Front End and Back End: A Unified Approach
In the infancy of eCommerce, a unified approach linking the front end and back end was the norm. This architecture served its purpose during a time when eCommerce was relatively uncomplicated. Businesses usually operated on a single channel—typically a web-based storefront—and the complexity of user interactions was minimal.
In this unified architecture, both the front end—the user interface and experience—and the back end—the operational logic and databases—were bundled into a single platform. Any changes to the user interface had to be carefully coordinated with back-end processes like inventory management, payment gateways, and order processing.
Limitations of the Traditional Approach
While this monolithic model had its merits, it also came with a set of challenges that became increasingly apparent as the eCommerce landscape evolved:
Transitioning away from a monolithic system can lead to a 50% reduction in infrastructure hosting costs.
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Inflexibility: The biggest limitation was the architecture's rigidity. The tight coupling between the front end and the back end made it difficult to implement changes quickly, hampering responsiveness to market trends or consumer behavior shifts.
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Scalability Issues: As businesses expanded, the monolithic architecture often struggled to scale seamlessly. The need for uniform scaling of both the front end and back end often led to inefficient use of resources.
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Time-to-Market: Any significant updates or rollouts could take a considerable amount of time due to the interdependencies between various elements of the platform.
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Limited Customization: The bundled nature of the platform restricted the extent to which businesses could offer personalized experiences, especially as consumers began expecting more tailored interactions.
