Building Custom OMS and WMS Features Using Composable Commerce
Introduction to Composable Commerce
Composable commerce is revolutionizing the way businesses approach their e-commerce operations, especially in the B2B sector. At its core, composable commerce refers to a modular e-commerce architecture where businesses can “compose” their technology stack by selecting the best-fit solutions for each functional area. This approach allows companies to leverage API-driven commerce solutions to integrate tools and services seamlessly, avoiding the limitations of traditional, monolithic e-commerce platforms.
In the B2B landscape, where complexity often defines operations, composable commerce plays a critical role. Businesses dealing with large product catalogs, multi-tiered pricing structures, and intricate workflows benefit immensely from the flexibility and scalability offered by this architecture. Traditional e-commerce platforms often fall short in meeting these requirements, forcing businesses to compromise on customization or invest in costly workarounds. Composable commerce eliminates these trade-offs by providing the ability to build tailored solutions that fit specific operational needs.
One of the standout features of composable commerce is its application to Order Management Systems (OMS) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). By adopting a composable architecture, businesses can create custom OMS and WMS functionalities, such as order processing automation, real-time inventory updates, and optimized warehouse layouts. These enhancements are crucial for improving efficiency, meeting customer demands, and scaling operations as the business grows. Unlike monolithic platforms, where such updates can require significant downtime or rework, composable commerce ensures that businesses can innovate rapidly without disrupting existing processes.
Additionally, composable commerce aligns perfectly with the B2B need for seamless system integration. Many B2B organizations rely on complex ERP, CRM, or POS systems to manage operations. A composable approach makes it easier to integrate these systems, ensuring smooth data flow and enhanced operational visibility. This capability is particularly valuable in scenarios like tracking orders across supply chains or managing warehouse inventory in real time.
By enabling a shift from rigid, pre-built platforms to a modular, microservices-driven ecosystem, composable commerce offers a pathway for B2B companies to future-proof their e-commerce operations. It empowers businesses to meet modern challenges with agility, ensuring they remain competitive in an ever-changing digital marketplace.
Benefits of Composable Commerce for B2B Companies
Flexibility and Scalability
In the dynamic world of B2B e-commerce, flexibility and scalability are paramount. Composable commerce empowers businesses to adapt to rapidly changing market demands without overhauling their entire e-commerce platform. By leveraging a modular e-commerce architecture, businesses can scale specific components like OMS or WMS independently. For example, during peak seasons or when expanding to new markets, companies can enhance order processing capabilities or warehouse functionalities without affecting other systems. This level of flexibility allows businesses to stay responsive and competitive in a fast-paced environment.
For B2B companies managing large product catalogs or handling complex pricing structures, scalability is a game-changer. Traditional monolithic platforms often struggle to keep up with the intricate needs of B2B operations, leading to bottlenecks or performance issues. Composable commerce ensures that each component operates optimally, scaling only where needed and minimizing unnecessary costs.
Customization
One of the most significant advantages of composable commerce is its ability to facilitate tailored solutions. B2B organizations often have unique workflows and operational requirements that off-the-shelf platforms fail to address. Composable commerce enables the development of custom OMS and WMS features to align with specific business processes. For instance, businesses can implement advanced inventory management systems that provide real-time stock updates or build order workflows that reflect their operational intricacies.
This level of customization ensures that businesses can optimize their operations without relying on generic, one-size-fits-all solutions. Tailored OMS and WMS features not only streamline processes but also enhance overall efficiency, reducing errors and saving time.
Integration Capabilities
Integration is a critical component of successful B2B operations, where multiple systems, such as ERP, CRM, and POS platforms, need to work together seamlessly. Composable commerce excels in this area by leveraging APIs and integration middleware to connect decoupled systems. This ensures smooth data flow between components, enhancing operational visibility and decision-making.
For example, a business using a legacy ERP system can integrate it with modern, composable OMS and WMS solutions to gain real-time insights into inventory levels, order statuses, and warehouse operations. This interconnectedness minimizes disruptions, reduces manual data entry, and improves accuracy across the supply chain.
Enhanced Customer Experience
Composable commerce’s flexibility directly translates into a better customer experience, which is crucial for B2B businesses aiming to build long-term relationships. By streamlining OMS and WMS functionalities, businesses can offer faster order processing, real-time stock availability, and automated notifications. These features ensure that customers receive timely updates and accurate information, fostering trust and satisfaction.
