What Is the MACH Architecture?
MACH is an acronym that stands for the four foundational pillars of this architectural approach: Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native and Headless. Combining these principles allows you to build a flexible, interface-based digital landscape.
By doing so, you can respond more quickly to market changes, implement innovative solutions and future-proof your IT infrastructure.
Our experts have adopted the MACH architecture in numerous successful digital projects, drawing on solutions from trusted technology partners like Bloomreach, commercetools and Contentful.
The MACH Principles
Benefits of the MACH Architecture
You can scale your e-commerce solutions in a flexible and cost-effective manner. This allows you to keep pace with increasing traffic and changing customer requirements.
You can deploy software updates without having to re-examine the entire application. This contributes to improvements in the security and reliability of your e-commerce solutions.
The MACH architecture makes it possible to reuse code and functionality. This helps you save time and money and makes it easier to standardise your software environment.
The MACH architecture reduces your dependence on individual providers, thereby increasing the flexibility and security of your platform.
The MACH architecture offers a high level of security through modern authentication and authorisation options, protecting you from cyber attacks.
Modular components with built-in extensibility significantly reduce time to market. Not only does this help you save time and money, but it also improves customer satisfaction.
Our Partners Embrace the MACH Architecture
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 software 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 opens the door to a flexible and scalable approach to implementing product pages and creating seamless 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 Bloomreach partner, dotSource is here to support you in implementing and configuring Bloomreach.
commercetools is one of the leading providers of headless commerce solutions and is a pioneer in implementing the MACH principles:
- Microservices: The architecture of commercetools' e-commerce solution is based on microservices. This makes it possible to carry out tasks in parallel, thereby reducing cross-team dependencies. 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: The commercetools platform is developed and operated in the cloud, offering all the benefits of a cloud set-up, e.g. a high level of 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. As the world's first certified commercetools partner, dotSource brings years of experience to help you achieve digital success.
Contentful 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: The CMS from Contentful 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, content can be delivered across all channels – without constraints from development environments and programming languages. This means that it only has to be created and distributed once, thereby significantly reducing the time required.
As a Contentful partner, we support you in implementing a modern content commerce strategy.
Our MACH Partners at a Glance
dotSource Is Your Partner for a Future-Proof Software Architecture Based on the MACH Principles
We foster long-standing partnerships with leading MACH technology providers, e.g. Bloomreach, commercetools and Contentful. Benefit from our extensive expertise in implementing, enhancing and maintaining these solutions.
Together with you, we create a powerful and agile system architecture – tailored to your needs and always up to date.
Further Information on the MACH Architecture Can Be Found in Our Publications
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About the MACH Architecture
Who is the MACH architecture suitable for?
The MACH architecture is ideal for companies that:
- need fast and agile development processes.
- seek a flexible and scalable platform.
- aim to leverage cutting-edge 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. This makes it possible to assemble components like building blocks. Not only are they scalable and interchangeable, but they can also be continuously enhanced 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 system landscape. Identify the areas where the MACH architecture can deliver the greatest value – and align your implementation strategy accordingly. As an experienced System Integrator, dotSource supports you in the strategic planning and technical implementation of a system landscape tailored to the MACH principles.
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