Empower businesses with composable platforms

Managing digital experiences today isn’t just about having a website or an app—it’s about delivering seamless, personalized interactions across every digital channel your customers use. A Digital Experience Platform (DXP) helps businesses like yours optimize the customer journey, streamline content management, and orchestrate marketing campaigns from one central hub.

Joe Cicman from Forrester raises an important question: “How is it possible for one vendor to create one product that works across multiple industries and grows in scope as a company’s digital remit grows?” The truth is, it’s not. One-size-fits-all platforms simply can’t meet the dynamic needs of modern businesses.

That’s why Composable DXPs are gaining traction. Unlike traditional, monolithic DXPs that force you into a rigid ecosystem, a Composable DXP allows you to build a tailored digital stack using best-in-class solutions. You can choose the right tools—a Headless CMS, Product Information Management (PIM) system, Digital Asset Management (DAM), or a commerce engine—and seamlessly integrate them into a unified, flexible digital experience.

With a Composable DXP, you’re in control. You can design a digital ecosystem that meets your business needs today while staying agile enough to evolve tomorrow.

What exactly is a Composable DXP, and why does it matter for your business? More importantly, how can a modular approach help you create highly personalized, scalable, and future-proof digital experiences?

• Understanding composable DXP
• Key characteristics of a composable DXP
• The role of APIs and microservices in a composable DXP
• The core components of a composable DXP
• Why composable DXP matters
• Composable DXP vs. traditional DXP
• inriver: Stay Ahead With inriver’s PIM

Understanding composable DXP

A Composable DXP is a digital experience platform built using modular components, enabling businesses to select and integrate the best tools for their needs. Unlike traditional DXPs that come as an all-in-one suite, a composable approach allows organizations to combine independent, best-of-breed solutions such as Headless CMS, Product Information Management (PIM), Digital Asset Management (DAM), Commerce Engines, and Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) via APIs and microservices.

By leveraging MACH (Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless) principles, Composable DXPs offer agility, scalability, and customization that legacy systems cannot match.

Key characteristics of a composable DXP

Below are the key characteristics of a composable DXP:

• Modular Architecture: Each component (CMS, PIM, DAM, etc.) operates independently but integrates seamlessly.
• API-First Approach: Enables smooth communication between different solutions.
• Cloud-Native Infrastructure: Ensures scalability and reduces IT maintenance costs.
• Headless Capabilities: Allows businesses to deliver content across multiple channels (web, mobile, IoT, etc.).
• Business Agility: Quickly adapt to new technologies, consumer trends, and business needs.

The role of APIs and microservices in a composable DXP

APIs and microservices architecture are the backbone of Composable DXPs. Instead of relying on a single monolithic platform, businesses can leverage API-driven integrations to connect various digital tools effortlessly.

For instance, a Product Information Management (PIM) system like inriver can be integrated with a Headless CMS and an eCommerce engine, ensuring seamless product data synchronization and a consistent omnichannel experience.

The core components of a composable DXP

A Composable DXP consists of several key components, each crucial to managing and delivering digital experiences.

1. Headless CMS: A Headless CMS decouples content management from content delivery, allowing businesses to distribute content across multiple digital channels (web, mobile, IoT, kiosks, etc.). Unlike traditional CMSs tightly coupled with front-end frameworks, a headless CMS enables brands to personalize content experiences while maintaining complete control over presentation and delivery.
2. PIM (Product Information Management): PIM is essential for e-commerce businesses managing large product data catalogs. It ensures accurate, consistent, and enriched product information across multiple sales channels, reducing errors and enhancing customer trust. Platforms like inriver PIM help businesses centralize and distribute product data efficiently.
3. DAM (Digital Asset Management): A DAM system helps businesses manage images, videos, graphics, and other digital assets in a structured way. Integrating DAM into a Composable DXP ensures brand consistency across all customer touchpoints.
4. Commerce Engine: A commerce engine provides the core e-commerce functionality, such as order management, pricing, and checkout processes. Businesses can integrate the best eCommerce platform with their Composable DXP to create personalized and seamless shopping experiences.
5. Customer Data Platforms (CDP): A CDP consolidates customer data from multiple sources to provide a unified customer view. This allows businesses to deliver highly personalized digital experiences and targeted marketing campaigns.
6. Integration and APIs: APIs connect all the components of a Composable DXP, allowing businesses to choose and integrate the best tools without vendor lock-in.

Why composable DXP matters

In an era when customer expectations change rapidly, businesses need a future-proof digital ecosystem. Composable DXPs enable organizations to scale effortlessly and adapt to market changes.

Composable DXP gives you the flexibility to scale and adapt effortlessly, ensuring your business stays ahead of the curve. When market trends shift—the rise of AI-driven personalization or new eCommerce platforms—you can quickly pivot without missing a beat.

With a modular approach, you’re not just keeping up but delivering better, more personalized experiences across every channel. Imagine seamlessly integrating AI-driven recommendations, real-time customer insights, and omnichannel content delivery—all without disrupting your existing operations. That’s the power of composability.

Another huge benefit? You’re not locked into a single vendor’s ecosystem. Instead of being stuck with outdated tools, you can choose the best solutions that fit your needs. When something better comes along, you can swap it in without a complete digital overhaul. It’s about giving you control, flexibility, and the ability to build a future-proof digital strategy.

Composable DXP vs. traditional DXP

Traditional DXPs provide an all-in-one, monolithic solution where a single vendor bundles together content management, eCommerce, and analytics. While this simplifies vendor management, it limits flexibility, scalability, and innovation. Customization is often restricted, and integrating third-party solutions can be complex.

In contrast, Composable DXPs offer a modular approach, allowing businesses to select and integrate the best tools for each function using APIs and microservices. This ensures greater agility, seamless scalability, and the ability to adapt to evolving market trends without being locked into a single provider.

Scalability and personalization are also key differentiators. Traditional DXPs require significant expansion upgrades, leading to higher costs and longer implementation times. Meanwhile, Composable DXPs let businesses scale effortlessly by adding or replacing components without disrupting the system.

Additionally, advanced personalization is easier to achieve with a Composable DXP, as businesses can integrate best-in-class Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) and AI-driven analytics for deeper customer insights. While Traditional DXPs offer ease of management, Composable DXPs provide long-term flexibility, innovation, and cost efficiency, making them the preferred choice for organizations prioritizing agility and scalability in their digital transformation journey.

inriver: Stay ahead with inriver’s PIM

One-size-fits-all PIM systems just don’t cut it anymore. In a world where everything changes fast, you need a system that keeps up. That’s why many businesses are moving toward composable PIM solutions like inriver. It gives you the flexibility to shift your digital commerce strategy whenever needed without the headache of being stuck in a rigid system.

What makes inriver stand out? It’s built on an adaptable data model, meaning you’re not boxed into a setup that doesn’t fit your needs. You get AI-powered content enrichment to simplify managing product data, single-click API-based syndication to push updates seamlessly, and digital shelf analytics to stay ahead of the competition. Also, inriver is now a certified member of the MACH Alliance, a global community dedicated to shaping the future of enterprise technology.

But that’s not all—we also help streamline your internal operations with automated workflows, hassle-free supplier onboarding, and top-notch security. inriver is the tool that could completely transform how you run your business!