What are composable commerce accelerators?

Introduction

Businesses want speedy commerce platform launches. Faster launch equals faster sales, happier customers, and beating the competition. Less time building (saving money) means more time selling (making money). Companies push hard for speed.

That's where composable commerce accelerators come in. Like a turbocharger, they get your website launched fast, with extra benefits on the side.

Understanding Accelerators

The term “accelerator” has unfortunately become somewhat ambiguous within the industry. Its various applications across diverse sectors can lead to confusion.

There are startup accelerators like Y Combinator that help startups launch. Cloud accelerators assist businesses in transitioning to the cloud. E-commerce accelerators help brands enhance their online growth.

This blog explores Composable Commerce Accelerators (CCAs), a subset of solution accelerators (SAs).

Solution accelerators are tools, frameworks, and pre-built components. They speed up the development process for specific solutions. Essentially, they are software elements or practices ready for use. They enable software teams to tackle common challenges and meet requirements more efficiently.

Solution accelerators consist of pre-built software pieces or sets of practices. They help software teams address common challenges or requirements with greater efficiency.

Forrester defines solution accelerators in the following way:

A software asset that an IT services vendor uses to automate a particular business or aspect of product development for clients. It provides 30% to 90% of the solution that the client is looking for; the provider reuses it across multiple engagements.

Accelerators occupy a space between products and services, sometimes called as "productized services."

Let's explore their differences:

Products:

• Standardized solutions: Limited customization, catering to broader needs.
• Low flexibility: Adapting to individual customer requirements can be challenging.

Productized Services:

• Balanced approach: They offer moderate customization, blending standardization with some adaptation.
• More adaptable than products: Tailored solutions are possible to a certain extent.

Services:

• Tailored solutions: Highest level of customization, addressing specific customer needs.
• High flexibility: Fully adaptable to individual requirements.

What is a composable commerce accelerator?

Think of CCAs as specialized tools within the broader category of solution accelerators (SAs). While both aim to speed up development, CCAs have a laser focus on the commerce industry.

Here's what sets them apart:

• Built for Composable Commerce: CCAs leverage the MACH architecture for unmatched flexibility. Imagine building blocks you can easily swap and scale independently.
• Faster development: Quick assembly of applications tailored to your needs compared to traditional SAs due to modular design.

• Expertise Matters: Building CCAs requires deep technical knowledge of various commerce components. That's why they primarily originate from professional services companies. They have extensive experience implementing and integrating composable commerce platforms with diverse technologies.

In short, CCAs offer a powerful and adaptable way to build commerce solutions faster.

Composition of an accelerator

Defining a CCA is challenging because of its vast customization potential. However, some common elements exist. Every CCA should contain 3 essential building blocks:

1. Accelerator Program:

This is your mission control, guiding you from launch to success.

This includes:

a. Methodology:?Guiding participants from start to finish (e.g.,?workshops,?coaching).-

b. Processes:?Defined steps for implementing the solution.

c. Timeline:?Clear roadmap for achieving milestones.

2. Accelerator Service Offering:

Choose the fuel that fits your mission. This includes:

a. Pricing Models:?Subscription,?fixed fee,?usage-based,?etc.

b. Complementary Services:?Implementation support,?training,?ongoing maintenance.

c. Maintenance & Updates:?Frequency and responsibility for updates.

d. Intellectual Property Rights:?Ownership of customizations and developed code.

3. Accelerator Technology:

This is your spacecraft. It is the core of the solution. This includes:

a. Pre-Built Libraries & Frameworks:

i. Technology Platforms:?Commerce engine,?CMS,?search,?etc.

ii. Development Frameworks:?Next.js,?.Net,?Java,?etc.

iii. Prebuilt Integrations:?Connecting platforms and systems.

b. Templates & Boilerplates:

i. E-commerce Website Templates:?Pre-designed layouts for product displays,?categories,?and banners.

ii. Backend Boilerplates:?Code snippets for user authentication,?product management,?etc.

c. Reference Architectures:

i. Scalable Architecture:?Designed for high traffic and future growth.

ii. Best Practices:?Security,?data management,?performance,?fault tolerance.

d. Automated Tooling:

i. CI/CD:?Automates testing and deployment for smooth updates.

ii. Testing Tools:?Ensures flawless shopping cart,?checkout,?etc.

iii. Analytics & Monitoring Tools:?Tracks user behavior,?performance,?and errors for optimal UX.

Imagine these three blocks as the engine, cockpit, and fuel of your rocket. Each is crucial for a smooth and successful launch.

While the technology of the rocket is powerful, it needs a clear flight plan and reliable support. Think of the program as the mission control, guiding you with expert advice and a defined roadmap. The service model, like the fuel, makes everything run smoothly.

It's the interplay between program, service, and technology that delivers the results.

Benefits of composable commerce accelerators

Here are some of the benefits that CCAs can provide:

• Faster launch: Skip the lengthy build and launch your store in 3 months instead of 8-10. Pre-built tools get you there quicker, allowing you to capture market opportunities sooner.
• Efficient projects: Avoid long architecture discussions and tests of simple things. CCAs let you use resources effectively, have fewer meetings, and maintain smooth development.
• Lower Tech Risk: Reliable architecture designs and code tested in many customer projects. This cuts down on the usual risks of custom projects. The key advantage is not just having the code, but knowing it works well in various situations.
• Focus on What Makes You Unique: Have your basic tech handled. Concentrate on unique features and functions that stand out. This means less time on tech details and more on improving user experience.
• Scalability: Engineered to facilitate seamless growth of commerce platforms alongside the business. Able to handle large traffic spikes, such as Black Fridays, proven in live projects.
• Customization & Flexibility: Accelerators use pre-built parts. But like building blocks, you can swap and change them to tailor to your specific needs. Keep in mind, that customizing these components may reduce accelerator efficiency.
• Experience Across Projects: Customers gain from the latest commerce features and best practices. This experience developed through years of working on projects is integrated into accelerators. By using accelerators, brands buy expertise rather than just hiring experts.
• Support and Maintenance: Many accelerators offer ongoing support and maintenance. This ensures the commerce platform stays up-to-date. Ready documentation and monitoring simplify the setup of support and maintenance.
• Compliance and Security: Accelerators usually follow industry standards for security and compliance. This reduces the burden on businesses to independently navigate these complexities. These standards are integral to the accelerator's core, not an afterthought.

Conclusion

Accelerators are not a cure-all for every challenge in a commerce project. Yet, they offer a compelling alternative to traditional project delivery methods.

By using CCAs in their development strategy, companies can avoid many common issues related to the creation and launch of digital commerce platforms.

Ready to explore specific solutions?

Head to our commercetools marketplace to see what our solution integrator partners have built.

Interested to learn more about composable commerce accelerators?

Follow me for insights and updates.