MACH architecture is a set of technology principles behind new, best-of-breed technology platforms. The acronym stands for Microservices-based, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless:

• Microservices: Individual pieces of business functionality that are independently developed, deployed and managed.
• API-first: All functionality is exposed through an API, making it possible to tie together two or more applications or services.
• Cloud-Native SaaS: Software-as-a-Service that leverages the full capabilities of the cloud, beyond storage and hosting, including elastic scaling of highly available resources. Functionality is updated automatically, eliminating the need for upgrade management.
• Headless: The front-end user experience is completely decoupled from the back-end logic, allowing for complete design freedom in creating the user interface and for connecting to other channels and devices (i.e. existing applications, IoT, A/R, Vending Machines, sensors, etc.).

While it’s a relatively new term in the industry, MACH is quickly gaining popularity for how it helps businesses. MACH technologies support a composable enterprise meaning every component is pluggable, scalable, replaceable, and can be continuously improved. MACH architecture gives businesses the freedom to choose from the best tools on the market, and maintain a structure that makes it easy to add, replace, or remove those tools in the future.

Moving from monolithic or suite-based technology to MACH architecture gives you the freedom to choose from the best tools on the market today, and provides a structure that makes it easy to add, replace, or remove technologies in the future. Put simply, MACH architecture allows you to break the replatform cycle once and for all.

In addition to avoiding another instance of being handcuffed by outdated technology and the inability to innovate and evolve, here are four more benefits of MACH architecture as explained in our previous post:

• Improved speed with less risk – With this agile architecture, you get a dramatically faster route to MVP (minimum viable product), and therefore to launch. For digital agencies, SIs, and even enterprise development teams, you’ll be able to rapidly roll-out prototypes that help prove key concepts before investing in large-scale implementations. Rapid prototyping can also help circumvent tedious RFP processes saving everyone time and money.
• Execute a best-of-breed strategy – MACH architecture allows you to take advantage of the best technology available. You no longer need to settle for less-than-the-best add-ons that come with software suites. Because of its composable nature, MACH can also help preserve existing functionality that you’ve invested in and are happy with.  
• Say goodbye to upgrades – Never worry about disruptive upgrades that seem like replatforming projects in themselves, ever again. With MACH architecture, all releases are automatic and non-breaking. There’s a clear, inherent boundary between our code and yours which makes this possible.
• Seamless customizations and innovation – Now more than ever, it’s important to be able to make changes rapidly as your customers’ needs change. Prioritizing innovation means prioritizing iteration. The ability to constantly change and innovate on the customer experience is a key pillar to MACH architecture. Whether you need to add curbside pick-up capabilities over the weekend or launch a rebranded ordering experience for a high-profile, enterprise customer, MACH makes that possible.