Modular Commerce Platform for Multi-Channel Retail
E-commerce & Retail // Architecting and building a flexible, multi-tenant commerce platform to support diverse retail channels and local market integrations.
Platforms
Architecture
Commerce
Payments
Timeline
12 Months (MVP)
Environment
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Core Mission
Build a scalable product platform for a new commerce venture.
Our Role
Product Architecture and Lead Engineering
The Challenge
- The need to support multiple unique storefronts and brands from a single, unified backend.
- Requirement for extreme flexibility in product catalogs, pricing, and promotions per tenant.
- Complexities of integrating with diverse, region-specific payment gateways and shipping providers.
- Ensuring high performance and security in a multi-tenant environment.
The Approach
Product & Technical Discovery
- Collaborated with stakeholders to define the core product vision and technical requirements.
- Analysed the competitive landscape and identified key architectural patterns for multi-tenant platforms.
- Designed a robust, API-first architecture to decouple the frontend experience from backend logic.
Iterative Platform Build
- Developed the core platform services (Catalog, Cart, Checkout, Orders) using a microservices-based approach.
- Built a flexible data model to support tenant-specific configurations and data isolation.
- Established a CI/CD pipeline for automated testing and deployments.
Integration & Expansion
- Created a universal integration layer to simplify the addition of new payment and shipping providers.
- Developed a reference storefront application to demonstrate the platform's capabilities.
- Onboarded the first pilot tenants and gathered feedback for further iteration.
What We Built
Architecture
- API-First System Design
- Multi-Tenant Data Model
- Payment Integration Framework
Platform
- Headless Commerce API (REST & GraphQL)
- Tenant Management Portal
- Core Commerce Microservices
Automation
- Automated Tenant Provisioning
- CI/CD Pipeline for all services
- End-to-End Cypress Test Suite
Outcomes
Launched a fully functional MVP platform capable of serving multiple brands.
Reduced time to onboard new tenants by 90% through automation.
Created a flexible architecture that allows new features to be developed and deployed independently.
Positioned the platform for future growth into new international markets.
Tech & Tools
GCP
Kubernetes (GKE)
PostgreSQL
Node.js
TypeScript
GraphQL
Stripe API
Firebase
Key Principles
- API First, Always
- Design for Extension, Not Modification
- Isolate Tenant Data
- Thin Integration Layers
Ready to Transform Your Business?
Don't let technology challenges hold you back. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discover how we can help you build a scalable and resilient digital foundation.