Why Scalable Backend Architecture Fuels Product Growth

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Why Scalable Backend Architecture Fuels Product Growth

It only takes 0.05 seconds for a user to form an impression of your website — and decide whether to stay or leave.

A scalable backend infrastructure plays a huge role in that impression, influencing your site’s speed, reliability, and overall user experience. Scalable systems ensure peak performance even during traffic surges, which directly impacts customer satisfaction and business growth.

Find out more about why backend infrastructure is essential for evolving businesses. We’ll go over key components of leading backends, as well as how the right backend development teams can take your systems to the next level.

Understanding Backend Architecture: Core Functions & Components

The backend involves the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that receives requests from users and sends back appropriate responses.

Unlike frontend architecture, the backend isn’t visible to the user. Instead, it powers the functions that the user sees and interacts with. The backend includes a range of components, including databases, servers, frameworks, integrations, APIs and authentication logic.

For instance, when a user clicks on a tab on your website menu, the backend is what processes the request and then displays the right page. The backend handles a wide range of requests, including complex ones such as user authentication and payment.

In essence, backend architecture powers everything behind the scenes — from data management to secure transactions.

Why Backend Scalability Matters

The backend is the beating heart of your software. That’s why it’s essential to ensure your backend is efficient, reliable, secure and scalable.

Of course, building a strong backend can be challenging, especially if the requirements are large-scale or complex. It also requires expert planning, so that your infrastructure is equipped for future growth.

Keep in mind that approximately 20% of performance issues stem from backend limitations, which is why it’s well-worth getting right.

The Costs of Not Having Scalable Backend Architecture

The costs of not having scalable backend architecture can be significant for businesses. To start, a smooth user experience begins and ends with a well-designed backend. Without it, you may suffer from:

  • Poor user experience and loss of customers
  • Downtime and performance issues during peak traffic
  • Data that’s siloed and/or hard to analyze
  • Lack of resilience for evolving business needs and growth
  • Increasing costs due to resource inefficiencies

Overall, a robust and expert-led backend can efficiently handle your requests — including high volumes, multiple touchpoints and robust tech stacks.  

Red Flags That It’s Time to Revamp Your Backend

(Source: Think with Google)

Often businesses ignore their backend in favor of the client-facing frontend. Yet, the backend is just as important, as it drives app performance and user experience. Here are some signs that you should pay closer attention to your backend scalability and consider revamping it:

  • Poor UX metrics, such as high bounce rate and low conversion rates
  • Performance issues, such as slow speeds and mobile unresponsiveness
  • A growing demand for user, traffic and data volume
  • Outdated tech that no longer meets business needs
  • Lack of modern data, security and integration practices

Keep in mind that 94% of users distrust a website that uses poor UX. If your backend architecture slows down your site or leads to significant downtime, your users will flock elsewhere.

Key Components of Scalable Backend Architecture

Your backend is made up of a rich infrastructure of system components. As you work with an expert backend developer, be sure there’s a strategic approach to your scalable system architecture.

1. Database Optimization

There are two main ways to set up your database — SQL or NoSQL — and each has its strengths for optimizing your business database.

Element SQL NoSQL
Data model Structured and fixed (table-based) Flexible (based on key-value pairs, documents, graphs, etc.)
Schema Rigid Flexible or no schema
Scalability Vertical Horizontal
Data integrity High Varies
Great for Complex queries and data integrity Scaling easily and query speed
Best uses Need for consistency, robust queries and top integrity (fintech, ERP, CRM, ecommerce, etc.) Large-scale distributed systems and data volumes (big data, social media, real-time analytics, etc.)
Query language SQL (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, etc.) Others (MongoDB, Cassandra, DynamoDB, Redis, etc.)

As you can see above, choosing between SQL and NoSQL depends on your data complexity, speed requirements, and scalability needs.

Regardless of which type you select, it’s important to have a plan in place for database optimization. Best practices to accomplish this include setting up efficient indexing, query performance, cloud storage and governance.

2. API & Service Layer

(Source: SALT Security)

APIs and related integrations are another crucial part of a strong backend infrastructure. In particular, your service layer should incorporate APIs with version control, which can help enhance QA during your backend life cycle. Just consider that APIs with version control can reduce deployment bugs by up to 25%.

