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Packaged business capabilities

What are packaged business capabilities?

Packaged business capabilities (PBCs) are software components that represent and perform a well-defined business capability. A PBC combines data schemas, APIs, and event channels into a single entity that can be recognized as such by both technical teams implementing the solution as well as end users of the system.

Why would you choose a PBC? Well, PBCs are packaged in a way that allows them to be deployed individually and/or collectively across multiple applications, platforms, and devices.

Packaged business capabilities are a specific type of packaged application that focuses on enabling digital transformation, rather than automating existing manual processes.

They do so by offering a pre-defined set of functionality that can be deployed quickly and easily to support business needs.

PBCs are designed to deliver real-world value within the first 90 days of deployment, without requiring much coding or integration work from IT.

They provide access to software services at scale through an API layer, which enables rapid delivery of new business applications with minimal development time and cost.

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Microservices vs packaged business capabilities

You might be curious about the distinction between Packaged Business Capabilities and microservices. While microservices are an architectural approach that utilizes small, loosely coupled services to construct an application, PBCs are pre-built functionalities designed to address specific business needs. With microservices, developers can work on different parts of an application concurrently without disrupting each other's progress, thanks to the independent development, testing, and deployment of encapsulated units of functionality.

PBCs encapsulate a number of different functions. Think of it like this: a microservice might run a website's shopping cart. A different microservice might run the checkout screen. A different microservice might handle online payment. However, a PBC might handle your entire conversion user flow.

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Examples of packaged business capabilities

PBCs come in the form of software packages, modules, or services, and can be easily integrated into an organization's existing systems. Examples of packaged business capabilities include:

  • Product information management (PIM): This includes everything from creating and modifying your product catalog to managing the release of versions, updates, and documentation.

  • Customer relationship management (CRM): CRM systems help you automate your interactions with customers by recording their information, preferences, and purchases.

  • Supply chain management (SCM): SCM helps businesses keep track of all the goods they order from their suppliers so they don't run out unexpectedly during busy periods when demand is high.

  • Enterprise resource planning (ERP): ERP refers to software that integrates all aspects of running an organization into one system: HR records; financial records; inventory tracking tools; production scheduling tools; email systems—you name it! ERP can be integrated into almost any industry because there's no need for each department or team member to use separate apps on their phones or laptops when they can just access everything through this single interface instead!

  • Human capital management (HCM): HCM refers to software designed specifically for HR departments within companies with more than 1 employee working at different locations around town! HCM gives managers access where ever they are in real-time so they know what's happening across multiple offices without needing someone else's approval first before taking action."

Gartner defines PBCs as "software components that represent a clearly defined business capability."

In contrast to traditional software applications, PBCs are:

  • Designed to enable digital transformation initiatives such as customer experience management or supply chain optimization.

  • Built on an open standards approach and available across the enterprise via standardized interfaces.

  • Designed to be easily deployed and customized by IT departments within just a few hours or days, rather than months or years.

PBCs and composable commerce

In the context of composable commerce, packaged business capabilities play a crucial role in enabling modular and flexible architecture for building and powering e-commerce platforms.

Here are the key roles that packaged business capabilities fulfill in powering composable commerce:

  • Modularization: PBCs break down complex business functionalities into smaller, self-contained modules. Each module represents a specific capability, allowing businesses to adapt and customize their commerce experiences easily.

  • Reusability: PBCs provide pre-built and standardized functionalities that can be reused across multiple channels and applications.

  • Flexibility: PBCs enable businesses to mix and match different capabilities to create unique commerce experiences. This flexibility allows for faster time-to-market and responsiveness to changing market demands.

  • Integration: PBCs are designed for easy integration into the overall composable commerce architecture. They follow industry standards and use APIs for seamless connectivity with other components.

  • Scalability and Performance: PBCs are built to handle high transaction volumes and support the growth of the commerce platform. They ensure systems can scale effectively without compromising performance.

Deity

"Businesses get the flexibility to build the stack they want, they no longer have to depend on one vendor which gives them more independence as a customer. With a composable, best-of-breed solution, customers gain the power to adapt to their future growth and needs."

Sanne_Bolkenstein

Sanne Bolkenstein

Director of Sales at Deity

PBCs serve as a foundation for composable commerce, providing modular, reusable, flexible, and integrated functionalities.

Explore our essential guide to composable commerce to gain deeper insights into how packaged business capabilities drive the functionality of a composable architecture.

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