Why Adobe Commerce Infor Integration Outperforms Infor Rhythm

Infor Rhythm may seem like the default choice for distributors already using Infor CloudSuite Distribution (CSD). However, many B2B businesses quickly outgrow their capabilities.

In today’s competitive eCommerce landscape, where speed, flexibility, and experience drive buyer decisions, Rhythm’s limitations can become bottlenecks for your Info ecommerce integration. Below, we break down the specific ways it’s holding you back, along with the pain points experienced by B2B eCommerce businesses.

1. Rigid Front-End and UX Limitations

The B2B buyer journey is evolving, and expectations are higher than ever. Customers want clean interfaces, fast load times, and intuitive design on desktop and mobile. Rhythm’s templated layout offers little control, which makes it difficult to tailor experiences around customer segments, buying behavior, or product complexity.

        What this means for your business:

• • Minimal customization across category, product, and cart pages.
    
  • No Progressive Web App (PWA) support for mobile-first users.
    
  • Poor UI scalability across verticals or product types.
    
  • Limitations in implementing a headless front-end or custom front-end logic.
    

According to a 2024 Adobe report, 76% of B2B buyers say their expectations for digital experiences are rising year over year. Rhythm simply doesn’t offer the tools to meet those expectations.

2. Weak Product Content and Catalog Management

B2B product data is complex. SKUs can have layered attributes, fitment data, documentation, MSDS files, or customer-specific pricing. Rhythm lacks a native PIM or advanced catalog tools to manage this level of complexity without excessive backend work.

        Common complaints:

• • Difficulty syncing large, multi-SKU catalogs with ERP in real time.
    
  • Poor support for variant relationships (size, finish, configuration).
    
  • No ACES/PIES or fitment data handling for automotive and industrial suppliers.
    
  • Manual or error-prone processes for uploading or editing product data.
    

3. Lack of Support for Omnichannel and Composable Architecture

Today’s B2B buyers don’t just use one channel. They research on mobile, request quotes via email, check stock online, and expect a unified experience across every touchpoint. Rhythm, however, is not built with composable commerce in mind. It lacks APIs, flexibility, and modular design to plug into modern headless, omnichannel, or marketplace models.

        How does this hold you back?

• • No support for multichannel order orchestration or inventory visibility.
    
  • Inability to integrate with third-party POS, warehouse, or CRM systems.
    
  • No decoupling of front-end and back-end for flexible UI innovation.
    
  • No GraphQL or flexible APIs for building modern microservices.
    

Gartner predicts that by 2026, 70% of digital commerce will be built on composable architectures, yet Rhythm remains monolithic and static.

4. Poor Integration Ecosystem Beyond Infor

Infor Rhythm is built to work exclusively with Infor ERP systems, and even that’s often through tightly coupled processes. If you’re looking to build a connected tech stack involving PIMs, PSPs (payment service providers), CRMs, shipping platforms, or marketplaces, Rhythm provides limited integration pathways.

        Integration challenges include:

• • Lack of out-of-the-box connectors with third-party services.
    
  • No modern iPaaS or webhook capabilities.
    
  • Dependence on Infor’s middleware or professional services for basic integrations.
    
  • Difficulty syncing real-time data between systems for orders, inventory, pricing, and customers.
    

In contrast, Adobe Commerce supports over 5000 third-party extensions and connectors, giving IT leaders freedom to design a best-fit stack.

5. Performance and Scalability Constraints

As distributors grow, their digital commerce platforms must scale with them, handling higher traffic, more SKUs, more user roles, and even global stores. Rhythm’s architecture makes scaling a challenge.

        Where it struggles:

• • Site slowdowns with high SKU volume or heavy concurrent sessions.
    
  • No dynamic content delivery for regional personalization or load balancing.
    
  • Poor multi-site or multi-currency support.
    
  • Lack of CDNs and caching logic compared to modern platforms like Adobe Commerce.

