Modern businesses need to create consistent, personalized experiences across selling platforms, all while staying flexible and scalable. Traditional monolithic architectures just can’t keep up with this pace.
That’s where MACH architecture (Microservice-based, API-first, Cloud-native, Headless) comes into play.
With a MACH-based Product Information Management (PIM) solution, businesses can innovate faster, cut costs, and quickly adapt to market trends. As a true MACH solution, Bluestone PIM has been the choice for many of our customers looking to revamp their tech infrastructure.
According to our customers, here is why they decided to invest in MACH technologies:
Flexible and Scalable Solutions for Rapid Business Growth
MACH architecture gives businesses the flexibility to adapt and grow as the needs change. With microservices, applications are broken into smaller pieces, making it possible to update or improve one part without affecting the rest.
Plus, being API-first makes it easier to connect different systems, launch products, and roll out updates when needed.
Consistent and Personalised Customer Experience on All Channels
Thanks to microservices businesses can offer real-time personalisation, like custom recommendations, delivering content that’s instantly tailored for customers preferences and behaviour.
Cloud-Native Solution for Cost Efficiency
Cloud-native solutions help businesses reduce infrastructure and operational costs. With a pay-as-you-go model, businesses only pay for what they use, making it easier to manage costs.
Plus, since updates are automatic and part of the regular subscription, it eases the strain on the IT budget, and businesses can now focus on innovation rather than worrying about maintenance.
Stay Future-Ready with a Flexible, Composable Architecture
MACH architecture makes it easy for businesses to plug into new technologies, helping them stay ahead of the competition.
Within a composable commerce ecosystem, Bluestone PIM serves as a composable PIM solution, enabling businesses to build a flexible, customisable structure tailored to their unique requirements. This approach ensures that their PIM environment can grow and adapt alongside them as they expand and explore new channels.
Build a Best-of-Breed Stack with Vendor Lock-In
MACH empowers businesses to build a best-of-breed stack by selecting solutions from multiple vendors, providing flexibility and eliminating dependency on a single provider.
As a result, businesses can switch vendors or add new solutions with minimal disruption, enabling them to continuously optimise their infrastructure.
💡 Learn more: MACH-based PIM: The Ultimate Guide
How ARK Transformed its business with MACH Architecture
ARK, Norway’s largest bookstore chain, has been a staple in the retail industry, offering a wide range of books and literary products to its customers.
In a move to modernise its operations, ARK embraced MACH architecture, opting for a best-of-breed technology stack that includes Bluestone PIM, commercetools, Sanity, Algolia, Omnium, and SAP BTP for integration with SAP systems.
Anders Martinsson, ARK's Head of Technology, provides key insights into how this strategic shift from a monolithic system has transformed the company's IT capabilities.
Claudia Martins: ARK recently made a significant shift in its IT infrastructure. Can you explain what drove this decision?
Anders Martinsson: After being tied to a monolith SAP Commerce system for 10 years, ARK wanted to break free and give the power to the developers to easily change integrations and manage the webshop locally without relying on consultants for everything. The new solution truly gives us this possibility. 
Claudia Martins: How has this shift to MACH architecture impacted your team?
Anders Martinsson: Choosing a MACH architecture for ARK means that our developers have access to well-documented systems from best-of-breed vendors, enabling a small team to create an excellent solution for e-commerce and beyond. The most important thing about MACH is that you get well-documented systems that any developer can quickly work with, versus being locked into a system where development requires expensive consultants.
Claudia Martins: Have there been any noticeable operational improvements since the transition?
Anders Martinsson: The benefits of moving from monthly deployments that took hours in the old SAP solution to a MACH architecture where ARK now deploys new functionality in less than 3 minutes several times a day is truly remarkable.
Claudia Martins: Looking at the bigger picture, how has this new flexibility transformed ARK?
Anders Martinsson: Today, we can solve critical issues, fix, and deploy a solution basically within minutes after discovering an error. Going from a monolith to a MACH architecture is a no-brainer if you want to develop and be able to access all data through your local development team.
💡 Learn more: How Early Adopters of MACH-based PIM Outperform Competitors
The impact of MACH on Modern Businesses
MACH architecture is transforming the way companies like ARK operate, making it easier to innovate and adapt to changes in the business environment.
By breaking up the technology stack, businesses can quickly add new services and roll out updates smoothly. With this approach, businesses can deliver personalised experiences that keep up with customers expectations and market trends.
The cloud-native aspect of MACH helps businesses optimise its costs, while the headless architecture allows businesses to experiment with new digital platforms without having to rebuild the entire system. In the end, MACH prepares businesses for the future by providing the flexibility to adopt new technologies and stay ahead of the curve.
Reach out to our team if you have any questions about the MACH architecture or schedule a demo tour of Bluestone PIM.
