Tier 1 · Know cold

MACH

In one line

Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native (SaaS), Headless — the technical principles that make composable possible.

Fuller explanation

MACH stands for Microservices-based, API-first, Cloud-native (SaaS), and Headless. It is the set of architectural principles underneath composable commerce. The MACH Alliance is a vendor-neutral non-profit founded in June 2020 by commercetools, Contentstack, EPAM, and Valtech to advocate open, best-of-breed architecture over monolithic lock-in. Orium is a MACH Alliance member (joined as Myplanet in early 2021). MACH is the 'how'; composable is the 'why/what'.

Don't say

"MACH is a product you buy."

Say instead

"MACH is the architectural standard; composable is the business strategy it enables."

Interview phrase

"MACH is the foundation, composable is the operating model, agentic is where it's heading."