Composable Architecture In a Web 3.0 WOrld

Composability is an essential ingredient to building real world Web3.0 solutions.  

Here are some good articles on "Composability"

• MACH Composable Commerce

• Composable Packaged Business Capabilities (PBC's)

• Composable UI Frontend

• Composable NFT's

• Composable Smart Contracts

• Composable ERP

• Composable CMS

• Composable Digital Experience Platform (DXP)

• Composable Ecosystem 

In this article I'm going to focus on the "Why".  

• Why is Composability so relevant to Web3.0 solutions?, and 

• Why should this matter to business leaders?  

Business value of composable eco-systems

• Customers are delighted with a fully integrated and seamless digital experience.

• Cheaper to update and operate

• Application developers can sit on the shoulders of giants and deliver secure/scalable solutions.  Fully leverage mature and secure building blocks.

• Smaller 3rd party software vendors can provide value in a larger eco-system

• Pace of innovation is greatly enhanced over traditional methods.  Small teams are empowered to do great things.

• Large platform vendors cannot bully and lock others into overpriced and outdated solutions

These are good reasons, but why is it essential in a Web3.0 world?

Web3.0 solutions require seamless and secure interoperability between the metaverse, identity/digital wallet, eCommerce, payment, concierge customer support/AI, loyalty and support multiple backend providers of goods and service (offering, purchase and fulfillment complex workflows).

Example use-case: A family/friends taking a trip downtown to a sporting event.   There's planning and re-planning involved.  Orchestration of parking, seats, food, special stuff, possible hotel stay.  Coordination with friends.   Leverage discounts and rewards programs.  Sharing of experiences in real time.    

This type of use-case intertwines the virtual and physical worlds.   Check out these Web3.0 use-cases

This type of use-case incorporates multiple moving parts:

• multiple providers of goods and services have to work together

• multiple front-end platforms like metaverse, digital wallet, payment, customer service, loyalty programs, fulfillments solutions all have to work together

• requires fully integrated workflow and data interoperability between the parts

• must be sustainable over time and evolve with changing needs

Wow, this is a lot.  Can it happen?

It is going to take a lot of innovation by a lot of participants.  It is going to take a lot of piece parts working together.   Its going to take leadership to think a little different.

Obstacles to getting there.

The biggest obstacle moving forward is that Web2.0 companies, who are comfortable with monolithic solutions, rule todays world.  These companies are comfortable providing bad digital experiences to customers that for the most part don't know better.

The few larger companies which are dipping their toes into this Web3.0 world are almost worse than the Web2.0 laggers.  They are bringing with them the monolithic mentality and teaming with industry specific crypto consulting firms and delivering end-to-end monolithic solution.  In an effort to get something out there that smells like Web3.0 they are sacrificing core architectural principles like composability read this. 

Remember, decentralized does not equal composable.  You can leverage a decentralized blockchain platform, but still continue to have a monolithic solution. 

The real tragedy comes when fledgling startups, who are committed to open source and composable principles, get pulled into the lure of these big companies.   It is really hard for a small company which is struggling to make payroll and driven to become relevant to say no to a company with deep pockets.

There is tremendous value in getting it right.  

Company leaders who embrace communities of innovators who are working together to create interdependent applications that leverage composable eco-systems will ultimately realize the Web3.0 vision.  

The resulting digital experiences will delight their customers and create real differentiation. 

These solutions will be disruptive and result in real value to both their company and shareholders.

These solutions will be sustainable and extensible to address future customer needs.

Composability is one Architectural Principle that you as a leader are going to want to get right.