How to Use a Composable Accelerator to Reduce Your Time to Market

In B2B eCommerce, time to market can make or break your success. Outdated systems are a huge factor in slowing you down, making it hard to keep up with customer demands — and your competitors who are zooming ahead.

Enter the composable accelerator, a new approach to building and deploying eCommerce platforms. 

This article will show you how to use a composable accelerator with a unified commerce platform to slash your time to market and give your B2B operations a serious boost.
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Short on time? Here are the key takeaways

• Composable accelerators make building B2B eCommerce sites easier.
  
  
• They get your site up and running faster with ready-to-use building blocks you can customize.
  
  
• Accelerators also give you the flexibility to grow and adapt as your business changes.
  
  
• They are quick to deploy and play well with your existing systems.
  
  
• Composable accelerators help you use resources wisely and avoid getting stuck with outdated tech.
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What is a composable accelerator?

A composable accelerator (or comp accelerator) is a powerful software solution for eCommerce businesses. It is like a construction kit for your online store: Instead of building everything from scratch, you get a set of pre-built, customizable components and tools you can quickly assemble and modify.

At its core, a composable accelerator includes:

1. Pre-built modules: Ready-to-use components for common eCommerce functions, including product catalogs, shopping carts, and checkout processes.
   
   
2. Integration frameworks: Tools and APIs that connect different modules and existing systems smoothly.
   
   
3. Customization tools: Interfaces and development environments for easy modification of pre-built components.
   
   
4. Deployment pipelines: Automated processes for testing, staging, and rolling out updates.
   
   
5. Documentation and support: Comprehensive guides and expert help for smooth implementation.
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The importance of a composable accelerator

Let's look at why composable accelerators are shaking up the B2B eCommerce world:
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Rapid deployment and iteration

One of the biggest perks of using a composable accelerator is how quickly you can get to market. Traditional eCommerce platform development can take months or even years from concept to launch. With a composable accelerator, you can have a working B2B eCommerce catalog up and running in just weeks.

This rapid deployment happens thanks to:

• Pre-built, tested components that need minimal customization.
  
  
• Standardized integration patterns that simplify connections with existing systems.
  
  
• Automated deployment pipelines that streamline the launch process.

Quick iteration is equally important, and composable accelerators make this possible. As market conditions change or new customer needs pop up, you can swiftly adjust your platform by adding, removing, or tweaking components without disrupting the entire system.

For example, a B2B store selling industrial equipment can quickly set up shop using pre-built catalog and order management modules. As the business expands, it can easily add more advanced features, such as volume-based pricing or custom quote generation, without overhauling its entire system.
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Enhanced flexibility and scalability

Composable commerce for B2B offers unmatched flexibility. Unlike traditional systems that limit your options, a composable accelerator lets you tailor your eCommerce platform to your exact specifications.

This flexibility extends to scalability, too. As your business grows, you can easily add new capabilities or expand existing ones without a complete overhaul. For instance, you might start with a basic B2B shopping cart and later add advanced features, such as multi-level approvals or custom pricing rules, as your customer base diversifies.
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Optimized resource allocation

Building an eCommerce platform from scratch takes a lot of time, money, and skilled personnel. A composable accelerator lets you skip much of this initial heavy lifting, freeing up resources and allowing your development team to focus on customizing and optimizing modules. 

This speeds up development and reduces the risk of errors and technical debt that often come with building complex systems from the ground up.
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Improved customer experience

Composable accelerators use headless eCommerce platform architecture. This separation of front-end and back-end systems allows for more flexible, tailored user experiences across various channels and devices — a must-have in today’s omnichannel B2B world.

A composable accelerator can also help you quickly implement and refine features that directly impact customer satisfaction, such as:

• Personalized product recommendations.
  
  
• Self-service account management.
  
  
• Custom pricing and discount structures.
  
  
• Streamlined checkout processes.

Being able to quickly deploy and fine-tune these features helps you stay ahead of customer expectations and maintain your competitive edge.
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How to use a composable accelerator to reduce your time to market 

Assess your current ecosystem

Before investing in a composable accelerator, take stock of your existing systems and processes. Identify areas where your current setup falls short and prioritize the features that will have the biggest impact on your time to market.

For example, if your current product catalog management takes several hours to update or is prone to errors, prioritizing a robust PIM (Product Information Management) module could dramatically speed up your time to market for new products.

Expert tip: Map out your current technology stack, including all integration points and data flows. This will help you spot potential bottlenecks and guide your composable accelerator implementation strategy.
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Choose the right components

Picking the right modules for your B2B commerce suites is crucial. Focus on components that both address your most pressing needs and align with your long-term business goals. Consider factors such as:

• Compatibility with existing systems.
  
  
• Scalability for future growth.
  
  
• Customization options to match your unique business processes.

