable commerce system at any given time (we’ll talk more about the value of this later). However, when teams have to build their own custom components, they often have to do so outside of the composable commerce system — assuming all of the operational risk and technical debt that comes along with this custom work.

However, if you’re able to build these custom components within a fully managed environment, it’s much easier to monitor the performance of these components and how they integrate with the rest of your applications in production. For example, in Elastic Path, developers can create functions and integrations using our low-code tools, run them on a fully-managed cloud infrastructure, and develop their own libraries of available integrations. That makes building, managing, and monitoring these unique components much easier — alongside the rest of your stack.

3. Monitoring System Performance and Continuously Improving

Achieving observability can be a challenge with composable commerce systems. Managing an architecture made up of multiple providers can be a full-time job for an operations professional. From log monitoring to event tracking to alerts, it’s important to have a single control panel for all of your composable applications and integrations.

This level of visibility and control can help DevOps teams understand and manage federated architectures — at a scale that would be nearly impossible to maintain on their own. On-demand reporting and real-time alerting capabilities can help operations teams understand and mitigate potential issues faster, making it easier to embrace a culture of continuous improvement.

As composable architectures gain popularity, more teams will understand the operational challenges and risks that come along with them. However, maintaining visibility and control doesn’t have to be difficult. An iPaaS can provide DevOps teams with a way to effectively integrate components, create custom components, and monitor their systems holistically. The strategic advantage of having an iPaaS is massive. It can help your team launch applications and resolve issues faster, gaining a deeper understanding of how your composable commerce system impacts the customer experience and the bottom line.