Microservices Architecture: Decomposing E-Commerce Monoliths into Scalable, Independent Services

Abstract

This article examines the transformative journey of e-commerce platforms from monolithic architectures to microservices-based systems. It explores the historical limitations of tightly coupled e-commerce systems and analyzes how modular architectures address critical challenges in scalability, maintenance, and innovation. The article provides a theoretical framework of microservices principles in e-commerce, detailing patterns for service decomposition, API-first design methodologies, event-driven communication, and domain-driven design approaches. Through implementation strategies, the article shows integration models with third-party services, messaging systems for cross-service communication, authentication mechanisms, and infrastructure considerations. Using detailed case study, the article documents architectural transformation strategies, technical solutions for managing traffic variations, dynamic pricing implementations, and personalization capabilities. The article concludes with quantifiable benefits of microservices adoption, innovation acceleration through parallel development, emerging architectural patterns, and directions for future research in e-commerce systems architecture.