While the market status keeps changing for the better, consumer needs and wants also keep changing in the same line. This, therefore, pushes business setups to also change as a way of adapting to the new changes, bearing in mind the increasing rate of competition.

Among the industries facing adverse changes in terms of competition and consumer wants is the eCommerce industry. We have seen many digital business setups taking a twist in their ways of operation by implementing new approaches and measures to ensure they deliver their products and services promptly.

So, many organizations that focus on the best future ahead are now shifting from monolith architecture to headless software architecture. On that note, some of the brands now opt for MACH, an integrated and innovative eCommerce architecture.

In this write-up, we explore more on MACH, its impact on digital commerce, the challenges you can expect, and the overall benefits you will experience when you shift to MACH architecture.

What is MACH architecture

This is the latest and modern infrastructure used for creating highly innovative solutions for ecommerce development through API-first, cloud-native, & headless technologies.

The commerce tools company came up with the MACH concept in 2018, with the main objective being to enable business setups that want to adapt to new technology for future development to be able to implement the changes with ease. So, this technology came into being mainly to allow establishments to scale, deploy easily, and replace other digital components of digital solutions based on business changes.

Keep reading as we unleash the main components of MACH technology and how each of the components relates to upgrading the architecture.

The main components of MACH architecture

The MACH architecture is simplified as Microservices, API-first, cloud-native, and headless, as explained below:

• Microservices

With a microservices architecture, the team can create the product through a set of independent components called microservices. These independent components operate on their own while interacting with other components via API interfaces. This, therefore, makes it easy for the team to deploy, modify, and upgrade distinct software sections without affecting the whole system. Therefore, through microservices technology, developers find it easy to develop complex and large apps as it minimizes risks associated with the integrity of the system while speeding up the whole development process.

• API-first

Through API, different software components can quickly and easily interact with other products or services, thus simplifying the software development process while saving more time and other costs.

The software engineers, therefore, use the first principle of API-first to create and establish a strong system that can withstand any threats now and in the future.

• Cloud-native

During the cloud migration process, businesses can apply public, private, and hybrid cloud as part of the process to create simplified solutions while scaling the computing resources easily as needed. Therefore, through cloud-native, the stakeholders can easily put in place scalable solutions that make the whole process of innovation and growth manageable.

• Headless

The headless architecture makes it possible for companies to present content to the end users without necessarily having a front-end system. This is because they use APIs connected to other external delivery environments. As a result, an establishment can send brand messages and related content to their target customers through devices, platforms, and channels by using APIs.

MACH Architecture Benefits

While some brands still prefer traditional models in their software development process, it is still okay, as long as it delivers the anticipated outcomes, when compared with the more sophisticated approaches like MACH. For example, in the process of developing a monolith product, there is no need for a more complex technology because such products are easy to scale, meaning the developers don’t need to spend more time coding.

But then, there are several benefits that come with using MACH technology. One main element is how MACH helps ecommerce setups to react to the changing customer needs and preferences, modifying the functionality and scaling their service portfolio.

This, therefore, gives the company an opportunity for growth and development. So, using MACH technology will attract the following range of benefits:

• Decreased IT costs

We’ve mentioned before that MACH technology enables brands to implement new changes with ease whenever the need arises, especially to meet customer wants and to improve the stability of the whole system.

As a result, the IT department members can work with different parts of the product in a parallel manner, which then increases the productivity of the team while speeding up the software delivery. This, therefore, reduces the overall operating costs incurred in the IT sector and the whole software development process.

• Streamlined innovation

MACH technology is known for its flexibility and modularity. Therefore, this enables organizations to keep implementing the latest technology that comes up in the software field.

A perfect example is when the organization uses machine learning and artificial intelligence quickly when they need to modify its technology stack. In the end, they remain on top of the competition in the market.

• Improved customer experience

Well, the MACH concept helps the team to stay updated with the latest competition, which means that customer needs and wants are always the top concerns. With MACH, it does not matter the channels or means brands use to create smooth interaction with the audience. They can simply customize the content, update loyalty programs, and update main sales while improving marketing approaches.

When more customers are satisfied, it means that the sales are on track, and many customers will join the movement, thus increasing productivity.

• Risk mitigation

In the process of software development, a change and update to any component of the monolith solution mean violating the integrity of the whole system. This will automatically lead to security and bug issues. However, this isn’t the case in the MACH architecture. In MACH technology, the developers only need to handle microservices, and in case of a problem, they resolve it easily in the specific component.

So, in MACH systems, they are exposed to almost no risks, and the developers have room for experiments as a way of strengthening the system.

Well, those are the top benefits you will get after implementing a MACH system in your organization. However, be sure to experience some challenges as outlined below:

MACH Architecture Challenges 

Yes, good technology that helps to upgrade the organization comes at a cost. This is a number one challenge, and it requires adequate planning and preparation. Besides, as technology advances, the IT process becomes more complex. As an outcome, you can be sure of the challenges explained below when you implement the MACH architecture.

• Microservices lead to increased development time

While microservices are beneficial in a way, developers have the massive task of integrating all the components using APIs, especially when the microservices are many.

While MACH advocates for reducing time-to-market, the project development time can adjust at any time because of microservices. Therefore, stakeholders must put in accurate measures to handle such risks by estimating the workload before starting the project. This calls for a clearly written and defined document explaining the business requirements.

• No ready-made front-end

Well, in MACH, implementing a headless architecture can become a big deal. This means getting a product without an interface, and this calls for building it from scratch or giving other talents, which will attract extra costs.

• The insane complexity of managing projects

The microservices in MACH architecture call for monitoring environments with many components. Doing this requires time and other resources, which can bring a stressful impact on the business.

Conclusion

Business entities require regular growth to reach their targets and stay ahead of the competition. MACH is one modern technology that will see your ecommerce entity rise to new heights. However, be informed of the adverse challenges and implement strategic approaches to deal with them early enough for the effectiveness of the MACH architecture.

Finally, get in touch with eCommerce development company in order to implement the MACH architecture.