Brands can have it all. As they embrace Composable DXPs, they gain flexibility to rapidly innovate and move ahead of the competition.
For years, the debate between Open Source Software and Software as a Service (SaaS) has been ongoing: which is the superior choice? Both platforms offer distinct advantages, and whether a business prioritizes rapid out-of-the-box functionality or a greater ability to customize, CMOs and CTOs have long been compelled to choose a side. Our success in the Enterprise over the past decade stems from creating a third option: Why not leverage the benefits of both?
The advantages of Open Source software have been well understood for more than a decade. It’s fully customizable, independent of a single tech provider, and offers complete control over your data. WordPress serves as a prime example, with a vast array of enterprise-grade plugins that are easy to adopt or adapt to meet your needs. WordPress has evolved beyond just a blogging platform and now powers sites from Disney to the White House.
SaaS, on the other hand, appears ideal for rapid deployment, scalability, and promises a low cost of entry. However, the main drawback of SaaS deployments is their lack of innovation and customization. You are immediately constrained by the features available from the platform providers. When you and your competitors have access to the same features simultaneously, finding a competitive edge becomes challenging. SaaS platforms recognize that customization is necessary for demonstrating differentiation for enterprise customers, and their business models account for this by adding significant costs to the already substantial licensing fees incurred annually.
Reframing the Issue
The real challenge facing SMEs today isn’t being confined to one technology approach or the other; it’s a fundamental lack of a digital strategy. Often, Marketing and IT departments jostle for power, with one taking precedence and selecting the technology that delivers the customer experience before realizing their common goal. It’s crucial to step back and prioritize decisions based on marketing goals and use cases rather than chasing the latest technology trends. What does the Marketing team need to do their job more efficiently, and what are customers looking for? Using that information to guide your approach will yield optimal, integrated technology decisions.
The ideal scenario is to harness the creativity and innovative potential of Open Source software as a hub and combine it with the necessary SaaS platform. This combined solution will offer robust scalability and complex functionality. The key lies in the integration between the two. With Open Source as a hub, this integration occurs seamlessly, providing a complete 360-degree customer experience with consistent interaction across devices. Businesses that master this blend are poised for long-term success.
Composable is Here to Stay
Gone are the days when customers experienced a jarring transition from a blog to an eCommerce site due to disparate systems that don’t integrate well.
We’re firmly in the age of Composable DXPs, where content management systems, eCommerce, and online and offline content are seamlessly integrated. A great example of this customer-centric approach is when a well-known multi-billion dollar per year grocery brand in Texas focused entirely on understanding their customer’s needs and preferences. They developed an innovative, fully customized experience that provided essential information at their customers’ fingertips, guiding them through a natural conversion/retention process.
You Can Have It All
You can have it all by embracing Open Source Composable DXP Solutions. By prioritizing your marketing goals and use cases, you’re free to select the SaaS technology that enhances the experience and seamlessly integrates with Open Source software. By avoiding the constraints of a single approach, you can maintain the flexibility of a small business to innovate rapidly and create a customer experience that sets you apart from the competition.
If you’re interested in learning more about how an Open Source Composable DXP can combine off-the-shelf tools and technology to start delivering results for your business today, contact us for a free one-hour consultation!