Orchestration in composable architecture is like an orchestra conductor, ensuring that each section - from the strings to the brass to the woodwinds - plays together in harmony to create beautiful music.
In a composable tech stack, this means ensuring various system parts, such as data sources, applications, and workflows, work seamlessly together to deliver a smooth digital experience.
Like the conductor of an orchestra making sure that each section –from the strings to the brass to the woodwinds– plays beautiful music together.
So, what is it exactly? To find out, I listened in on a conversation with Joel Varty and Jon Voigt, CTO and CEO at Agility CMS, Sana Remekie, CEO at Conscia, Casper Rasmussen, Global VP at Valtech and Chris Bach, Co-founder at Netlify –all of them MACH Alliance experts, in a roundtable where they shed light on the multifaceted nature of orchestration.
Here’s what I found out.
From Monolithic to Composable
The transition from monolithic to composable architectures took center stage, highlighting orchestration's critical importance.
Traditionally, orchestration operated within the confines of single, integrated systems. However, the emergence of composable architectures has demanded the coordination of numerous independent components, significantly broadening the complexity and scope of orchestration.
Build or Buy Debate
A significant part of the debate centered on whether organizations should develop their orchestration layers or adapt existing solutions.
The consensus leaned towards the necessity of an orchestration layer as soon as multiple backend systems come into play or expansion is on the horizon.
This layer, acting as a centralized API, streamlines the management and scalability of various components, marking it as crucial for both large and small entities aiming for growth.
Tackling Resistance to Change
The experts acknowledged the challenges in adopting orchestration, especially the resistance from IT and development teams comfortable with their existing setups.
They championed a phased approach to transformation, advocating for the gradual integration of orchestration to dispel resistance and misconceptions.
Their aim? To achieve harmony among components and avoid the need for frequent system swaps.
Orchestration's critical role extends to managing and coordinating different backend systems to ensure a smooth front-end experience.
It acts as a bridge, providing a unified API for backend services, crucial for streamlined data flow and front-end adaptability.
The discussion also illuminated the importance of orchestrating workflows, people, and processes, underscoring the need for a holistic approach that includes syncing developer workflows, content supply chains, and marketing operations.
Navigating the Shift
The experts highlighted the significant shift from monolithic systems, which inherently included orchestration, to composable architectures where orchestration must be intentionally managed.
Orchestration is a key factor in ensuring the seamless operation of selected components within composable systems.
Advocating for Incremental Adoption
One of the key insights was the unanimous support for an incremental approach to adopting MACH architectures.
This strategy allows organizations to slowly introduce composable elements and orchestration layers, ensuring a smooth transition without disrupting existing operations.
Far from being a threat, orchestration is seen as an enabler, making MACH architectures more manageable and viable, even in complex enterprise environments.
Bridging the Old with the New
The role of orchestration in breathing new life into legacy systems also came under scrutiny.
It enables these systems to integrate seamlessly with modern architectures, enhancing their functionality within a contemporary ecosystem without necessitating a complete overhaul.
Closing thoughts
The roundtable discussion concluded with a strong consensus: orchestration is indispensable for the success of composable architectures, particularly at scale. It enables the efficient management of diverse systems and components, enhancing performance and flexibility.
This conversation underscored the complexities and strategic considerations of transitioning to and implementing composable architectures, advocating for a thoughtful approach to orchestration and integrating legacy systems.
As an observer, it was clear that the experts view orchestration as essential in crafting cohesive digital experiences in the evolving landscape of modern, composable architectures.
