Headless is leading the modern web.
Amid rapid digital change, headless is the leading choice for driving scalable innovation.
Of businesses surveyed are now using a headless approach—up 14% from 2021 and nearly 40% from 2019.
Among those not currently using headless, 98% are evaluating or plan to evaluate headless solutions over the next 12 months.
Of respondents say headless makes it easier to deliver a consistent content experience across channels.
Of respondents are currently or have previously worked with an external agency to implement headless web architecture.
The demand for seamless digital experiences.
What's driving widespread headless adoption? Decoupled web architecture is now the preferred solution for delivering agile, scalable digital experiences—offering fast, consistent performance across platforms and channels. By separating the backend from the frontend, businesses can use the tools and frameworks their developers and content creators prefer, while delivering dynamic, omnichannel content.
Headless is the new industry standard.
As the digital landscape evolves, headless architecture has become the go-to solution for businesses seeking agility and scalability. What was once considered a niche or experimental approach has reached mainstream adoption, with 73% of businesses across industries now embracing headless—up nearly 40% since 2019. This surge has been driven by the need for fast, omnichannel digital experiences, seamless integrations with emerging technologies, and the flexibility to deliver content across multiple platforms. As businesses have increasingly prioritized these capabilities, headless has solidified its role as a critical component of modern web strategies.
A competitive business advantage.
Headless solutions are empowering businesses to stay ahead in today's fast-paced digital environment. The ability to deliver dynamic, omnichannel content at speed provides a critical advantage. With fewer server requests and faster load times, headless architecture ensures businesses can meet high consumer expectations for seamless digital experiences. This scalability and flexibility are why 82% of businesses believe headless helps them deliver consistent content across all channels. It’s no surprise that businesses using headless solutions report being ahead of competitors in delivering new digital experiences, solidifying headless as a strategic must-have for growth.
Harnessing headless for strategic gains.
Businesses are leveraging headless to achieve strategic outcomes, driving innovation and enhancing customer experience across platforms.
OF RESPONDENTS VIEW ENHANCED TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION AS KEY BENEFITS OF HEADLESS
ALMOST HALF SEE HEADLESS AS CRUCIAL FOR IMPROVING CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND SCALABILITY
INTEGRATE ANALYTICS SOFTWARE WITH HEADLESS ARCHITECTURE TO OPTIMIZE DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS
Looking ahead with confidence.
The financial outlook for headless is strong, driven by agencies and marketing leaders.
Agencies and CMOs are key to harnessing headless for scalable digital growth.
60% of respondents expect their website infrastructure budget to increase in the next 12 months.
80% of respondents work with an agency to implement headless solutions
75% of CMOs are using headless technology, compared to 65% of CTOs
Almost 1 in 6 respondents expect a 26%-35% financial impact after implementing headless.
This infographic is based on research results from a global study conducted by WP Engine (wpengine.com) and Censuswide (censuswide.com), an independent international research consultancy, in July 2024. The study explored the current state of headless adoption across industries and examined how businesses are leveraging headless architecture to drive digital innovation and success. The research was distilled from survey responses from 1,015 IT and marketing professionals across the U.S., UK, and Australia. Respondents represented businesses of various sizes, with insights spanning multiple industries, offering a comprehensive view of headless adoption trends and strategic benefits.
The future of digital is headless.
What's driving the surge in headless adoption? Why is WordPress such a powerful choice as a headless CMS? Find out more below!
Ebook
Read our global research report examining the use of headless architecture in the enterprise.
Download eBook
DE{CODE} 2024
Check out on-demand sessions from WP Engine DE{CODE} to find out more about headless and other developer-centric topics.
View Sessions
Explore Headless
Find out more about WP Engine's complete headless WordPress platform for absurdly fast dynamic sites.
Learn More
WP Engine Builders
Visit WP Engine's hub for WordPress builders, with resources dedicated to helping developers learn more about headless.
Visit Site