Introduction
Commerce Connect is an e-commerce framework designed to integrate Sitecore with different external commerce systems and, at the same time, incorporate customer engagement functionality provided in the Sitecore Customer Engagement Platform (CEP).
Commerce Connect consists of two components:
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Connect Core Framework contains the abstract service layers and performs engagement activities—such as tracking page events and goals, acting on conditional rendering rules, and following up on engagement automation plans, actions, and conditions.
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Connect Connectors hook into pipelines and integrate with external commerce systems. These connectors are not a part of the core framework, but are needed because Connect cannot run as a standalone system. Developers can use Connect Connectors to integrate Sitecore XP with one or more commerce systems.
The Commerce Connect integration API incorporates customer tracking by triggering goals and page events and uses engagement automation plans for following up on customer interaction. In addition, Commerce Connect comes with e-commerce specific rendering rule conditions for acting on customer interactions, cart content, and orders placed, and so on.
For a general introduction and overview of the components in Connect, see the Commerce Connect components topics.
If you are a developer who creates Sitecore solutions and are looking for information about how to use Commerce Connect for creating B2C or B2B shops with e-commerce functionality, see the Commerce Connect Developer Reference.