Acronym Glossary.
Demystifying Technical Terms.
Clear, business-focused definitions of acronyms and technical terms used in systems integration, manufacturing, eCommerce, and business automation.
Business Systems
CRM
Business SystemsCustomer Relationship Management
System for managing customer data, sales processes, interactions, and business relationships to improve customer service and drive sales growth.
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ERP
Business SystemsEnterprise Resource Planning
Integrated business software that manages core company operations including finance, procurement, project management, and supply chain activities.
Manufacturing
BOM
ManufacturingBill of Materials
Comprehensive list of raw materials, components, and assemblies required to construct, manufacture, or repair a product.
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MES
ManufacturingManufacturing Execution System
Shop floor control system that monitors and manages manufacturing operations in real-time to optimize production efficiency.
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MRP
ManufacturingMaterial Requirements Planning
Production planning and inventory control system that manages manufacturing processes, including materials purchasing and production scheduling.
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OEE
ManufacturingOverall Equipment Effectiveness
Manufacturing performance metric that measures how effectively equipment operates relative to its full potential during scheduled production time.
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QMS
ManufacturingQuality Management System
Framework of policies and procedures to ensure products and services consistently meet quality standards and customer requirements.
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SPC
ManufacturingStatistical Process Control
Method of quality control using statistical methods to monitor and control manufacturing processes.
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Operations
ATP
OperationsAvailable to Promise
Business function that provides response to customer order inquiries based on resource availability, including inventory and production capacity.
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CPFR
OperationsCollaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment
Business practice combining intelligence of trading partners in planning and fulfillment of customer demand.
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CTP
OperationsCapable to Promise
Advanced planning function that considers capacity constraints when promising delivery dates to customers.
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DRP
OperationsDistribution Requirements Planning
System that determines when to replenish inventory at distribution centers based on demand forecasts and lead times.
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FIFO
OperationsFirst In, First Out
Inventory valuation method where the first goods received are the first ones to be sold or used.
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IMS
OperationsInventory Management System
Software that tracks inventory levels, orders, sales and deliveries to optimize stock levels and reduce carrying costs.
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LIFO
OperationsLast In, First Out
Inventory valuation method where the most recently acquired goods are recorded as sold first.
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OTB
OperationsOpen-to-Buy
Retail planning system that calculates the amount of inventory buyers can purchase for future delivery within budget constraints.
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UPC
OperationsUniversal Product Code
Barcode symbology widely used worldwide for tracking trade items in stores and warehouses.
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VMI
OperationsVendor Managed Inventory
Inventory management practice where suppliers maintain and replenish customer inventory based on agreed service levels.
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WMS
OperationsWarehouse Management System
Software application that manages warehouse operations including inventory tracking, picking, packing, and shipping processes.
Integration
API
IntegrationApplication Programming Interface
Software interface that allows different systems and applications to communicate and share data with each other.
AS2
IntegrationApplicability Statement 2
Secure protocol for transmitting EDI and other business documents over the internet with encryption and digital signatures.
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cXML
IntegrationCommerce eXtensible Markup Language
XML-based protocol for business-to-business commerce transactions, commonly used for procurement and catalog integration.
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EDI
IntegrationElectronic Data Interchange
Standardized electronic exchange of business documents (like purchase orders and invoices) between trading partners.
FTP
IntegrationFile Transfer Protocol
Standard network protocol used for transferring files between computers over a network.
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REST
IntegrationRepresentational State Transfer
Architectural style for designing web APIs that use standard HTTP methods and are stateless, scalable, and cacheable.
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SFTP
IntegrationSecure File Transfer Protocol
Network protocol that provides file access, file transfer, and file management over a secure connection.
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SOAP
IntegrationSimple Object Access Protocol
Protocol for exchanging structured information in web services using XML, commonly used in enterprise integrations.
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VAN
IntegrationValue-Added Network
Third-party service that provides secure EDI transmission and data transformation services between trading partners.
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VPN
IntegrationVirtual Private Network
Secure connection method used to add security and privacy to private and public networks.
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Technology
AI
TechnologyArtificial Intelligence
Computer systems that perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving.
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AWS
TechnologyAmazon Web Services
Comprehensive cloud computing platform offering infrastructure services, storage, databases, and various business applications.
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CDN
TechnologyContent Delivery Network
Distributed network of servers that deliver web content and services based on geographic locations of users for better performance.
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DNS
TechnologyDomain Name System
Hierarchical naming system that translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other.
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ML
TechnologyMachine Learning
Subset of artificial intelligence that enables systems to learn and improve performance automatically through experience without explicit programming.
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SaaS
TechnologySoftware as a Service
Cloud-based software delivery model where applications are accessed over the internet rather than installed locally.
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Data Management
BI
Data ManagementBusiness Intelligence
Technologies and processes for collecting, storing, and analyzing business data to support informed decision-making.
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ETL
Data ManagementExtract, Transform, Load
Data integration process that extracts data from various sources, transforms it into a consistent format, and loads it into a destination system.
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ETL
Data ManagementExtract, Transform, Load
Data integration process that extracts data from various sources, transforms it into a consistent format, and loads it into a destination system.
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Compliance
DSCSA
ComplianceDrug Supply Chain Security Act
US law requiring pharmaceutical companies to implement systems for tracking and tracing prescription drugs through the supply chain.
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FDA
ComplianceFood and Drug Administration
US federal agency responsible for regulating food safety, drugs, medical devices, and other consumer products.
