First, it’s important to understand that traditional monolithic DXPs are large, complex systems that are built to handle a wide range of functions. While they may be comprehensive in their capabilities, they are also inflexible and costly to set up, maintain and update. Examples of vendors include; Sitecore, Salesforce, Adobe Experience, and Liferay. In contrast, composable architecture is a design approach that allows organisations to build software systems by combining smaller, independent components. This approach offers several advantages over monolithic DXPs, including greater flexibility, scalability, reuse, modularity, and efficiency.

One of the primary benefits of composable architecture is its flexibility. With a monolithic DXP, it can be difficult to add new features or modify existing ones without disrupting the entire system or waiting for a vendor to provide the desired functionality. This can be frustrating for organisations that want to quickly and easily update their systems to meet the evolving needs of their customers. In contrast, composable architecture allows organisations to add or modify individual components without affecting the rest of the system. This makes it much easier to update and improve the system over time, including the integration of new content platforms, personalization, experimentation, and optimization capabilities. It also means that packaged business capabilities (PBCs) or microservices can be replaced with relative ease if a more suitable or cost-effective offering comes to market.

Another advantage of composable architecture is its scalability. As businesses grow and change, their software systems need to be able to adapt and scale to meet their needs. With a monolithic DXP, it can be challenging to add new components or features without impacting the overall performance of the system. In contrast, composable architecture allows organisations to scale their systems by adding or modifying individual components as needed. This makes it easier to adapt to changes in the business and meet the demands of a growing customer base.

In addition to flexibility and scalability, composable architecture also promotes reuse and modularity. Because components can be used in multiple places within a system, developers can avoid duplicating code and save time and resources. This also makes it easier to maintain and troubleshoot the system, as problems can be isolated and addressed within a specific component rather than the entire application. This modularity makes it easier for organisations to update and improve their systems over time, as they can easily swap out individual components as needed.

Composable architecture also enables teams to work more efficiently and independently. With a monolithic DXP, multiple teams may be required to work together on a single project, leading to delays and conflicts. In contrast, composable architecture allows teams to work on separate components concurrently, reducing the risk of delays and improving overall productivity. Additionally, composable architecture enables greater API orchestration, enabling the integration of a wider range of technologies and systems to deliver innovative and personalised customer experiences.

Overall, composable architecture is the future of digital experience platforms because it offers numerous benefits over traditional monolithic systems. While it may require a different mindset and approach to development, when done properly, the benefits of composable architecture make it worth considering for organisations looking to improve their digital experience platforms. With composable architecture, organisations can build systems that are flexible, scalable, reusable, modular, and efficient, helping them to better meet the evolving needs of their customers and stay ahead of the competition.