6. No AI-Powered Personalization or Merchandising

Personalized experiences drive conversions. But Rhythm offers no built-in support for AI-driven product recommendations, search optimization, or personalized pricing. This restricts your ability to increase Average Order Value (AOV) or convert new buyers effectively.

        Missing capabilities:

• • No integration with engines like Adobe Sensei or third-party ML tools.
    
  • No real-time upsell, cross-sell, or “customers also bought” logic.
    
  • Inability to personalize search results or category display.
    
  • Static pricing logic based on ERP rules rather than dynamic user behavior.

7. Limited Marketing Automation and Campaign Tools

B2B eCommerce success hinges on retention, lead nurturing, and post-sale engagement. Rhythm doesn’t play well with marketing automation platforms or provide native tools for tracking conversions or abandoned carts.

        What you’re missing:

• • No out-of-the-box email automation flows.
    
  • No built-in campaign tracking or conversion attribution.
    
  • No seamless integration with Google Analytics 4 or Adobe Analytics.
    
  • Inability to sync customer segments with marketing tools for retargeting.
    

This forces teams to use disconnected tools or resort to manual processes, hurting marketing ROI.

8. ERP-Centric, Not Experience-Centric

Rhythm’s DNA is ERP-first. It prioritizes back-end workflows over user experience, flexibility, or experimentation. In a digital-first world, where experience is the differentiator, this approach creates friction.

        Symptoms of this architecture:

• • UX updates often require ERP changes or middleware support.
    
  • No flexibility to A/B test new features or page designs.
    
  • Front-end and backend are tightly coupled, slowing innovation.
    
  • User feedback loops are difficult to act on quickly.

Compare that to Adobe Commerce’s decoupled, experience-led architecture, where IT and marketing teams can rapidly iterate without touching the ERP core.

9. Higher TCO with Slower ROI

Even though Rhythm seems like a low-cost choice upfront (since it’s built into Infor), most distributors experience higher TCO due to constant workarounds, lack of extensibility, and support bottlenecks.

        Cost drivers include:

• • High development costs for any custom functionality.
    
  • Increased reliance on consultants or Infor partners.
    
  • Delays in launching new features or reacting to market changes.
    
  • A limited ecosystem reduces affordable plug-and-play options.

In contrast to the limitations of Infor Rhythm, Adobe Commerce + Infor CSD API integration provides a robust, flexible solution that enables distributors to scale quickly while delivering seamless, personalized digital experiences. Let’s dive into the core reasons why this eCommerce integration is a future-ready commerce for your business.

1. Real-Time ERP Integration that Mirrors Your Business Logic

Where Infor Rhythm often suffers from limited and delayed data flow, Adobe Commerce enables bi-directional, real-time syncing with Infor CSD using REST APIs or middleware like Dell Boomi, MuleSoft, or Jitterbit. This ensures your digital storefront is always in sync with your backend business operations.

        Key capabilities include:

• • Sync inventory, warehouse availability, and pricing from Infor to Adobe Commerce
  • Push online orders directly into Infor CSD for immediate fulfillment
  • Reflect customer-specific credit limits, tax rules, and terms in the storefront
  • Enable dynamic pricing, discounts, and promotions based on ERP logic
  • Reduce manual order entry, thereby minimizing errors and customer support burden

2. Built-In B2B Features That Don’t Require Workarounds

Adobe Commerce provides enterprise-ready B2B features natively, unlike Rhythm, where even basic B2B workflows often require costly customization or third-party tools. These features are scalable, user-friendly, and fully integrated with the ERP via APIs.

        Key features include:

• • Company accounts with multiple buyer roles and access permissions
  • Custom catalogs and contract pricing for different customer segments
  • RFQ (Request for Quote) system with quote management
  • Saved carts, quick reorder, and requisition lists
  • Purchase order approvals and budget control workflows

Adobe Commerce B2B users report a 25% faster time-to-quote turnaround after enabling built-in RFQ tools.

