E-commerce Dictionary
Not sure what a term means? Find plain-English definitions, real-world examples, and practical tips for PIM, product data, and all things e-commerce.
Featured Terms
The essential e-commerce and PIM terms every professional should have in their toolkit
Country of Origin
Country of origin is the country where a product was manufactured or last substantially transformed, stored as a product attribute for customs, labels and sales channels.
Product Description
A product description is the text on a product page that explains what the item is, what it does, who it is for and why it is worth buying.
Product Type
A product type is the category a merchant assigns to a product in its own words, such as the product_type attribute in Google Merchant Center or the product type field in Shopify.
Unique Product Identifiers
Unique product identifiers are the codes that identify a product across channels: the GTIN, and the brand plus MPN. Your own SKU identifies it only inside your business.
3D Model Management
3D model management is storing, organizing and publishing product 3D files such as GLB and USDZ, each linked to the right SKU and channel.
A+ Content (Enhanced Brand Content)
A+ Content, formerly Enhanced Brand Content, is the Amazon feature that lets brand owners add image and text modules below the product listing.
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3D Model Management
3D model management is storing, organizing and publishing product 3D files such as GLB and USDZ, each linked to the right SKU and channel.
A+ Content (Enhanced Brand Content)
A+ Content, formerly Enhanced Brand Content, is the Amazon feature that lets brand owners add image and text modules below the product listing.
AI-First PIM
An AI PIM is a product information management system where AI drafts descriptions, attributes, categories and translations, and people review the result before it is published.
AI-powered product content creation
AI-powered product content creation is the use of AI models to write product titles, descriptions, attributes and translations from your existing product data.
API (Application Programming Interface)
In ecommerce, an API (application programming interface) is a defined way for two systems, such as a webshop and a PIM, to exchange data like products, prices, stock and orders.
API-First PIM
An API-first PIM is product information management software built so every function is available through an API, which other systems use to read and write product data.
ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number)
An ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) is the unique 10-character code Amazon assigns to each product in its catalog.
Access Control (PIM)
Access control in a PIM sets who can view, edit, import or publish which product data, usually through user roles and permissions.
Agentic commerce
Agentic commerce is shopping in which an AI agent searches, compares and can buy products for a person, using structured product data and open protocols.
Alt-Text Accessibility Management
Alt-text accessibility management is the practice of writing, storing and checking alt text for every product image, so screen reader users and search engines understand them.
Asset Transformation
Asset transformation converts a master image or video into the sizes, crops and formats each channel needs, without changing the original file.
Attribute Collision
An attribute collision is a conflict where two sources use the same attribute name for different things, or send different values for the same attribute of one product.
Attribute Dependency Management
Attribute dependency management means setting rules so one attribute's value decides which other attributes or values apply, such as frame size only for bikes.
Attribute Group
An attribute group is a named section that bundles related product attributes, such as Dimensions or Technical specs, so product data is easier to enter, find and export.
Attribute Inheritance
Attribute inheritance in a PIM means child products, variants or families automatically take attribute values or fields from their parent, unless you override them.
Attribute Management
Product attribute management is defining, filling and maintaining the structured fields that describe products, such as color, size and material, for every channel.
Attribute Scoping
Attribute scoping sets whether a product attribute holds one value everywhere or a different value per language, channel or market.
Attribute Set
An attribute set is a named group of product attributes, such as size, color and material, that defines which fields a type of product has.
Attribute Value Normalization
Attribute value normalization is the process of standardizing the values within product attributes to ensure consistency, eliminate variations, and improve data quality.
Attribute mapping
Attribute mapping links the product attributes in one system to the matching fields and values in another, such as a sales channel or marketplace.
Attributization
Attributization is turning product information into structured attributes, such as color, size and material, so each fact sits in its own field.
Augmented Reality (AR) Product Visualization
AR product visualization lets shoppers place a true-to-scale 3D model of a product in their own space through a phone camera before they buy.
Automated Translation Memory
Automated translation memory is a database of approved translated sentences that software reuses automatically when the same or similar text needs translating again.
Average Order Value (AOV)
The average amount a customer spends per order: total revenue divided by the number of orders in the same period.
B2B marketing
B2B marketing is marketing aimed at other businesses rather than consumers, using channels such as your website, search, email, LinkedIn and trade events to reach buyers and their teams.
BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick Up in Store) Data
BOPIS data is the store-level information needed for buy online, pick up in store: stock per location, pickup eligibility, preparation time and pickup options.
Base Product vs. SKU
A base product is the general product model; a SKU is one specific sellable version of it, such as one color and size, with its own code, stock and price.
Batch processing
Batch processing involves executing a series of non-interactive jobs or tasks on large volumes of data without manual intervention. It is used for efficient, automated data management and updates.
Brand Management
Brand management involves overseeing the tangible and intangible elements of a brand to increase its perceived value. It ensures consistent messaging, visual identity, and customer experience across all touchpoints.
Brand consistency
Brand consistency means your brand looks, sounds and describes its products the same way on every channel, from webshop to marketplace.
Bulk Edit
Bulk edit means changing a field on many products or records at once, such as price, category or description, instead of editing each one separately.
Business rules
Business rules are statements that define how a company handles data and decisions, written so software can check, fill or route information automatically.
CGI (Computer Generated Imagery)
CGI (computer-generated imagery) means images and video created with 3D software instead of a camera, used in e-commerce for product shots, lifestyle scenes and 360 views.
CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) Integration
CPQ integration connects configure, price, quote software to your PIM, CRM and ERP, so quotes use the same products, rules and prices as the rest of the business.
Canonical Data Model
A canonical data model is one shared, system-neutral format for business data that every connected system translates to and from, instead of mapping to each other directly.
Category Management
Category management is the strategic process of grouping products into logical categories to optimize their performance, customer experience, and profitability across sales channels. It involves defining product assortments and marketing strategies.
Channel Adaptation
Channel adaptation is changing the same product data so titles, attributes, images and categories meet the rules of each sales channel.
Channel Content Adaptability
Channel content adaptability is how easily your product content can be adapted for each sales channel without rebuilding it from scratch.
Channel Content Optimization (CCO)
The continuous process of tailoring and refining product content specifically for each distribution channel to maximize engagement, conversion, and visibility.
Channel Management
Channel management is planning, running and measuring the sales channels you sell through, from your webshop to marketplaces and social shops.
Channel Readiness
Channel readiness means a product's data meets every requirement of a specific sales channel, such as Google Shopping or a marketplace, so it can be published without errors.
Channel-Specific Attribute Requirements
Channel-specific attribute requirements are the product fields and value formats each marketplace or ad channel demands before it accepts a listing.
Channel-Specific Content Adaptation
Channel-specific content adaptation means rewriting product titles, descriptions, images and attributes so each sales channel gets content that fits its rules and its shoppers.
Channel-Specific Data Requirements
Channel-specific data requirements are the fields, formats and rules each sales channel, such as Google Shopping, Amazon or bol, demands before it will list your products.
Channel-Specific Pricing
Channel-specific pricing means selling the same product at a different price per sales channel, such as your webshop, a marketplace or a B2B portal.
Channel-specific content
Product content adapted to the rules and audience of one sales channel, such as a marketplace title, a feed field or a social caption.
Circular Economy Data Model
A circular economy data model structures product data on materials, repair, disassembly and recycling so products and materials can stay in use longer.
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