Composable technology is a game-changer for retail CX, because it comprises of a structure of individual systems exposing their data through APIs, which makes the development and maintenance of new digital applications easier over time.

For more, see our Quick guide to understanding Composable Architecture

A truly Composable approach means that back-end developers and individual system suppliers can focus on developing and optimizing their APIs, while front-end developers can focus on creating a stunning user experience. So in an ideal scenario switching to a Composable approach should be smooth sailing but there are some caveats to be aware of.

Some potential problems you should be cautious of when switching to Composable

Not all systems are built to support a composable approach.

A lot of organizations still have legacy systems powering essential parts of their business, siloed systems with no or limited APIs, or supporting only file-based integration possibilities. Furthermore, the APIs that do exist will not be able to handle the number of requests that an end customer storefront or app will generate.

Another issue is the combination of data coming from different systems and how to tie it together.

In many scenarios, such systems (as mentioned above) would need to be replaced, or you would have to build a custom integration layer to make them fit into a new landscape. But some systems are very difficult to replace without making significant changes to the processes within the organization, and building integrations is time-consuming and comes with a continuous need for future support.

Sure, front-end developers can utilize data from the different systems by using the open APIs, but someone will need to tell them exactly what data to use and handle application access for each system. And, if the data needs to differ based on the market or segment that the application is designed for, you will have to apply such business logic in the frontend app, making that logic unavailable for other PWAs. Furthermore, if you would like to personalize based on user intent or history, you would need to find a way to somehow include the context of the user and make sure the proper filtering can be applied.

Here’s how you go Composable and avoid replacing your tech stack

Make legacy systems Composable using the Occtoo Experience Data Platform

With Occtoo, it is easy to ingest data coming from various siloed systems. Just get the data out in a simple key-value format and push it over to Occtoo using our very simple REST-endpoints. Then the data is ready to be used in an experience context while keeping your old legacy systems the way they are. And, if it is a temporary or basic data source, never mind any integrations, just dump the data and upload it directly through Occtoo Studio so that you can start using the data directly.

You can view Occtoo documentation here.

Occtoo is a key component in a Composable architecture. The Experience Data Platform acts as an experience data fabric sitting on top of your system of records. You then only need one interface to fuel the data to your frontend layer, making it a seamless experience for your frontend developers.

“If you are building a Composable Stack you need Occtoo's Experience Data Platform to tie all data from different systems together” - Jacob Rastad, CTO, Nordic Nest.

Nordic Nest case study

The ideal composable approachThe Experience Data Platform acts as an experience data fabric sitting on top of your system of records. You then only need one interface to fuel the data to your frontend layer, making it a seamless experience for your frontend developers. 

The main role of your system of records is to store and maintain all your single domain-specific data. The job of an Experience Data Platform (Occtoo) is to unify and activate your data, bringing it to life using real-time APIs.  

With Occtoo you don't need to rip and replace your system of records built on legacy technology. Occtoo simply sits on top of these systems, unifying all data and transforming it into light weight and easy consumable data through real-time APIs. Your previous investments become even more valuable because the data is easier for your digital teams to actually use.  

Your digital teams can move from idea to implementation at record speed because less time is spent on integration! 

 Occtoo’s primary objective is to solve your challenges by reducing the time you spend on connecting data to your frontend experiences. With our unique product, we empower the digital teams to serve the developer with relevant experience data at a fraction of the cost using a traditional approach. 

  • Leverage existing technologies: Emphasise your investment in existing technology, no need to rip and replace, using Occtoo make data easily accessible to any front-end.
  • Speed to market: With less time spent on integration or data layer development, your digital specialists and marketing team can move from idea to implementation faster than ever before.
  • Free up time for your back-end developers: With Occtoo as part of your Composable stack, your front-end developers no longer need to rely on your back end developers and individual system suppliers for lengthy and complicated integrations. 
  • Adaptability: You have instant access to all data and can re-use and re-purpose the data for every new innovation, application, and channel. Innovate with speed and at scale as the demand changes.

Are you ready to discover more?

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About Occtoo 

Occtoo is an Experience Data Platform that supports retailers and brands to build relevant digital experiences and applications at rapid speed. Occtoo’s Cloud-Native platform makes it easy to access and unify enterprise data from backend systems such as CRM, ERP, PIM, etc. and combine it with behavioral and contextual data to create relevant digital experiences that can be deployed in any channel or frontend in real-time at a global scale. Occtoo was founded in 2019 and are certified by the MACH Alliance.

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