Table of Contents
Introduction
Ecommerce and retail run on time engines.
Trends shift overnight.
Consumer preferences flip faster than a YouTube trend.
And as a scaling enterprise, if you’re not quick enough to keep up,
your competitors will.
Think about virtual try-ons , which are now the quintessential AR-powered tools that let shoppers try on clothes, jewelry, or makeup virtually?
Unthinkable just a few years ago, thanks to limited tech and consumer trust issues. Now? It’s mainstream, fuelled by the pandemic’s need for contactless experiences and modern-day consumer’s need for convenience and try-before-I-buy.
Even payment systems have transformed. Contactless checkouts and tap-to-pay options went from niche to necessity when social distancing redefined how we shop.
In such a fast-paced environment, you need a business model that doesn’t just survive the change—it thrives on it.
A model that’s adaptable, modular, and scalable enough to handle rapid shifts in consumer dynamics.
Today, in our blog we are talking about one such highly versatile, flexible and scalable architecture which has taken the tech world by storm: the microservices.
Let’s explore how this versatile architecture can solve real-world challenges in ecommerce and retail.
So, what is a microservice?
Need to upgrade your inventory management? New to overhaul your payment system? Want to launch a new & customised loyalty program?
Microservices lets you do it all without disrupting the rest of your operations and underlying infrastructure.
Microservices breaks down complex systems into smaller, independent services, each focusing on a specific business capability.
Microservices architecture is like having a toolbox where each tool (or service) does one thing exceptionally well.
Envisioned by the due of James Lewis and Martin Fowler, microservices was result of their dream of building software system that are modular and decentralized.
A microservices architecture based application will have numerous services/modules that are –
- Independently deployable,
- Tightly coupled hence more agile and flexible
- Are easier to isolate and test, so maintenance/changes are easier
- Each module/service are designed to perform a specific use case
Also Read: How Microservices Communicate with Each Other
Microservices vs Monolithic System
As an online retailer you must have come across scenarios where you have faced a sudden surge in demand during a holiday season while simultaneously you had to roll out a new loyalty program to offer a curated and personalised experience to your shoppers.
Or if you have a complex B2B ecommerce platform , who would know better that managing custom pricing for thousands of clients while ensuring real-time inventory updates can seem overwhelming.
Traditional monolithic systems struggle to cope with such scenarios, leading to delays, inefficiencies, and potential customer dissatisfaction. On the contrary, microservices can help your business to adapt swiftly, innovate rapidly, and scale efficiently.
Who Really Needs Microservices?
Now , you may wonder, do I really need microservices for my business? Let’s look for some use cases where the architecture has done wonders .
- Simplifying Complex B2B System
- Reduced Latency & Enhanced System Performance
- Enabling Seamless Omnichannel Solutions
- Driving Customization in Complex Digital Transformation Projects
- Delivering a Unified CX
B2B ecommerce platforms face unique complexities involving multiple stakeholders, large order volumes, intricate product catalogs, and time-critical supply chain operations.
Microservices can seamlessly manage specific functions such as order management, pricing and promotions, cataloging, and inventory independently.
Not only this, microservices can enable better scalability for handling surges in order volumes and facilitate real-time updates to ensure accurate inventory and supply chain tracking.
B2B platforms managing thousands of SKUs and custom pricing for different clients can use microservices to streamline quote generation, order approvals, and personalized promotions without overloading the system.
At Embitel, we have helped a FMCG conglomerate to optimise their retail operations through microservices based solution.
By implementing a Backend for Frontend (BFF) microservice layer, we streamlined communication within our system. This approach significantly reduced the number of direct calls to the Magento backend by enabling the frontend to interact directly with third-party systems where relevant.
This optimization translated into key performance improvements, especially for location-based features like delivery slot selection, which now operate faster and more efficiently.
Enterprises struggle to create a unified customer experience across online, offline, and mobile touchpoints.
Microservices can centralize data from various channels, ensuring consistency in inventory, customer profiles, and order history. Through real-time synchronization across platforms, microservices has been used for implementing customer-centric features like “buy online, pick up in-store” or “return in-store” to work seamlessly.
Retail brands aiming for an omnichannel strategy can use microservices to integrate POS systems, mobile apps, and ecommerce websites into a cohesive ecosystem.
Industries like automotive, banking, retail, and manufacturing require tailored solutions for digital transformation.
Microservices’ modular nature allows businesses to develop custom features and workflows without disrupting the entire system.
Industries with specific requirements—such as franchise management in frozen food retail or personalized financial tools in banking—can leverage microservices for scalability and flexibility.
Enterprises these days want to provide a personalized and consistent shopping experience by leveraging a 360-degree view of their customers.
Centralized commerce technologies powered by microservices collect and analyse customer data across touchpoints.
In a nutshell, microservices are great to build resilient, highly flexible and scalable solutions and services that can handle the dynamic nature of contemporary markets.
Does My Ecommerce Platform Support Microservices?
Most of the leading ecommerce platforms such as Magento Commerce ( Now Adobe commerce ) offer extensive support and resources for enterprises and brands like yours to create and deploy microservices -based applications.
Adobe Commerce (Magento Commerce) embraces microservices to deliver scalable, flexible, and high-performance ecommerce solutions. Here’s how:
- Unified API Integration with API Mesh: Adobe Commerce’s API Mesh consolidates multiple microservices, third-party tools, and applications into a single GraphQL endpoint.
This simplifies front-end development and reduces complexity, enabling faster time to market of new features and seamless user experiences. - Customizable Extensibility via Adobe App Builder: Adobe App Builder is a serverless platform that empowers enterprises and merchants to create custom microservices and applications.
It facilitates the development of scalable and secure apps that extend Adobe Commerce’s functionality, integrate with3rd party systems , and meet unique business needs—without the overhead of managing infrastructure or higher TCOs. - Microservices based SaaS solutions: Magento Commerce ( Adobe Commerce) has deployed several of its most sought after SaaS products based on microservices architecture. This includes the AI-based Product Recommendation systems, Order Management module – to name a few.
Overcoming Challenges with Microservices
While the benefits of microservices are clear, transitioning to the architecture requires careful planning:
- Cultural Shift: Teams need to embrace DevOps and agile methodologies.
- Initial Investment: Although cost-efficient in the long run, the initial transition may require significant resources.
- Data Management: Decentralized systems need robust strategies for maintaining data consistency and security.
How Can I implement Microservices for my Business?
The deployment of microservices is simultaneously a benefit and a challenge. While it opens the door to unparalleled flexibility, scalability, and innovation, it also demands a level of complexity and expertise far greater than that of monolithic applications.
At Embitel, we have worked with numerous global customers across industries to build highly scalable and resilient applications.
We’ve simplified existing application ecosystems, enhanced operations, and developed flexible and future-ready ecommerce solutions using the power of microservices.
If you’re seeking expert guidance to navigate the world of microservices and leverage its transformative benefits for your business, get in touch with us.