For instance, B2B buyers often place large or recurring orders and expect seamless fulfillment. A composable WMS can optimize warehouse operations to ensure quick order picking and packing, while a composable OMS can automate order tracking and communication. Together, these enhancements lead to improved service delivery and a more reliable buying experience.
Composable commerce’s benefits—flexibility, scalability, customization, seamless integration, and enhanced customer experience—position it as a vital strategy for B2B companies seeking to thrive in a competitive e-commerce landscape. By adopting this modular approach, businesses can address complex operational challenges while delivering superior value to their customers.
Challenges in Implementing Composable Commerce
Technical Complexity
While composable commerce offers unmatched flexibility and scalability, its implementation requires a deep understanding of modern development practices. Unlike traditional monolithic platforms that provide pre-packaged solutions, composable commerce relies on building a modular e-commerce architecture using APIs, microservices, and headless commerce platforms. This approach demands skilled developers who can design, integrate, and maintain decoupled systems. For B2B businesses, particularly those transitioning from legacy platforms, the technical learning curve can be steep.
Moreover, creating custom OMS and WMS features adds to the complexity. Developers need to ensure that these systems function seamlessly with existing ERP, CRM, and other enterprise systems. Without the right technical expertise, businesses risk introducing inefficiencies or errors during the integration process, which can disrupt operations and affect customer satisfaction.
Integration Efforts
Integration is a cornerstone of composable commerce, but it comes with its own set of challenges. For B2B companies, ensuring seamless communication between diverse systems, such as OMS, WMS, ERP, and third-party logistics providers, can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Integration middleware, while designed to facilitate data flow, requires meticulous configuration and testing to ensure compatibility across systems.
Legacy systems, in particular, often pose compatibility issues when integrated with modern, composable components. Businesses must invest significant time in mapping data fields, setting up APIs, and troubleshooting discrepancies. Any misstep in the integration process can lead to data silos, delayed operations, or even compliance risks, especially when managing sensitive customer or inventory data.
Cost Considerations
The cost of transitioning to composable commerce can be a barrier for some B2B companies. Unlike monolithic platforms that offer a bundled pricing model, composable commerce requires businesses to invest in multiple specialized components. These include licensing fees for headless CMS, integration middleware, and third-party APIs, as well as the development costs for building and customizing OMS and WMS features.
In addition to upfront costs, ongoing maintenance expenses must be factored into the budget. Composable commerce components require regular updates, security patches, and performance optimizations to remain effective. For businesses operating on tight margins or without dedicated IT budgets, these costs can strain resources and delay ROI realization.
Change Management
Adopting composable commerce involves a cultural and operational shift within the organization. Employees accustomed to using traditional platforms may resist the change, particularly if they perceive the new system as overly complex or challenging to learn. Businesses must invest in training and change management initiatives to ensure that stakeholders understand the value of composable commerce and can use it effectively.
To mitigate these challenges, businesses should prioritize strategic planning, involve key stakeholders early, and allocate adequate resources for training and integration. While the implementation of composable commerce can be demanding, the long-term benefits of flexibility, scalability, and operational efficiency make it a worthwhile investment for forward-thinking B2B companies.
Building Custom OMS and WMS Features Using Composable Commerce
Key Components of a Composable Commerce Architecture
APIs: Facilitating Communication Between Modular Components
At the heart of composable commerce is the use of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to connect and communicate between various components. APIs enable seamless data exchange between systems such as OMS, WMS, ERP, and CRM platforms. For example, an API can allow a composable OMS to fetch real-time inventory levels from a WMS and update order statuses for customers instantly. This interconnectedness eliminates data silos, improves operational efficiency, and ensures a unified experience across all touchpoints.
B2B companies often rely on custom-built APIs to support specific workflows, such as syncing tiered pricing structures with a CRM or automating order updates sent to third-party logistics providers. The flexibility of APIs is a critical enabler of the modular e-commerce architecture, allowing businesses to build scalable and tailored systems.
Microservices: A Modular Approach to Functionalities
Microservices form the backbone of composable commerce, breaking down e-commerce functionalities into independent, self-contained units. Each microservice is designed to handle a specific task, such as inventory tracking, payment processing, or order fulfillment. This modular approach allows B2B companies to update or scale individual services without disrupting the entire system.