3. Freedom to Own and Customize the Front-End UX

One of the most restrictive parts of Rhythm is its rigid front-end templating and lack of UX flexibility. Adobe Commerce addresses this head-on by giving full control over the user interface, enabling brands to craft experiences that are aligned with user needs and business objectives.

        UX and front-end capabilities include:

• • Customizable checkout flows and cart logic
  • Responsive design that’s mobile-first by default
  • Full front-end customization with Adobe Experience Manager (AEM)
  • Headless capabilities with PWA Studio and GraphQL
  • A/B testing and layout experiments to optimize for conversions

B2B companies that invested in optimized UX saw a 20–30% increase in conversion rates.

4. True Omnichannel and Composable Commerce Capabilities

Infor Rhythm lacks the ability to support modern composable commerce, leaving businesses tied to a monolithic stack. Adobe Commerce solves this by being composable-first—you can plug in and scale services as needed across front-end, payment, fulfillment, and marketing.

        Composable and omnichannel benefits include:

• • API-first structure with GraphQL and REST APIs
  • Integration with marketplaces, POS, CRMs, PIMs, and fulfillment tools
  • Ability to decouple the front-end using PWA or third-party headless CMS
  • Middleware-agnostic architecture allows any system to be connected
  • Enables future-proof digital architecture with microservices

5. Open Ecosystem That Goes Beyond Infor

One of the major roadblocks with Rhythm is its poor integration ecosystem outside of Infor. Adobe Commerce has an open architecture, giving you flexibility to build the stack that fits your business.

        Ecosystem advantages:

• • 5000+ vetted integrations including PSPs, PIMs, shipping, tax, and CRM tools
  • Certified compatibility with tools like Avalara, Salesforce, Akeneo, and ShipStation
  • APIs and iPaaS platforms make integration fast, affordable, and scalable
  • Plug-and-play extensions reduce development effort and time to market

💡 Stat Insight: Brands using Adobe’s open ecosystem cut third-party integration timelines by 40%.

6. Native Marketing Automation, SEO, and Analytics

While Rhythm offers limited marketing flexibility, Adobe Commerce integrates deeply with tools like Adobe Analytics, GA4, and Adobe Campaign to support growth marketing strategies.

        Marketing and analytics features include:

• • Native SEO controls, schema support, and customizable metadata
    
  • GA4 and Adobe Analytics integration for tracking buyer behavior
    
  • Adobe Sensei AI for predictive merchandising and product recommendations
    
  • Email marketing flows with cart abandonment and behavior-based triggers
    
  • Built-in tools for promotion management, landing pages, and banners
    

Adobe AI-driven recommendations lead to 15–20% more revenue per visitor.

7. Lower TCO and Faster ROI Compared to Rhythm

Though Rhythm may seem cheaper upfront as an ERP add-on, Adobe Commerce provides a better long-term value proposition by reducing technical debt and enabling faster time-to-market.

        Cost-saving benefits include:

• • Reduced need for custom development due to native features
  • Faster deployments with existing integration connectors
  • Lower support costs with cloud-based managed services
  • Improved team efficiency with self-service tools

Adobe Commerce customers saw a 30% drop in support costs and a 25% boost in online revenue.

When evaluating Infor Rhythm against Adobe Commerce + Infor CSD API integration, it’s essential to consider both functional limitations and the growth opportunities provided by each. Below is a detailed comparison based on critical aspects like ERP integration, customization, user experience, scalability, and overall flexibility.

Based on the comparison above, it’s clear that Adobe Commerce + Infor CSD API integration offers several advantages over Infor Rhythm for businesses that are looking to scale efficiently, improve customer experiences, and future-proof their operations.

From real-time integration to enhanced B2B capabilities, Adobe Commerce’s flexibility and power make it the ideal platform for businesses planning for the long term.

Suppose your current Infor Rhythm solution is holding you back with limited customization, inefficient workflows, and a poor user experience. In that case, it’s time to consider Adobe Commerce + Infor CSD API as the solution for your business.