Giving retailers the power to adapt with micro front ends

To understand how micro front ends can be used to extend a POS solution, it’s important to first understand the concept of a micro front end. A micro front end is a modular front-end application that can be combined with other micro front ends and applications to create a larger, more functionally-rich solution. Each micro front end is developed and deployed independently, and can communicate with other micro front ends, systems, and POS through a standardised API.

So how can micro front ends be used to extend a POS solution? Let’s imagine a hypothetical scenario in which a retailer has an existing POS solution that they would like to extend with new functionality. Perhaps they want to add support for a new payment processor or integrate with a third-party CRM or loyalty program.

With micro front ends, the retailer or any third party company of their choosing could develop an independent micro front end that specifically handles the new functionality they require to be added. For example, they could create a micro front end that communicates with the new payment processor, or a micro front end that integrates with a CRM or loyalty application to enable enrolment. This micro front end could then be integrated with the existing POS system using a standardised API, enabling the new functionality to be seamlessly integrated into the solution.  Even more, it can be leveraged across all touch points so the component is built once, and consistently applied across selling channels.

This capability is a fundamental advantage of Flooid’s POS solution today and leveraged across our various personalities including Retail POS, Hospitality POS, Fuel POS, Mobile POS and Self Checkout.

One of the key benefits of using micro front ends to extend a POS solution is that it enables retailers to add new functionality without having to depend on new releases of the entire POS application.

Micro front ends enable businesses to develop new functionality independently of Flooid’s POS solution. Simply put, it means retailers can experiment with new features and custom journeys at their own pace with full autonomy. And because each micro front end is developed independently, businesses can easily scale their system by adding new micro front ends as needed, without affecting the rest of the solution.

Of course, there are also challenges involved in using micro front ends to extend a POS solution. For example, managing dependencies between micro front ends can be tricky, and it may be necessary to establish clear communication channels between different teams working on different parts of the application to ensure a fast, optimal and seamless user experience end to end.

Despite the challenges, the benefits of leveraging micro front ends as a facility to extend a POS solution are clear. By enabling businesses to add new functionality and customisations without having to update or upgrade their existing solution, micro front ends provide a powerful mechanism for businesses looking to stay ahead of the competition in an ever-evolving retail landscape.