Headless Commerce: Online Shopping for Apps via E-Commerce Platform Integration
With a headless commerce solution, you integrate e-commerce functions directly into your existing iOS or Android app. Platforms such as Shopify, Shopware, Pimcore, WooCommerce or JTL-Shop serve as the backend. Products, cart, checkout, customer accounts and other shop functions can thus be seamlessly integrated into your custom app.
Custom Storefront with a Reliable E-Commerce Backend & Individual Mobile App Experience
Many SMEs already have an established e-commerce infrastructure or an app with a large user base. This often raises questions such as:
How can individual user experiences be created?
How can content such as social media videos be used for e-commerce?
How can customer data be put to better use?
How can AI be meaningfully integrated into the app?
The key lies in integrating existing e-commerce, CRM and POS systems into a custom app. Core processes such as the product catalogue, cart and checkout continue to run via the existing backend, while the app frontend can be developed independently and designed flexibly.
The result is a tailor-made mobile experience with optimised product presentation, navigation and search – without having to rebuild existing commerce processes. Product data, orders and other information remain synchronised with the existing shop system.
Benefits of Backend-as-a-Service vs. Classic Standalone Online Shopping Solutions
Most e-commerce infrastructures have grown historically: an online shop has developed over the years, and other systems such as CRM and loyalty were built alongside it. At some point the question arises: is it worth making the big leap, and does an integrated 360° commerce experience make sense? Here are the most important factors companies need to weigh up.
Classic shop | Headless Commerce | |
Frontend | Tightly coupled to the shop system | Can be developed independently |
Mobile App | Often a WebView or separate channel | Often a WebView or separate channel |
UX/UI | Shaped by the platform | Largely free to design |
Commerce Backend | Shop platform | Shop platform |
APIs | Supplementary | Core architecture |
System integration | Often limited | CRM, ERP, PIM etc. can be integrated |
Development effort | Lower | Higher |
Customisation | Limited | High |
Headless Commerce: Connecting Existing Systems Intelligently
A modern e-commerce app does not have to develop every function itself. Via APIs and custom interfaces, existing shop, ERP, CRM and loyalty systems can be connected directly to a mobile app. This creates a seamless shopping experience, while core business processes continue to be controlled via the existing infrastructure.
Backend & Integrations
Existing systems handle the business processes and provide the required data.
→ | Shop: products, cart & checkout |
→ | ERP: stock, prices & orders |
→ | CRM: customer data & marketing |
→ | Loyalty: points, vouchers & rewards |
→ | AI & PIM: advice & product data |
Mobile App & UX/UI
The app brings all functions together in a custom, user-friendly frontend.
→ | Custom navigation & UX/UI |
→ | Product search & product presentation |
→ | Personalised content & offers |
→ | Integrated shopping experience |
→ | Customer account & loyalty features |
Headless Commerce Development for Existing iOS or Android Apps
Headless commerce is particularly worthwhile for brands with existing iOS and Android apps and five-figure user numbers. Integrating e-commerce functions opens up new monetisation opportunities and improves the user experience. Whether Shopware, WooCommerce, JTL-Shop or Shopify as a commerce backend: the existing shop system provides products, cart and checkout, and the shopping functions are integrated directly into the app – without a separate shopping app or redirecting to the online shop.
To do this, we analyse the existing app and backend architecture and assess which functions of the shop system can be integrated and where additional middleware or backend logic makes sense.
Which E-Commerce Platforms Can Be Integrated into an App?
E-commerce platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Shopware and JTL-Shop can be connected to custom iOS and Android apps via APIs. Products, categories, prices, availability, customer accounts, cart, checkout and orders are integrated directly. The existing shop system remains in place as the commerce backend, while the app serves as a custom storefront. Other e-commerce platforms as well as CRM, ERP, PIM and loyalty systems can also be incorporated into the headless commerce architecture via suitable interfaces.
FAQ – Headless Commerce and E-Commerce App Integration
If you still have questions, you will find the most important answers summarised here
What does headless commerce mean?
Headless commerce separates the frontend from the e-commerce backend. While the shop system handles core commerce functions, the frontend can be developed independently and flexibly.
How does headless commerce work with a mobile app?
The mobile app is connected to the existing e-commerce system via APIs. This allows products, cart, checkout and other commerce functions to be integrated directly into the app.
Which e-commerce platforms can be connected to an app?
Among others, Shopify, Shopware, WooCommerce and JTL-Shop. Other e-commerce platforms can also be integrated, provided suitable APIs and interfaces are available.
Can an existing app be extended with e-commerce at a later stage?
Yes. Existing iOS and Android apps can be extended with e-commerce functions at a later stage and connected to an existing shop system.
Do you need a new shop system for headless commerce?
No. The existing shop system can often continue to be used as the e-commerce backend.
Which functions of an online shop can be integrated into an app?
For example, product data, categories, product search, cart, checkout, customer accounts, orders and product availability.
What is a custom storefront?
A custom storefront is an individually developed frontend that uses an existing commerce system in the background.
When is headless commerce not worthwhile?
If a classic online shop is sufficient and neither a custom app nor complex system integrations are required, headless commerce is usually not necessary.
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