Modern E-commerce is challenging to navigate if you don’t know what you’re doing. Customer expectations are sky-high, demands and trends can change every other month, and new technologies flood the market with fresh solutions.
Multiple communication channels, omnichannel marketing, and offering new ways to buy are the principles that dominate E-commerce. But not everyone can keep up with this hectic pace, and it’s not for a lack of trying.
Sometimes the issue falls on the architecture used to compete in the E-commerce space. The software solutions that stand out are called monoliths and microservices. And despite their intuitive designations, they might not work how most business owners think.
E-Commerce Microservices 101
Microservice architectures used in E-commerce are built upon loosely connected services that work together to create a stable operations system. Microservices are generally modular and connect via API gateways to generate a flexible and scalable service suite. But all services can run independently from each other and don’t have to overlap much.
Although some refer to the term microservices as nothing but a buzzword, it’s quite a popular E-commerce trend with significant advantages. For example, Amazon, eBay, and Uber have switched from monolith to microservice architectures over the years. Netflix did the same, and so did Spotify and the choice of going towards microservices is even evident in the small business sector.
Over half of U.S. companies that make between $5 and $50 million see the switch to microservices and APIs as a matter of urgency. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of companies with over $50 million in revenue that shares the same thoughts.
Due to how they work, microservice architectures allow businesses to be more innovative. In E-commerce, this often means supporting mobile commerce and increasing its reach through various apps that can sustain steady or accelerated growth.
Microservices Pros and Cons
Adopting a microservice architecture isn’t a perfect solution. There are pros and cons worth weighing before making a clear decision.
Microservices Pros
In short, microservices offer three distinct advantages.
- Agility
- Superior customer experience
- Easy maintenance
Microservice systems can have many more components than monoliths. But they also operate independently, leaving ample room for new integrations, innovation, etc. With implementations being easier, using microservices makes companies more agile and flexible. They can tackle modern E-commerce challenges with contemporary solutions and can grow continuously without significant drops on workflow, production, etc.
The customer’s shopping experience is one of the main draws of online consumers to certain stores and E-commerce platforms. People want options, fluid navigation, cross-platform compatibility, interactivity, etc. These are things that only an open API approach, delivered by a microservice architecture, can deliver.
Lastly, maintenance is easy despite the complex nature of microservice systems with multiple independently operating components. If one element of the service suite fails, the others don’t have to suffer. Components can be isolated and repaired without affecting the connected ones. The nature of microservice systems allows for shorter downtimes and faster fixes.
Microservices Cons
The top three cons of microservice systems include the following:
- Technical expertise is needed
- It requires an infrastructure change
- A mindset change is mandatory
While maintenance is quick and easy to perform, not everyone can do it. A microservice architecture involves many moving parts, and each one can have its own code base and environment. Sometimes in-house teams are ill-prepared for this and trusted service providers become mandatory to manage and maintain the entire ecosystem.
Many microservice infrastructures need significant adjustments and changes that aren’t always compatible with a company’s wider infrastructure. Existing monitoring tools and other elements may need changing and implementation by trusted and experienced technicians.
Finally, moving from legacy ERP systems to microservices implies on deciding to do things completely differently. Not everyone easily changes their mindset, even when they know it’s for the better.
E-Commerce Monoliths 101
Monoliths work very differently than microservices. If microservice architectures contain service suites, monoliths are individual units built of four components. A monolith contains the following.
- Databases
- Business logic
- Data interfaces
- User interfaces
But the main distinction is that a monolith is deployed as a standalone solution or individual unit.
Original monolithic E-commerce solutions or platforms were developed for E-commerce brands with a limited audience reach. You can think of SalesForce, WordPress, Magento, Hubspot, and others as monolithic architectures.
Traditionally, monolithic E-commerce catered to brands that would reach customers through desktop computers. They offered a narrow solution that still allowed companies and brands to micromanage all aspects of the online shopping experience, like processing transactions, managing stock, etc.
