What Is the MACH Alliance?
The MACH Alliance is a global network that brings together renowned technology companies and industry experts. This alliance aims to support companies on their journey towards a flexible and interface-based digital landscape.
The acronym MACH stands for the four principles that this approach is based on: Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native and Headless. MACH Alliance members firmly believe that such an architecture is necessary to create future-proof digital experiences. They aim to support companies in creating a software ecosystem that combines these principles.
The MACH Architecture Explained
Benefits of the MACH Architecture
Our Technology Partners Are Also Members of the MACH Alliance
As a certified member of the MACH Alliance since 2022, Bloomreach provides you with agile solutions that help you create a modern content commerce environment:
- Microservices: Bloomreach can be seamlessly integrated into a MACH-compliant system architecture and follows the trend towards composable commerce.
- API-first: Open and extensible APIs enable you to seamlessly integrate Bloomreach into your existing application architecture. The use of commerce accelerators facilitates the integration of Bloomreach with different leading e-commerce solutions, e.g. SAP and Salesforce.
- Cloud-native: The highly scalable Bloomreach Experience Cloud architecture provides you with the flexibility to deliver content worldwide to almost any device, regardless of your existing infrastructure.
- Headless: As a headless content management system (CMS), Bloomreach enables the flexible and scalable implementation of product pages and shopping experiences. Content is managed centrally, making it possible to easily add new channels, for example.
Benefit from the fusion of content and commerce. As a member of the MACH Alliance, dotSource is here to support you in implementing and configuring Bloomreach.
commercetools is one of the leading providers of headless commerce solutions, was a founding member of the MACH Alliance in 2020 and has since been a pioneer in the implementation of MACH principles:
- Microservices: The architecture of commercetools' e-commerce solution is based on microservices. This enables tasks to be carried out in parallel, thereby reducing the dependence between teams. Moreover, the independent applications can easily be developed further, allowing you to respond flexibly to market developments.
- API-first: The commercetools platform is based on the API-first principle. Benefit from more than 300 ready-made interfaces that can be supplemented and extended as required.
- Cloud-native: This platform is developed and operated in the cloud, thus offering all the benefits of a cloud set-up, such as high reliability, scalability and flexibility.
- Headless: Thanks to the headless commerce approach pioneered by commercetools, you can benefit from an open environment that enables you to address customers through innovative channels and ensure sales growth across all touchpoints.
commercetools provides you with the ideal basis for a future-proof software architecture based on the MACH principles. By collaborating with dotSource, you can benefit from our many years of experience as the world's first certified commercetools partner.
Since 2021, Contentful has been an active member of the MACH Alliance and champions future-proof content management based on the MACH principles:
- Microservices: Thanks to the microservices architecture, the CMS from Contentful can easily and efficiently be integrated into your system landscape. Contentful comes with a comprehensive portfolio of third-party integrations.
- API-first: Structured data and the separation of content and presentation layers enable you to integrate content across all touchpoints and devices. Via REST APIs, the connected applications can access all your centrally stored content.
- Cloud-native: This CMS offers all the benefits of a cloud set-up: lower operating and maintenance costs, automatic updates as well as the flexibility to scale your systems as required.
- Headless: By adopting the headless approach, output channels can be designed independently of development environments and programming languages. This means that content needs to be created and distributed only once, thereby significantly reducing the time required.
As a Contentful partner, we support you in implementing a modern content commerce strategy.
Benefit from Our MACH Alliance Membership
As a certified System Integrator, dotSource is part of the MACH Alliance. This membership allows us to engage in an ongoing exchange of experience and knowledge about MACH. We share this expertise in projects with our clients.
In addition, many of our technology partners – commercetools, Bloomreach and Contentful – are also members of the MACH Alliance. This allows you to benefit from our expertise in the implementation, further development and maintenance of these solutions.
Today, we create a powerful and agile system architecture that is tailored to your needs and always up to date.
You Can Refer to the Following Publications for Further Information
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions About the MACH Alliance
How does a company join the MACH Alliance?
To become a member of the MACH Alliance, companies must go through an extensive application process – this includes proof of successful projects focusing on microservices, API-first, cloud-native and headless technologies.
What is the difference between the MACH architecture and composable commerce?
The terms MACH architecture and composable commerce are often used interchangeably. Despite these two concepts complementing each other, they are not the same. In fact, the MACH architecture forms the technical foundation required to set up a composable commerce environment. The individual components can be plugged together like building blocks. Not only are they scalable and interchangeable, but they can also be continuously expanded through agile development.
How do you start implementing the MACH architecture in your company?
The first step is to evaluate your company's requirements, scalability goals and technology landscape. Afterwards, identify the areas where the MACH architecture can bring you the most benefits and align your implementation strategy accordingly. As a certified System Integrator, dotSource can support you in the strategic planning and technical implementation of a suitable system landscape.