Solutions architecture is a complex subject. Right at the heart of software development, it’s the structure that defines practically every aspect of the project. From identifying features, phases and solution requirements, it supports the project management process and the timely delivery of the software. And with a well-structured solution architecture, it’s likely that challenges in the development process can be handled successfully.
So it’s clear that the function has always been vital to successful software development. But as organisations wrestle with what their structures will look like in a post-pandemic world, we’d argue the role will garner even greater importance.
The Growth of Headless
In recent years we have seen the growth of so called ‘headless’ commerce solutions, where the customer facing front-end is separated from the backend. It’s a movement that has gained popularity for many reasons.
It supports the drive for a true omnichannel approach, allows more personal customer experiences, delivers seamless integrations and allows for a faster time to market. But it does put an even greater pressure on having an impeccable solutions architecture in place. And then you have that small matter of a global pandemic.
The COVID Effect
COVID-19 will arguably change digital commerce forever. The efficiencies of e-commerce are here to stay. Countless new digital consumers have been created over the last 4 months, with their on-line buying behaviours that were established early in the lockdown now reinforced with weeks of use. Whether it’s convenience that drives that to continue, or the fear of mixing in crowds that it still felt, for many on-line grocery, clothing and entertainment purchases will continue to replace visits to shopping centres and high streets. Indeed, various research reports suggest around a quarter of consumers would not be happy to visit a shopping centre for the foreseeable future.
Grasping the Opportunity
With a new segment of society converted to digital commerce, it’s crucial that organisations maximise this opportunity by delivering personalised web content, offers, pricing, and promotions that adapt to each customers' unique preferences and buying history. Equally, account control and security must do the same. Paul Sidebottom who is Head of Digital Architecture, Software Engineering and Delivery at Dominos Pizza has commented: “If the newfound on-line buyers are to continue, they must feel that the digital experience emulates or exceeds the positives of a physical in-store visit, and be confident in the security of their transactions – an aspect that may have previously proved a barrier to them buying on-line.”
So we can see that architecting for a software solution, particularly a multi- layered, super complex solution such as the type of end-to-end digital commerce platforms that will be necessary to retain the newly gained digital consumers, is vital in achieving the qualitative output necessary.
Without this solid platform to start from, the costs to retailers, both in time and money, can be massive. In our view, the hiring of an appropriate solutions architect, or architecture team, is paramount to success in a post-pandemic climate.
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