The case for Jamstack eCommerce: 4 reasons to make the switch

Websites are tricky things. There are tons of technical efforts that go into getting one up and running, not least of which is the architecture that it’s based upon. Jamstack has emerged as one of the most popular options to fit this need. But what does it mean for you if you run an online store? Let’s take a closer look at how a Jamstack eCommerce infrastructure can help you maximize your digital sales.

What is Jamstack?

Jamstack is an infrastructure that simplifies the site-building experience. It relies on three elements as indicated in the acronym:

• Javascript to write web applications
• APIs to transfer data back and forth
• Markup to design the look and feel of the page

It might sound a bit technical, but even marketers can benefit from Jamstack (opens in a new window). If you’re looking for a quick explanation, the core of Jamstack is this: it offers a decoupled, flexible, easy-to-use approach that helps you optimize your site’s performance.

4 reasons to embrace Jamstack eCommerce

When it comes to the unique needs of online stores, this Jamstack eCommerce approach is particularly well suited for the job. Here are a few more specific reasons why.

1. Better security for sensitive data

When it comes to running a digital store, security is essential. You’re storing all sorts of sensitive information: addresses, contact information, and most notably, payment details. A breach could compromise all of this. This leads to lost customer trust, a damaged reputation, and a huge monetary investment before you can recover.

eCommerce sites also tend to suffer from more attacks – after all, you’re storing a huge amount of fiscal data. As such, you’ll need to put your safety measures on high alert to prevent these frequent attacks before they begin.

That leads us to the first way that Jamstack can help. Thanks to its API-first nature, a breach in one area of the site doesn’t have to lead to disaster in others. Instead, it will be naturally contained to that one channel. The same applies to the decoupled back and front end – damage will be inherently limited to where the attack takes place.

This is especially important when you’re running big events like Black Friday sales (opens in a new window). When you’re juggling higher than normal volumes of orders and traffic, the last thing you want to deal with is a compromised site. Jamstack can help take care of that so you can focus on driving more sales.

2. Create a higher-quality user experience

Customers have high expectations when it comes to performance. That means fast loading times aren’t a bonus – they’re a basic expectation. If you can’t meet them, you risk losing potential sales before your users even reach the homepage.

Jamstack offers a huge benefit in the form of static pages. Static pages are delivered pre-rendered. Because of this, they’re also delivered much faster than their dynamic counterparts. That means less friction and less time between your customer arriving at your site and making a purchase.

Speed isn’t just a benefit for your current shoppers. The faster your pages load, the higher up they’ll be listed in Google’s search results. You’ll be able to attract even more customers with this SEO bump, then keep them when they see the kind of fast experience you can offer.

It’s not just about speed, either. Jamstack uses a component-based design. This means that scaling is super easy. You’ll never have to worry about your transactions being limited by the traffic load on your website. Jamstack eCommerce means you’ll always be able to provide the best experience to the most customers possible for maximized profit.

3. Flexibility in your frontend and backend

Thanks to its decoupled nature, Jamstack eCommerce will never lock you into a default frontend. This means you can sell anywhere at any time, the key component in an omnichannel marketing strategy (opens in a new window). Do you want to create a phone app for on-the-go shopping? Go for it! Your users will be able to access consistent content wherever they need to.

In addition to expanding to even more platforms, you’ll never have to worry about maintaining each of them separately either. Say goodbye to content silos: decoupling means you can manage content across all your channels from a centralized hub.

It’s not just about your frontends, either. The API element also means that your developers are free to swap out the backend technology as necessary. You don’t have to commit to a certain program that might well be outdated within a few years. Instead, you can offer the latest shopping experience with up-to-date technology. Switching is also easy compared to revamping a whole system, meaning upgrades will need minimal downtime so that you don’t miss out on any sales.

4. Happier, more efficient developers

Finally, let’s put our focus back on the developers. After all, backend work is still the base of what your frontend users will see! Choosing Jamstack for eCommerce sites is an effective way to make sure they can work to the best of their abilities.

One major reason for this is that Jamstack doesn’t limit developers to a certain framework. They’re free to build your site using the languages that they’re most familiar with. That means no time lost on a learning curve. You’ll also get higher-quality work because they can choose the technology that they’re most capable of using.

As a result, Jamstack will free up a lot of your developers’ time. This leaves more room in their schedule to focus on eCommerce features themselves. For example, they may be able to enhance the customer experience with 360º product views or microsites to promote sales more effectively. This more streamlined approach channels your valuable resources directly into increasing your sales.

You’ll also be saving more money. Static sites are cheaper to host, so you won’t need to pay as much. That means you can save that money for activities like purchasing raw materials or marketing to a broader audience.

Ready to get started with Jamstack eCommerce?

If you’re ready to take your eCommerce site to the next level, the good news is that there are tons of resources to help you get started. For your developers, there are plenty of educational materials available (opens in a new window). If you’re still making up your mind, we’ve also produced an article on the state of Jamstack (opens in a new window) to help you get a better picture of the technology in general.

Finally, a Jamstack eCommerce approach requires a high-quality CMS to tie the whole thing together. That’s where Storyblok comes in. Storyblok can help you make the most of Jamstack infrastructure for your devs and your markets: the visual editor makes it easy for content creators to perfect your store, while the flexible backend gives your developers the freedom to curate a technology stack that fits your unique needs. With Storyblok and Jamstack, you can optimize your online store and maximize your sales.