For instance, if a business experiences a surge in orders during a seasonal promotion, it can scale its order processing microservice to handle the increased demand without overhauling its OMS. This granularity in management ensures that businesses can maintain operational continuity even during periods of high activity.
Headless CMS: Delivering Content Across Channels
A headless CMS (Content Management System) separates the content repository from the front-end delivery layer, enabling businesses to manage and distribute content across multiple channels efficiently. For B2B companies, this capability is crucial for maintaining consistent branding and messaging across websites, mobile apps, partner portals, and even IoT devices.
With a headless CMS, businesses can dynamically serve personalized product catalogs, pricing information, and promotional content to specific customer segments. This flexibility supports the complex and diverse needs of B2B audiences, who often require tailored experiences based on their industry, region, or buying patterns.
Integration Middleware: Ensuring Seamless Data Flow
Integration middleware acts as the glue that binds disparate systems within a composable commerce architecture. It facilitates smooth data flow between OMS, WMS, ERP, and other enterprise systems, ensuring that all components work harmoniously. Middleware solutions are particularly valuable for B2B companies managing legacy systems, as they provide a bridge to modern composable components without requiring a complete system overhaul.
For example, a middleware platform can synchronize inventory data from a WMS with an OMS, ensuring that customers receive accurate stock availability information. It can also route order data from the OMS to the ERP for invoicing, streamlining back-office processes. By automating these connections, middleware reduces manual effort, minimizes errors, and accelerates business operations.
Composable commerce’s foundational components—APIs, microservices, headless CMS, and integration middleware—equip B2B companies with the tools to build flexible, scalable, and tailored solutions. These components form the framework for creating advanced OMS and WMS functionalities that align with the unique demands of B2B operations.
Developing Custom OMS Features
Order Processing Automation: Streamlining Workflows
In the B2B e-commerce environment, order processing is often complex, involving multi-step workflows such as approval hierarchies, bulk order handling, and recurring transactions. Custom OMS features built within a composable commerce framework can automate these workflows, significantly improving efficiency and reducing the risk of human error.
For example, an OMS integrated with APIs can automatically validate order details, check inventory levels, and forward approved orders to the WMS for fulfillment. Automated workflows can also handle exceptions, such as notifying customers of backordered items or flagging high-value orders for additional review. These features ensure that even complex orders are processed quickly and accurately, enhancing customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Inventory Management: Real-Time Stock Tracking and Updates
Custom OMS features enable businesses to track inventory levels in real time, ensuring that stock information is always up-to-date. This capability is particularly crucial for B2B companies that deal with high-order volumes and need accurate inventory data to fulfill customer expectations.
By integrating the OMS with the WMS and ERP, businesses can implement advanced inventory management functionalities. These include setting automatic reorder thresholds, managing stock across multiple warehouses, and ensuring that product availability is accurately reflected on sales channels. Real-time inventory tracking not only minimizes stockouts and overstocks but also enhances supply chain visibility.
Customer Communication: Automated Notifications and Order Status Updates
Customer communication is a critical aspect of the order management process. Custom OMS features can automate notifications, keeping customers informed at every stage of their order journey. For instance, automated emails or SMS updates can notify customers when an order is received, processed, shipped, or delayed.
Additionally, businesses can integrate chatbots or self-service portals to provide real-time order status updates. These tools empower customers to track their orders without needing to contact support teams, improving the overall buying experience. Personalized communication, made possible by composable commerce’s flexibility, strengthens customer trust and loyalty.
Reporting and Analytics: Insights Into Order Trends and Performance
A key advantage of composable commerce is the ability to generate actionable insights through custom reporting and analytics features. Custom OMS solutions can track metrics such as order accuracy, fulfillment times, and customer purchase trends. This data provides valuable insights for decision-making, helping businesses optimize their operations and better understand their customers.
For instance, by analyzing order data, businesses can identify their best-selling products, peak ordering times, and common fulfillment bottlenecks. These insights can guide inventory planning, marketing strategies, and process improvements. Advanced analytics also enable B2B companies to forecast demand more accurately, ensuring they are prepared for future growth.
By developing tailored OMS features through composable commerce, B2B companies can enhance efficiency, improve customer satisfaction, and gain a competitive edge. Each custom feature—whether it involves automation, inventory tracking, communication, or analytics—adds value to the overall e-commerce operation, aligning with the unique needs of the business.
