Unlock limitless creativity and commerce performance with Laioutr
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5/5
OMR Reviews
70+
E-commerce components
Lighthouse 100
Performance from day 1
Made in EU
GDPR-compliant, servers in Germany
100% Match
What does headless mean for HCL Commerce?
Headless for HCL Commerce separates the frontend, everything your customers see, from the HCL Commerce backend with its catalogs, prices, contracts, orders, and checkout. The frontend connects through the HCL Commerce REST APIs (Commerce Transaction and Search) and can be designed freely, without the constraints of the Aurora storefront and with full performance control.
1. The backend stays HCL Commerce
HCL Commerce continues to manage catalogs, prices, contracts, entitlements, orders, taxes, and checkout. You keep using the Management Center and the familiar business tools unchanged, with all your established workflows and extensions.
2. The frontend is chosen
You have four options: keep building on the React reference store (Emerald/Sapphire), stay on the Aurora storefront, go custom-build (Next.js or Nuxt), or use a Frontend Management Platform like Laioutr. Each option has its pros and cons.
3. Data flows via REST APIs in real time
No data duplication, no sync conflicts. Laioutr talks directly to the HCL Commerce REST APIs (Commerce Transaction and Search), including Extended Sites, contract, and entitlement support.
Benefits
What frontend options do you have for HCL Commerce?
With Emerald (B2C) and Sapphire (B2B), HCL Commerce ships headless React reference stores via the Store SDK, but these are explicitly meant as a reference for frontend developers, not as a finished product. That turns the frontend question into a strategic decision for every HCL Commerce project: keep building on the reference store, stay on Aurora, build your own, or use a Frontend Management Platform. Four options are established in the market.
1. React reference store (Emerald / Sapphire)
The headless React reference stores from the Store SDK, Emerald for B2C, Sapphire for B2B. A good starting point with foundational React components, but explicitly positioned by HCL as a developer reference: you build out the design system, components, and page logic to production readiness yourself, and maintain them across upgrade cycles. Makes sense if you have a React team and an appetite for running it in-house.
2. Aurora storefront (legacy)
The classic, server-side Aurora storefront, JSP-based. Solid for established setups, but the performance ceiling and frontend limitations become increasingly noticeable, and HCL positions the headless React stores as the path forward. Makes sense as a transitional solution, not as a target state.
3. Custom Build (Next.js or Nuxt)
Maximum control, maximum effort. A six- to twelve-month build phase, ongoing maintenance by an in-house Java and React or Vue team that orchestrates the HCL Commerce REST APIs itself. Makes sense if frontend engineering is your strategic core competency.
4. Laioutr FMP
A Frontend Management Platform with a visual builder, 70+ components, EU hosting, and multi-backend support. Fastest time-to-launch, lowest learning curve, backend optionality for the future. It makes sense if you want to go live fast, without a custom-build investment.
USE CASES
What you build with Laioutr for HCL Commerce
Laioutr is built for HCL Commerce setups that need to change fast and scale globally. From a multi-store storefront for brand portfolios to a B2B configurator frontend with contracts and entitlements.
Multi-store storefronts on a single HCL Commerce backend
Multiple eSites (brands, markets, sales channels) via Extended Sites on a single instance, with independent frontends, dedicated domains, and distinct brand identities. One component pool, many brand experiences.
B2B portals with HCL Commerce contracts and entitlements
HCL Commerce delivers B2B commerce with organizations, contracts, entitlements, and approval workflows. Laioutr calls the REST APIs directly and renders customer-group-specific prices, assortments, and approval processes.
Configurator-driven PDPs
Industrial goods, customization workflows, B2B specifications. Complex state-management logic is handled at the Laioutr component level, while REST API calls stay cleanly separated.
International storefronts with dedicated eSites per market
One HCL Commerce instance, many Extended Sites. Languages, currencies, layouts, and catalogs can be controlled per eSite, compatible with the HCL Commerce Extended Sites concept.
Replatforming from Aurora to headless without touching the backend
An existing HCL Commerce stack that needs a frontend refresh, without touching the backend configuration. Phased migration, with a clear rollback plan.
Greenfield storefronts on new HCL Commerce projects
A new HCL Commerce project, a fresh start. With Laioutr themes and the UI library, you go live in weeks instead of investing months in a custom build.