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HIPAA
ComplianceHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
US law that protects sensitive patient health information and regulates how healthcare data can be used and disclosed.
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PCI DSS
CompliancePayment Card Industry Data Security Standard
Security standard for organizations that handle credit card information to prevent data breaches and protect cardholder data.
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SOC 2
ComplianceService Organization Control Type 2
Security framework that evaluates how well organizations protect customer data and demonstrates compliance with trust principles.
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Industry
PLU
IndustryPrice Look-Up
Code system used in retail and food service to identify products and their prices at point of sale.
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QSR
IndustryQuick Service Restaurant
Fast food and quick dining restaurant industry segment characterized by fast service, limited menus, and quick customer turnover.
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eCommerce
AOV
eCommerceAverage Order Value
The average dollar amount spent each time a customer places an order, calculated by dividing total revenue by number of orders.
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BOPIS
eCommerceBuy Online, Pick-up In Store
Omnichannel retail strategy allowing customers to purchase online and collect items from physical store locations.
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CAC
eCommerceCustomer Acquisition Cost
The cost associated in convincing a customer to buy a product/service, including marketing and advertising expenses.
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CLV
eCommerceCustomer Lifetime Value
Prediction of the net profit attributed to the entire future relationship with a customer.
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GMV
eCommerceGross Merchandise Value
Total value of merchandise sold over a certain time period, typically used in eCommerce to measure business volume.
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OMS
eCommerceOrder Management System
Software platform that manages the entire order lifecycle from initial order capture through delivery and customer service.
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PIM
eCommerceProduct Information Management
System for managing and distributing product data across multiple sales channels to ensure consistent and accurate product information.
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POS
eCommercePoint of Sale
System where retail transactions are completed, including hardware and software for processing payments and managing sales.
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ROPIS
eCommerceResearch Online, Purchase In Store
Customer behavior pattern where shoppers research products online but make purchases at physical retail locations.
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SKU
eCommerceStock Keeping Unit
Unique identifier for each distinct product and service that can be purchased, used for inventory tracking and management.
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Healthcare
EHR
HealthcareElectronic Health Records
Digital version of patient medical records that can be shared across different healthcare providers and systems.
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EMR
HealthcareElectronic Medical Records
Digital version of paper medical charts containing patient treatment and medical history from one practice.
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Education
LMS
EducationLearning Management System
Software platform for delivering, tracking, and managing educational courses, training programs, and learning materials.
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SIS
EducationStudent Information System
Software application for managing student data including enrollment, grades, attendance, and administrative information.
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Business Metrics
ABC
Business MetricsActivity-Based Costing
Costing methodology that identifies activities in an organization and assigns costs to products based on their consumption of activities.
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DIO
Business MetricsDays Inventory Outstanding
Metric that measures how many days it takes to sell current inventory, indicating inventory management efficiency.
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DPO
Business MetricsDays Payable Outstanding
Financial metric measuring the average time it takes to pay suppliers, indicating cash flow management efficiency.
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DSO
Business MetricsDays Sales Outstanding
Financial metric that measures the average number of days it takes to collect receivables after a sale.
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GMROI
Business MetricsGross Margin Return on Investment
Retail metric that measures profitability of inventory investment by comparing gross margin to average inventory cost.
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KPI
Business MetricsKey Performance Indicator
Measurable values that demonstrate how effectively an organization is achieving key business objectives and goals.
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OTIF
Business MetricsOn Time In Full
Key performance indicator measuring the percentage of orders delivered complete and on the promised delivery date.
ROI
Business MetricsReturn on Investment
Performance measure that evaluates the efficiency of an investment by comparing the gain or loss relative to the investment cost.
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SLA
Business MetricsService Level Agreement
Contract between service provider and customer that defines the level of service expected and consequences if standards are not met.
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Standards
ANSI
StandardsAmerican National Standards Institute
Organization that develops and publishes standards for various industries, including EDI transaction standards.
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EDIFACT
StandardsElectronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport
International EDI standard developed by the UN for electronic business document exchange.
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Data Format
CSV
Data FormatComma-Separated Values
Simple file format for storing tabular data where each line represents a data record and fields are separated by commas.
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JSON
Data FormatJavaScript Object Notation
Lightweight, text-based data interchange format that's easy for humans to read and write, commonly used in APIs.
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XML
Data FormateXtensible Markup Language
Structured data format used for storing and transporting data, particularly in business document exchange and APIs.
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Business Model
B2B
Business ModelBusiness-to-Business
Commercial transactions and relationships between businesses rather than between businesses and individual consumers.
B2C
Business ModelBusiness-to-Consumer
Commercial transactions and relationships between businesses and individual consumers or end-users.
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DTC
Business ModelDirect-to-Consumer
Business model where manufacturers sell directly to end consumers, bypassing traditional retail channels.
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Logistics
3PL
LogisticsThird-Party Logistics
Outsourced logistics services including warehousing, transportation, distribution, and fulfillment provided by specialized companies.
ASN
LogisticsAdvance Ship Notice
Electronic document sent from shipper to receiver providing detailed information about a pending delivery.
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BOL
LogisticsBill of Lading
Legal document between shipper and carrier detailing the type, quantity, and destination of goods being carried.
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SSCC
LogisticsSerial Shipping Container Code
Unique identifier used in logistics to track shipping containers and packages through the supply chain.
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TMS
LogisticsTransportation Management System
Software platform that manages and optimizes transportation operations including route planning, carrier selection, and freight audit.
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