Developing Custom WMS Features
Warehouse Layout Optimization: Efficient Space Utilization
One of the primary challenges in warehouse management is maximizing the efficient use of space. Custom WMS features built on a composable commerce framework enable B2B companies to optimize warehouse layouts based on their unique operational needs. These features can analyze product movement patterns, demand forecasting, and inventory turnover rates to recommend ideal storage locations.
For example, high-demand products can be placed closer to packing stations to reduce travel time during order fulfillment, while slower-moving inventory can be stored in less accessible areas. By integrating advanced analytics and real-time data, custom WMS solutions ensure that warehouse layouts evolve with changing business requirements, improving both speed and accuracy in fulfillment processes.
Picking and Packing Automation: Enhancing Order Fulfillment Speed
Custom WMS features can significantly improve the efficiency of picking and packing operations. With composable commerce, businesses can implement automated workflows that prioritize picking routes based on order urgency, product location, and batch requirements. These features streamline the fulfillment process, minimizing the time and effort required to assemble orders.
For instance, a custom WMS can group orders with similar items to enable batch picking or direct workers to follow the most efficient picking paths using handheld devices or wearable technology. Additionally, automated packing systems can ensure that products are packed securely and labeled accurately, reducing errors and enhancing customer satisfaction.
Shipment Tracking: Real-Time Monitoring of Outbound Logistics
Custom WMS solutions integrated with shipping carriers can provide real-time shipment tracking, enabling businesses to monitor outbound logistics and provide customers with accurate delivery updates. These features are particularly valuable for B2B companies that deal with large or high-value shipments, where precise tracking is essential for maintaining trust and accountability.
With APIs connecting the WMS to logistics providers, businesses can automate the generation of shipping labels, schedule pickups, and monitor delivery status. These integrations ensure that customers receive timely notifications about their shipments, enhancing transparency and fostering a positive buying experience.
Returns Management: Streamlining the Reverse Logistics Process
Handling returns efficiently is critical for maintaining customer satisfaction and controlling operational costs. Custom WMS features can streamline the reverse logistics process by automating key steps, such as generating return labels, tracking returned items, and updating inventory records.
For example, a custom WMS can automatically inspect returned items for quality, determine their resale eligibility, and restock them accordingly. In cases where items cannot be resold, the system can route them for disposal or recycling. These features not only improve the efficiency of the returns process but also provide valuable data for analyzing return trends and reducing future return rates.
By leveraging composable commerce to develop tailored WMS features, B2B companies can enhance their warehouse operations, reduce fulfillment times, and deliver a superior customer experience. Each customized feature—whether focused on layout optimization, automation, tracking, or returns—supports the unique complexities of B2B logistics, driving efficiency and scalability.
Best Practices for Implementing Custom OMS and WMS Features
Strategic Planning: Assessing Business Needs and Setting Clear Objectives
Before implementing custom OMS and WMS features, businesses must conduct a thorough assessment of their operational needs. This involves identifying pain points, such as bottlenecks in order processing or inefficiencies in warehouse operations, and aligning these with strategic goals. For example, a company aiming to improve order accuracy might prioritize automation features in its OMS, while a business focused on faster fulfillment might invest in WMS enhancements like optimized picking routes.
Clear objectives ensure that development efforts remain focused and aligned with the business’s long-term vision. Creating a roadmap for implementation, with defined milestones and success metrics, is essential to monitor progress and measure outcomes effectively.
Stakeholder Engagement: Involving Key Personnel in Decision-Making Processes
Successful implementation of custom OMS and WMS features requires input and buy-in from all stakeholders, including IT teams, warehouse staff, and executive leadership. Engaging stakeholders early in the process ensures that the solution addresses real-world challenges and garners support across departments.
For instance, IT teams can provide insights into system compatibility, while warehouse managers can highlight operational inefficiencies that need to be addressed. Additionally, involving executive leadership helps secure the necessary budget and resources for implementation. Cross-functional collaboration fosters a sense of ownership, ensuring smoother adoption and long-term success.
Phased Implementation: Gradual Transition to Minimize Disruptions
Rather than overhauling OMS and WMS systems all at once, businesses should adopt a phased implementation approach. This involves rolling out features incrementally, starting with high-priority areas or pilot projects. For example, a company might begin by automating specific order workflows in its OMS before expanding to advanced inventory management or reporting features.