Laioutr vs. custom build for HCL Commerce
The honest comparison
With Emerald and Sapphire, HCL Commerce ships headless React reference stores, but they require React expertise and ongoing in-house operation. That's why, for individual requirements, the most common frontend decision comes down to: a custom build in Next.js or Nuxt, or a Frontend Management Platform like Laioutr. Custom build gives you maximum control but costs a six- to twelve-month build phase and permanent maintenance. Laioutr delivers Studio, 70+ components, and hosting in the plan, with full code extensibility for edge cases. Both work with HCL Commerce B2C and B2B.
Compare differences | Laioutr DXP | Custom Build (Next.js / Nuxt) |
|---|---|---|
Builder und Komponenten Was Sie aus der Box bekommen und was Sie selbst aufbauen müssen. | ||
Visueller Page Builder Drag-and-Drop-Editor für Marketing- und Content-Teams. | Inklusive (Studio) Live-Preview, komponentenbasiert | Nicht enthalten Eigenbau oder externes CMS |
E-Commerce-Komponenten Vorgefertigte UI-Bausteine für Storefronts, Produkt- und Landingpages. | 70+ Komponenten Design-Token-basiert, anpassbar | Selbst aufbauen Komplette UI-Bibliothek selbst entwickeln |
Themes und Vorlagen Startpunkt für neue Storefronts ohne Greenfield-Aufwand. | Vorgefertigte Themes Sofort einsatzbereit, voll erweiterbar | Greenfield Designsystem komplett selbst aufbauen |
Hosting Wo das Frontend ausgeliefert wird und wer es betreibt. | Inklusive (EU-CDN) Laioutr Cloud, kein separater Deploy | Selbst hosten Vercel, AWS, eigene Infrastruktur |
Architektur und Compliance Wie flexibel die Plattform ist und was Sie regulatorisch mitbekommen. | ||
Backend-Flexibilität Welche E-Commerce-Backends sich anbinden lassen. | Multi-Backend HCL Commerce, commercetools, Shopware, Shopify | Backend-spezifisch Code an HCL Commerce REST-APIs gebunden, Wechsel teuer |
Performance und Core Web Vitals Wie viel Aufwand für Lighthouse-100-Niveau nötig ist. | Out of the box Lighthouse 100 als Default-Ziel | Manuelles Tuning Performance-Engineering durch Team |
BFSG und WCAG 3.0 Konformität mit Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz und WCAG 3.0. | Im Standard WCAG 3.0, BFSG, EN 301 549 | Eigenverantwortung Audit separat erforderlich |
Datenschutz und Serverstandort Wo Daten verarbeitet werden und welche EU-Verträge gelten. | EU und Deutschland EU-Standardvertrag, deutschsprachiger Support | Hosting-abhängig Je nachdem, wo Sie deployen |
Team und Wirtschaftlichkeit Wer mit der Plattform produktiv ist und was es Sie über die Zeit kostet. | ||
Lernkurve Wie schnell ein neues Teammitglied produktiv wird. | Niedrig Marketing onboardet in Tagen | Hoch React/Vue plus Java/WebSphere plus HCL Commerce REST-APIs |
Time-to-Launch Realistische Zeitspanne bis zum Live-Gang einer neuen Storefront. | Wochen Mit Themes und UI-Bibliothek | Monate Sechs- bis zwölfmonatige Build-Phase |
Ideales Team-Setup Wer mit der Plattform arbeiten kann und wer arbeiten muss. | Cross-funktional Marketing, Design und Dev gemeinsam | Engineering-only Drei plus React- oder Vue-Engineers |
Preismodell Wie sich Kosten zusammensetzen, Software plus Betrieb plus Entwicklung. | SaaS (planbar) Transparente Pläne, Hosting inklusive Preise ansehen | Engineering-Kosten Build plus dauerhafte Wartung |
All data is based on publicly available information, insights from sales conversations with DACH e-commerce brands, and our own platform tests. As of June 2026. HCL Commerce features may have evolved since.
HCL Commerce
When a custom build is the right choice
You have a dedicated React or Vue team with Java and HCL Commerce experience, at least three engineers. You're building exactly one HCL Commerce storefront with highly specialized requirements. Frontend engineering is your strategic core competency. Classic use case: an enterprise brand with its own engineering team and a demand for pixel-level control.
LAIOUTR
When Laioutr is the right choice
You want weeks instead of months to go-live, you want marketing to build pages on its own, you serve several HCL Commerce eSites or brands, you want to keep your backend optionality open, and BFSG as well as WCAG 3.0 must be covered without a separate audit. Classic use case: a mid-market or enterprise HCL Commerce shop that wants to scale without a double-digit engineering investment.
You don't have to do this alone. Our certified composable partners have delivered HCL Commerce frontend projects with Laioutr, from greenfield setups to Aurora-to-headless replatformings.
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