Additionally, work with your backend expert to focus on leading areas, such as modular design, data retrieval, error handling and more.

3. Backend Load Handling & Caching

Your backend should have high-performing caching mechanisms to keep up your app speeds and reduce latency. Backend load handling and caching supports top website performance and enhances the overall user experience. Some key practices for this include using CDN, scaling read/write ops and integrating with data stores such as Redis and Memcached.

Without efficient caching strategies, your app may experience latency that directly affects conversion rates and SEO rankings.

4. Microservices Backend

Microservices is an excellent option for enabling far-reaching scalability for your backend. This type of architecture involves a collection of separate, independently functioning units.

Microservices are ideal for backend scalability, for you can develop them in isolation of the others, enabling agile, flexible delivery. In fact, adopting microservices can reduce time-to-market, with 29% of companies reporting faster development.

What’s more, microservices backends have key advantages over monolith architecture (where services are coupled in a unified unit).

5. Security & Compliance

Finally, your backend should emphasize priorities in cybersecurity, privacy and data flow. Having a scalable backend architecture allows your data to be properly stored and processed, as well in compliance with regulations such as GDPR. Practices such as encrypted data, access control, data backup and more should be part of your backend architecture strategy.

The Role of a Skilled Backend Development Team

Getting expert developers on your IT team is the first step to building a scalable backend architecture. The best backend pros will foresee scaling issues and create a roadmap for developing future-proof backend systems.

To this end, a backend development team is typically responsible for:

  • Coding, testing and maintaining server-side development solutions
  • Setting up data storage
  • Creating APIs and hooking up third-party integrations
  • Developing version control
  • Managing and monitoring database function
  • Undertaking backend performance optimization
  • Collaborating with the greater IT team, including frontend developers
  • Leveraging top backend frameworks and tools
  • Incorporating backend systems best practices for security and data

In addition to these main functions, backend developers should have vital soft skills that make teaming frictionless. Scalable system architecture touches almost every part of your IT systems, which means these experts will work with a diverse range of team members — both technical and non-technical.

Having the right team in place ensures your backend isn't just functional — it's a true growth engine. Consider building your backend with experienced pros like our developers at TECLA.

Set Up Scalable Backend Architecture With TECLA

Achieving scalable backend architecture is highly advantageous for your business, as it can strengthen performance, elevate user experience, unlock cost efficiencies and equip your business for growth in the long term.

Leverage our guide above to the key areas of backend architecture and setting up an expert backend development team. As you get started, first consider your current system. It’s worth auditing your backend and planning your business growth from the ground up.

Our backend specialists at TECLA can support your efforts through leading expertise and well-integrated teams. We boast of 50,000+ elite developers from Latin America who are ready to collaborate with your business and scale up your backend ASAP.

Reach out to TECLA to put your backend strategy in practice today!

What happens if backend architecture doesn’t scale properly?
When backend infrastructure doesn’t scale properly, it can’t handle your user and traffic demands. This can lead to slow load times and downtime that frustrates your customers. Not only will you lose revenue from users, but you’ll also face costs due to resource efficiencies over time.
What’s the difference between scaling vertically and horizontally?
Scaling vertically and horizontally are ways of talking about how you utilize resources and servers in your backend. Vertical scaling means you add resources to one server, while horizontal scaling adds more servers.
Do all startups need to worry about scalable backends?
The earlier, the better. Planning for a backend for startups means you can prepare your needs and organize your resources instead of having to migrate or revamp your backend mid-project. Ultimately, doing so prevents potential performance issues down the road.
What’s the first step toward building a scalable backend?
The first step is understanding your current backend architecture and your business needs for users, data, traffic and more — both now and as your business evolves. From here, you can identify potential issues and minimize backend performance bottlenecks. Hiring a world-class backend expert can support you in auditing and strategizing for your business growth.

Gino Ferrand
By 
Gino Ferrand
Gino Ferrand
Gino is an expert in global recruitment having spent the last 10 years leading TECLA and helping world-class tech companies in the U.S. hire top talent in Latin America.
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