When selecting components, pay special attention to b2b eCommerce features that are essential for your industry. For instance, robust price list software might be vital if you deal with complex, customer-specific pricing structures.
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Implement in phases

Instead of attempting a complete overhaul, implement your composable accelerator in stages. Start with core functionalities, such as your B2B PIM and catalog management software, then gradually add more advanced features.

This phased approach allows you to:

• See benefits quickly with minimal disruption.
  
  
• Learn from early implementations and refine your approach.
  
  
• Manage risks more effectively.

Expert tip: Create a roadmap for your phased implementation, with clear milestones and KPIs for each stage. This will help you track progress and show stakeholders the value of your new approach. For instance, your roadmap might look like this:

Month 1-2: Implement PIM and basic catalog. KPI: Reduce time to add new products by 50%.

Month 3-4: Add B2B-specific pricing engine. KPI: Increase average order value by 15%.

Month 5-6: Implement custom workflow engine. KPI: Reduce order processing time by 30%.

Month 7-8: Launch B2B customer portal. KPI: Increase self-service orders by 25%.
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Leverage pre-built integrations

Many composable accelerators offer pre-built integrations with popular business systems. Use these to quickly connect your new eCommerce platform with existing customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), or logistics systems. This approach significantly cuts integration time and minimizes the risk of data silos.
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Customize and optimize

While pre-built components form the foundation, customization is key to addressing your unique business needs. Focus on tailoring the components of the accelerator to match your specific business requirements. Here are some examples:

• Product detail page layouts: Create industry-specific layouts that highlight the most important information for your customers. For instance, a B2B fashion retailer might prioritize fabric composition and minimum order quantities.
  
  
• Custom workflow validation: Implement approval processes that match your organizational structure. For example, set up a multi-step approval for orders above a certain value.
  
  
• Industry-specific features: Address unique challenges in your sector. For instance, to address automotive industry challenges, you might add a VIN lookup feature to help customers find the right parts for specific vehicles. To address fashion industry challenges, consider adding features such as a product recommendation engine that suggests complementary items.
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Train and empower your team

Lastly, provide thorough training on the technical aspects and the business logic behind the composable accelerator. This investment in your team will pay off in faster implementation and more effective use of the platform. Here are some actionable steps:

• Comprehensive documentation: Create detailed onboarding documents that cover all aspects of the composable accelerator. For example, include step-by-step guides on how to set up custom pricing tiers for different customer segments.
  
  
• Regular training sessions: Conduct group training workshops that focus on practical application of the platform. For instance, have team members practice setting up specific features like order history and reordering functionality.
  
  
• Power user program: Designate and train “power users” who can support their colleagues and champion the new system. These people should be well-versed in advanced features like custom workflow creation and integration with existing business systems.
  
  
• Knowledge base development: Set up a comprehensive, searchable knowledge base that team members can reference for ongoing support. Include FAQs, troubleshooting guides, and best practices for key B2B eCommerce features like bulk ordering and account hierarchies.
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How DJUST implements composable accelerators

Here at DJUST, our approach to composable accelerators is tailored to B2B eCommerce needs. Here is what we focus on:

• B2B-focused modules: DJUST offers pre-built components designed for B2B complexities, such as volume-based pricing, custom quote generation, and multi-level approval workflows.
  
  
• Unified commerce platform: At its core, DJUST provides a unified platform that integrates various B2B eCommerce functions, from product information management (PIM) to order processing.
  
  
• Flexible integration: DJUST’s composable accelerator can connect with all systems — legacy or existing — to have everything in one place, ensuring seamless data flow across your business ecosystem.
  
  
• Customizable workflows: The platform allows for custom workflow validation processes, which are essential for complex B2B orders and approvals.
  
  
• Scalable architecture: Our solution is designed to grow with your business, allowing you to add new features and capabilities as needed without overhauling the entire system.
  
  
• Omnichannel support: Leveraging headless architecture, DJUST enables consistent experiences across various channels and devices, which is crucial for modern B2B buyers.
  
  
• Industry-specific solutions: DJUST addresses unique challenges in various B2B sectors, including fashion, construction, furniture, and food industries.

By focusing on these B2B-specific aspects, DJUST’s composable accelerator helps businesses rapidly deploy and iterate on their eCommerce platforms, significantly reducing time to market while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to changing business needs.
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The bottom line

Composable accelerators offer a powerful solution for B2B companies looking to reduce time to market in eCommerce. Using pre-built components, flexible architecture, and phased implementation, you can quickly deploy a robust eCommerce platform tailored to your needs. Remember to start with a thorough assessment of your current ecosystem, choose components wisely, and implement in phases for the best results. 

With the right approach, a composable accelerator can transform your B2B eCommerce capabilities and set you up for long-term success.