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Ecommerce
Glossary |
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The Internet and ecommerce have created an entirely new vocabulary
and some of the terms used on the subject are not immediately familiar
to all visitors. So here are basic definitions of some frequently-used
terms:
ActiveX: This extends the inter-compatibility of Windows programs to the Internet. An ActiveX component can be sent over the net with a web page and then works with other Windows programs on the local system. ActiveX also offers dynamic functionality such as up-to-date share-price information. Affiliate Program: A popular website promotion tool where a website contracts with other website's for driving visitor to its site. The revenue is calculated according to the traffic brought by a particular website. B2B: Business-to-business (B2B) electronic commerce - B2B systems exchange business documents, such as purchase orders and invoices, between pairs of partners in a supply chain. B2B systems also automate the purchase of goods that support business' maintenance, repair and operation (MRO). B2C: Business-to-consumer (B2C) electronic commerce; a marketing relationship between end consumers and businesses on the Web. B2G: Business-to-government (B2G) electronic commerce; transactions conducted between businesses and the government on the Web. Bandwidth: The amount of data which can be conveyed from one point to another per unit of time. Bandwidth is usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps). A megabit consists of one million bits. The amount of bandwidth you require depends upon the application you wish to run or the speed to which you wish to view data. Browser: The program used to view web sites. The most widely-used browsers at the moment are Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. You need a browser in order to be able to navigate your way around the Internet. Benchmarking: Formal process of evaluating a company's performance by comparison with its peers and competitors in the industry. Best Practice: Practices that have been shown to produce the best results for a particular process or activity Bluetooth: A standard for wireless data transfer Bluetooth can be built into any wireless application. Bluetooth transmits at 2.45 GHz Bps: Bits Per Second - a measurement of how fast data is transmitted CGI Scripts: CGI stands for Common Gateway Interface. This technology can create a link between such things as the Internet, software and databases. For example, a CGI script can send a request to a ecommerce catalogue and return details of the stock quantities of a particular product. CGI programs can be written in various programming languages, such as Perl and C. One widely-used application of CGI is for forms on web pages. The data input is processed automatically by CGI. Content Management: The process of managing content to keep it current. E.g. adding new items to the online catalogue. Also refers to a supplier's web site's ability to display information that varies by customer, for example customer specific pricing. Content: The information on a web site. Supplier web site content typically consists of relatively static catalogue information and company information and constantly changing information that is customer specific such as order status. Data Transfer: The amount of digital data that is moved from one place to another at a given time. Data transfer includes outbound traffic from a Website, with the exception of e-mail Delimiters: A delimeter is a punctuation character or group of characters that separates two names or two pieces of data, or marks the beginning or end of a programming construct Dial-up Connection: A connection made over an ordinary telephone line between a computer (via its modem) Digital Certificate: An electronic document, issued by a certificate authority, used to establish a company's identity by verifying its public key; are used in much the same way as conventional forms of identification - such as a driver's license or passport - to provide irrefutable evidence of the owner's identity and, in some cases, authority in a given transaction. Digital Certificates are issued, managed, and verified by Certificate Authorities Digital Signature: Digital signatures, like written signatures, are a method of authenticating the source of a document and/or its author. A common form of digital signatures are digital certificates, whereby the issuing company vouches for you and gives you a unique identification that can be verified by a merchant prior to accepting an order Direct Goods: Raw materials and components that become part of a finished product DNS: Domain Name System is a system of servers located on the Internet that have been set up for Internet connections and the routing of e-mail Domain Name Service (DNS): Domain name service allows a more friendly way to remember places on the Internet. DNS is what maps IP numbers to domain names across the Internet Domain Name: The unique name given to every website. It is used to physically locate a website over the Internet. A domain name consists of three different parts with each separated by a dot. These are host server name, the unique name of the website and the third defining the purpose/type of the website Downloading: The transfer of digital files and programs from the Internet to the user's own computer. The same process in reverse is called uploading. When you type in a web address, the pages from that address are downloaded into your computer through your browser. DSL: Digital subscriber line; a technology for bringing high-bandwidth information to homes and small businesses over ordinary copper telephone. e-business: Electronic Business, the process of using Web technology to help businesses to streamline processes, improve productivity and increase efficiencies. Enables companies to easily communicate with partners, vendors and customers, connect back-end data systems and transact commerce in a secure manner. Ecommerce: A methodology used for executing business - either wholly or partially - over Internet or a network. EDI: (electronic data interchange) is the computer-to-computer exchange of business documents between companies. EDI is used for the transmission of business transactions in computer-readable form based on standard formats. EFT: (Electronic funds transfer), Electronic payment in which funds are transferred between bank accounts at different financial institutions. e-fulfillment: The services a business' shipping department that leverage the internet for the assembly, and tracking of products. Facilitates customer specific packaging, labeling and shipping of products to customers. Electronic Signature: A code or symbol that is the electronic equivalent of a written signature. Encryption: Encryption is the conversion of data into a form, called a cipher, which cannot be easily intercepted by unauthorized people. Decryption is