In the early days of E-commerce, monoliths were all the rage. Such architectures provided businesses with simplified solutions to manage the front and back end. Naturally, monolithic architectures could look very different. For instance, Uber relied on a monolithic system when it initially offered its services in a single city.
But over time, E-commerce advanced considerably. The arrival of mobile technology (tablets, smartphones, smart watches, etc.) created a new way to approach online shopping. It changed things for many businesses; even giant companies admitted to feeling stuck or lacking scalability.
Make no mistake. Many ERP vendors still offer monolithic solutions and have long-standing contracts with companies churning over $50 million in revenue. Therefore, monolithic architectures are still very much in use today, despite many brands and companies agreeing they see microservices as the better option.
Over 70% of U.S. merchants doing at least $5 million per year say that monolithic systems make it almost impossible to integrate superior E-commerce solutions. Over half of those making over $50 million agree. As robust as a monolithic architecture can be, it makes it very difficult to work with multiple vendors. It isn’t easy to create the ultimate user experience by adopting different apps and digital solutions.
The current E-commerce environment is highly competitive. And while monoliths have their uses, they can lack the flexibility to support certain industries’ profit from the rise of e-Commerce.
Monoliths Pros and Cons
Although obsolete in some areas, monolith architectures still have advantages and disadvantages in modern E-commerce.
Monolith Pros
Let’s look at the three main positive aspects of monolithic architecture.
- Simplicity
- Built for the long term
- Great for startups
E-commerce software built on a monolithic architecture is one of the easiest choices to make. It’s a single system, single deployment, and offers much-needed peace of mind.
Monolithic systems, such as legacy ERPs, aren’t deployed quickly. However, they are designed to stay in place and sustain E-commerce solutions for the long haul.
Startups, or small and micro businesses, often enter the market with a narrow vision of what they want. In these scenarios, monolithic architectures can help startups focus and avoid making new changes and implementations on the fly.
Monolith Cons
Now let’s look at the main disadvantages of using monoliths.
- Outdated solution
- Cascading issues
- Low scalability
Fewer and fewer top vendors rely on legacy ERPs and monolithic architectures. Modern E-commerce businesses must eventually adapt to microservices to offer better functionality and customer experiences.
System crashes are more prone in monoliths than in microservices. But the bigger issue is the interlinked nature of the monolith components. If one fails, the entire ecosystem is at risk of cascading failure. This means that making repairs and minimizing downtime isn’t easy or cheap.
Lastly, scalability isn’t realistic, at least at the rate at which modern E-commerce demands companies to grow. Integrating other platforms into the monolith API can be grueling work and take months to achieve. That’s without considering the expertise required to make changes.
When to Use Microservices
Microservices make the most sense for a fast-growing company or an ambitious brand with the capability to scale fast. Additionally, it serves companies that must meet strict customer demands regarding modern tools and accessibility.
When to Use Monoliths
Implementing a monolithic architecture may seem like a waste of time, given modern E-commerce expectations. However, monoliths may still be a good solution for years to come for companies just starting out that don’t expect rapid growth.
Microservices vs. Monoliths – Which Is for You
Both microservices and monoliths see plenty of use in today’s modern E-commerce environment. By all accounts, there are more monoliths deployed compared to how many brands and companies use microservices. But the majority of players recognize the need to eventually transition to microservices from monolithic architectures.
This begs a simple question – Is it worth going with a monolith architecture only to have to make a significant change somewhere down the line? Many would argue that shouldn’t happen. Although monoliths can provide sustainable solutions for years to come, there’s no telling how the E-commerce field will look in the next couple of years.
New disruptive technologies and trends can shake up the E-commerce industry at any moment. In those situations, monoliths can remain stable but stunt the potential of companies and brands to acquire customers and compete in their markets.
Microservices offer the best solution by far in just about every scenario. And who doesn’t want the ability to accelerate growth at will? Microservices provide the edge many monolith and legacy ERP users crave in today’s environment.
