Composable Commerce by Adobe

In a move that has largely gone unnoticed by the public, Adobe has transformed its acquired eCommerce platform, Magento, from a monolithic code base into a modern, composable commerce suite that goes beyond the common MACH (Microservices, API-first, Cloud-Native, Headless) pattern and best-of-breed approaches.

"Out-of-process" applications and decoupled headless frontends now offer new ways to extend Adobe Commerce without modifying the code base. Complementary services like the AI-powered Live Search, the enterprise CMS AEM, and the customer data platform Real-Time CDP create a comprehensive suite of tools that meet the highest expectations of merchants and enterprises.

Let’s break down the features Adobe has introduced to transform the Magento monolith into what is now known as Adobe Commerce in 2024.

API First

Magento has supported GraphQL and REST APIs for years, but Adobe is taking this to the next level with the introduction of API Mesh. The API gateway allows the consumption of various services from a unified GraphQL endpoint. Information from multiple sources can now be combined in a single request, providing better performance and simplifying development.

Adobe I/O and AppBuilder

Great extensibility has always been a key factor in the success of eCommerce platforms. What was possible in the monolithic code-base of Magento since day one is now also achievable outside of it. Events and webhooks enable responses to lower-level events within the platform, such as the creation of a new customer account or a product going out-of-stock. Extended business logic can be implemented in a microservice. To support this, Adobe has created an SDK and hosts the additional service, scaling it on demand. Adobe also implements a common pub/sub service, called Adobe I/O, to support external event consumers and buffer peaks.

Additionally, Adobe uses the AppBuilder approach to convert marketplace apps into what they call “out-of-process” applications. These extensions are hosted as microservices (AppBuilder applications) while remaining accessible from the Adobe Commerce admin panel.

A Suite of Services

Several key components of Adobe Commerce, such as the AI-powered search and catalog service, are provided as hosted SaaS services. Other Adobe products like AEM and Real-Time CDP can also be used to customize the commerce experience. While other vendors offer simplified functionalities or require third-party implementations, Adobe adds market-leading solutions to provide a unique, single-vendor software solution. The seamless integration of their content delivery pipeline and marketing tools gives merchants an incredibly powerful suite of solutions.

The New Headless

PWAs and other alternative frontend approaches have been around for almost a decade. With Edge Delivery Services (EDS), Adobe provides a unified headless frontend for their CMS application and eCommerce platform. EDS is laser-focused on performance and moves away from large and heavy JavaScript frameworks. Once again, Adobe takes over the operational side of the headless application and ensures optimal performance at scale.

The new headless frontend for Adobe Commerce also supports the Document-Based Authoring feature, which has been introduced lately to AEM. Editors can now create and publish content right from Google Docs or Microsoft Word.

Future Roadmap

Adobe continues to innovate and expand its commerce capabilities. Future plans include further enhancements to AI-driven services, more robust integration options, and additional tools for personalized customer experiences. Adobe's commitment to staying ahead in the eCommerce space promises more exciting developments in the near future.

Competitive Analysis

Compared to other major composable commerce platforms like Shopify Plus and BigCommerce, Adobe Commerce stands out with its extensive suite of integrated services and its strong focus on enterprise-level solutions. Adobe's ability to leverage its wide array of digital marketing tools, such as Adobe Experience Manager and Adobe Analytics, provides a unique advantage for businesses looking to create a cohesive and powerful digital presence.

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Conclusion

The transformation from a monolithic code-base to a composable architecture is a gigantic undertaking. Adobe has not only kept pace with the competition but has also leveraged its internal strengths to introduce smart new products. By combining its rich portfolio, Adobe has created a robust commerce offering that meets the complex needs of modern merchants and enterprises.

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