the process of converting encrypted data back into its original form, so it can be understood. E-Procurement: The business-to-business purchase of supplies and services over the Internet. Purchasing by customers includes the customer's internal back office applications and use of the internet to extend the applications to suppliers and partners. Extranet: Extranets are an extension of a company network or a collaborative Internet connection to key customers, suppliers, and partners. Extranets provide access to specific company information and build closer business relationships. Firewall: A security system for protecting a server and local area network. A firewall monitors and manages traffic in and out of a network while limiting access to authorized users and programs. FTP: File Transfer Protocol (FTP). A globally accepted set of rules used while transferring files from one computer to another computer of a network or Internet. Gateway: A general term for software and related hardware that supports the exchange of electronic documents and messages. Hits: The number of times a web page is accessed. The number of visits is usually a better indicator of your site's popularity than the number of hits achieved. Hosting: A term used for storing and maintaining files, email or domains on a server that is connected with Internet. HTML: (HyperText Markup Language), The programming used to display the content of web pages for use by web browsers. Used to create documents for the World Wide Web. HTTP: (HyperText Transfer Protocol), The protocol facilitates communication between servers on the World Wide Web. It enables a server to connect to a Web server and to transfer HTML pages, i.e., enables the user to view Web pages. HTTP is based on Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol(TCP/IP) developed for the Web. Internet: A global network of networks having in common the TCP/IP protocols and an agreed e-mail addressing structure that provides communications and other distributed services. Internet Protocol (IP) address: The Internet Protocol address is a unique number which is used to represent every single computer in a Network. All the computers on the Internet have a unique IP address. Internet Service Provider: Often abbreviated to ISP; an organisation or company, which provides access to the Internet. ISP's are also known as access providers, or simply providers. Most offer connection services, web hosting and email facilities. Intranet: A web site that is only access able to employees with a password. Password security usually limits an employee to only seeing information relevant to his or her role. IP: (Internet Protocol), The interaction method used by the Internet. Java: A programming language intended to be a universal language for the Internet. Developed by Sun Microsystems, this language creates platform independent applications which can run on any operating system. JavaScript: A programming language that is object-based which allows Java objects to be directly embedded in an HTML page. JIT: Just In Time, a technique of managing inventory pioneered in Japan, under which materials are delivered by suppliers to a manufacturer as they are needed for production, rather than for storage or inventory. JPEG: The abbreviation JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group. The standard extension is 'JPG'. Like GIF (Graphic Interchange Format), JPEG is a common file type which is widely used on the Internet to display illustrations such as photos and graphics. Key: A series of encrypted numbers. Keywords: Words and combinations of words which are recorded by search engines and used by them to identify web sites. These words are hidden from the webpage viewer. For example, if you type 'ADK Ltd' into the search engine Google, you will find a link to the ADK Ltd's web site. The search engine generates its list based upon the number of times that the search term appears in the text. Merchant Account: An online bank account required by a store to receive payments through electronic mediums like credit cards. It can be considered as a virtual bank account that receives electronic money. Merchant ID: An account number with a bank which allows a company to accept payments by credit card. Modem: Acronym for Modulator-Demodulator. It is hardware required to access Internet through a telephone line. Modem converts the format of information received from the telephone line (Analogue) into a computer friendly format (Digital) and visa-versa. Modems are the slowest telecommunications device a computer can have. Usually running at 56 kbps and is usually referred to as 56k or v.90 or v.92. Network: Group of computers or devices connected with each other. A network is used to transfer data within the devices. Newsgroups: Electronic 'bulletin boards' on which anybody can leave a message. It is also possible to respond to the messages left by others. There are newsgroups on every conceivable subject. Collectively, all newsgroups are known as the 'Usenet'. Order Tracking: The process of tracing the status of particular order placed by a customer in an ecommerce web store. Online Services: Supplier web site services that improve customer service by helping customers do more of their commerce interaction online. Examples include tax calculation, credit checks, shipping requirements and order status. Outsourcing: As relates to electronic commerce, hiring a professional e-commerce provider to manage the day-to-day operation of an enterprise's B2B needs and Internet presence. The business can benefit from the resources and experience of the service provider without having to invest in people, hardware and software. Payment Gateway: A computer system that acts as a mediator between a merchant account and online storefront. Payment gateway is used in authentication of credit card information and real-time charging from a credit card. PDA: Personal Digital Assistant, used for any small, mobile, hand-held device that creates, stores or sends personal and financial information. PO (Purchase Order): A customer's formal request to buy goods and or services from a vendor. Consists of header information and one or more line items. Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP): A set method for connecting Windows NT clients and servers to each other over a Remote Access Services. When PPTP is combined with encryption, it makes up a virtual network between a LAN or WAN and ordinary dial-up users. POP3: POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) is the most recent version of a standard protocol for receiving e-mail. POP3 is a client-server protocol in which e-mail is received and held for you by your Internet server. Procurement: The process for acquiring goods and services including planning, negotiation, vendor selection, purchase, and delivery. Product Life Cycle: The four stages of the retail product life cycle: 1) introduction, 2) growth, 3) maturity, and 4) decline. Quick Response (QR): A supply chain management philosophy in which a business responds quickly to customer orders. Analogous to just-in-time manufacturing; a business practice in the retail industry of which an important part is the strategic deployment of XML, EDI and bar coding. Produces improved inventory turns, avoidance of out-of-stocks and reduction of excess inventory. XML and EDI are used to deliver market data gathered at the point-of-sale (POS) terminals and delivered to suppliers much more quickly than using manual systems. ROI or Return on Investment: The expected value of cost savings or margin increases divided by the amount of money to be invested. Router: A device which sends information from one location to another in the form of 'packages' of data. A number of such packages are often required to send even a single page. Salability: The ability of a business to add content and resources as its presence on the Web grows. Search Engine: A computer program which continuously trawls the web in search of new information which it then categorises using keywords. Well-known search engines include Alta Vista, Excite, HotBot, Lycos, Go, Web Crawler en Yahoo. Secure Server: Secure servers are used to conduct confidential transactions over the Internet. Data is sent between the servers in an encrypted form. Security: Techniques for ensuring that data stored in a computer cannot be read or compromised. Most security measures involve data encryption and passwords. Data encryption is the translation of data into a form that is unintelligible without a deciphering mechanism. Security Certificate: Information that is used to establish a secure connection. Security Certificates contain information about who it belongs to, who it was issued by, and an encrypted term that can be used to verify the contents of the certificate. Server: A computer in a network supplying a specialized service to "clients" on the network, such as managing a file store, managing a data base or communicating with centralized devices such as plotters, printers and scanners. Servers may be mainframes, departmental computers or PC’s. Shareware: Free trial programs. Shareware is usually restricted in its functionality. You may only use it for a limited period, or it is not a complete version. If you like the program, you can register as a user and receive the full version. Shipping Provider: An organization that provides the services of physically transporting the goods ordered on the Internet, to the address specified by a buyer. Shopping Cart: A storage place or holding place for online purchases until the final purchase is made. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP): The method by which Internet mail is delivered from one computer to another. Sitemap: The 'map' of a web site. SKU: Stock Keeping Unit. An SKU number refers to a particular item or part. A UPC number may be assigned to an SKU by the UCC. SME's: small to medium sized companies and enterprises. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol): A TCP/IP protocol used in sending and receiving e-mail. Spam: Unwanted e-mail. Usually advertising. SSL (Secure Socket Layer): A protocol for sending and receiving messages over the Internet via browsers. Special encryption for public and private keys is used to encode and decode information. SSL encryption: Secure Socket Layer, a security measure developed by Netscape, scrambles data to provide data encryption and authentication of servers or clients often dealing with highly sensitive data. Storefront Design: The way a Website is designed for the public. Supply chain: The interaction of suppliers and customers necessary for the production of goods and services. Includes planning, ordering, delivery/receipt, service and distribution. Telecommunications Act: Please click here for information on the UK's Ecommerce Communications Act Trading Partners: Companies that an organization does business with, for example, customers and suppliers. Traffic: A term used to describe the amount of data transferred and the number of visits made to a web site in a given period. The (expected) level of traffic is what determines which infrastructure you require for your web store. It is also what determines how much you have to pay to your ISP. Uniform Resource Locator (URL): A World Wide Web address that specifies a specific site, page, graphic, or document on the Internet. U.P.C. (Universal Product Code): A 12 digit numeric bar code standard used in supermarkets on grocery items, magazines and over-the-counter medical items. The left five characters are assigned by the Uniform Code Council to identify the manufacturer of the product; the right five characters are assigned by the manufacturer to identify the product. A number system character appears on the left hand side and check digit on the right. User ID: A unique combination of numbers and letters used to identify a user by a server. Vendors: Companies or people that sell products or services. VPN (Virtual Private Network): Network connections or "pipes" that encrypt data sent across the internet to provide security and control of the information transmitted between computers. Web site/Website: Every web site has its own unique domain name. For example, http://www.adk.ltd.uk. The domain name server (DNS) translates the domain name into the IP address. Webmaster: The person who is responsible for and maintains a web site Web page/Webpage: Every page on the web has its own unique address (URL). This consists of the protocol (http), the domain name and the 'path' of the page. For example, http://www.adk.ltd.uk/ecommerce.htm . The domain name server (DNS) translates the domain name into the IP address. Web Server: A computer whose purpose is to display web pages to Internet users. Website Traffic: The number of times a website is viewed by a unique visitor within a stipulated time. WYSIWYG: “What You See is What You Get” is a feature of an editor. Such editors show the exact appearance of the desired output while you are creating the document or a web page. Wireless: Communications, monitoring, or control system in which electromagnetic or acoustic waves carry a signal through atmospheric space rather than along a wire. In most wireless systems, radio-frequency (RF) or infrared (IR) waves are used. Some monitoring devices, such as intrusion alarms, employ acoustic waves at frequencies above the range of human hearing. WAP (Wireless Application Protocol): An open, global application standard that enables wireless devices to instantly and easily access and interact with information and services. Used in mobile computing devices, it features a micro Web browser that displays and transmits specially formatted pages over a broad range of mobile data channels. World Wide Web (WWW): A collection of information located on many Internet servers that can be accessed with a browser or by navigating via hypertext links. |
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