Phased implementation allows businesses to test new features, identify potential issues, and make adjustments before scaling. It also minimizes disruptions to daily operations, ensuring that the business can continue serving customers effectively during the transition.
Continuous Monitoring: Evaluating Performance and Making Iterative Improvements
Implementing custom OMS and WMS features is not a one-time effort. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are critical to ensure that the system meets business objectives and adapts to evolving needs. Businesses should track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as order accuracy, fulfillment times, and customer satisfaction to assess the effectiveness of their solutions.
Regular feedback from end-users, such as warehouse staff and customer service teams, can provide valuable insights into areas for improvement. Additionally, leveraging analytics tools can help identify trends and opportunities to enhance functionality further. Iterative improvements ensure that the OMS and WMS remain aligned with the business’s goals and deliver maximum value.
By following these best practices—strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, phased implementation, and continuous monitoring—B2B companies can successfully develop and integrate custom OMS and WMS features. This approach ensures a seamless transition, minimizes risks, and maximizes the benefits of composable commerce.
Case Studies: Successful Implementations of Custom OMS and WMS Features
Snapl: Enhancing Fulfillment Efficiency with Integrated WMS and OMS
Snapl, a third-party logistics (3PL) provider specializing in fulfillment and logistics since 1989, faced challenges with inventory inaccuracies and limited order visibility. To address these issues, Snapl integrated Shipedge’s WMS and OMS into their operations. This integration provided real-time inventory tracking, improved order accuracy, and enhanced transparency for their merchant clients. As a result, Snapl achieved a 30% improvement in inventory accuracy and a 25% increase in operational efficiency, leading to higher client satisfaction and the ability to scale services effectively.
Mirka: Leveraging Composable Commerce for B2B Success
Mirka, a global leader in surface finishing technology, sought to overhaul its eCommerce platform to better support its diverse B2B customer base. By embracing a composable commerce solution using SAP Spartacus and SAP Commerce Cloud, Mirka tailored its platform to meet unique industry demands. This approach led to improved operational efficiency and enhanced customer engagement, demonstrating the effectiveness of composable commerce in achieving measurable business outcomes.
MKM: Future-Proofing Business with Composable Commerce
MKM, the largest independent builder’s merchant in the United Kingdom, aimed to modernize its digital experience for customers across B2B, B2C, and B2B2C segments. By adopting a composable commerce approach, MKM enhanced its online presence, improved customer engagement, and streamlined operations. This modernization enabled MKM to outperform the market with its unique and customer-focused business model, showcasing the benefits of composable commerce in future-proofing business operations.
These case studies illustrate how B2B companies have successfully implemented custom OMS and WMS features within a composable commerce framework to address specific operational challenges, resulting in improved efficiency, scalability, and customer satisfaction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is composable commerce in B2B e-commerce?
Composable commerce is a modular approach to building e-commerce platforms, allowing businesses to select and integrate individual components like OMS, WMS, and ERP systems. It’s particularly beneficial for B2B companies, as it offers the flexibility to customize solutions for complex operational needs while enabling scalability and seamless integration with existing systems.
How does composable commerce differ from traditional e-commerce platforms?
Traditional platforms are monolithic, meaning they come as a single, unified solution that often limits flexibility and customization. In contrast, composable commerce relies on a modular architecture, leveraging APIs, microservices, and headless CMS to allow businesses to build tailored solutions by integrating best-of-breed tools.
What are the benefits of building custom OMS and WMS features using composable commerce?
Composable commerce enables businesses to develop custom OMS and WMS functionalities that align with specific operational requirements. Benefits include improved order accuracy, streamlined workflows, real-time inventory tracking, optimized warehouse layouts, enhanced customer communication, and actionable insights from advanced reporting and analytics.
What challenges should be considered when implementing composable commerce?
Implementing composable commerce can be complex, requiring skilled development resources, significant integration efforts, and careful cost management. Businesses must also address change management challenges to ensure smooth adoption by all stakeholders.
How can a B2B company transition to a composable commerce architecture?
Transitioning to composable commerce begins with strategic planning, identifying pain points, and defining clear objectives. Businesses should prioritize phased implementation, involve key stakeholders, and leverage APIs and middleware for seamless integration. Continuous monitoring and iterative improvements are essential to ensure long-term success.
