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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.

456 Terms
15 Categories
3 Difficulty Levels

Featured Terms

The essential e-commerce and PIM terms every professional should have in their toolkit

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All Terms

3D Model Management

Intermediate

3D model management is storing, organizing and publishing product 3D files such as GLB and USDZ, each linked to the right SKU and channel.

Content and digital asset managementOctober 11, 2026

A+ Content (Enhanced Brand Content)

Intermediate

A+ Content, formerly Enhanced Brand Content, is the Amazon feature that lets brand owners add image and text modules below the product listing.

Content and digital asset managementOctober 11, 2026

AI-First PIM

Intermediate

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.

Core concepts and strategyOctober 11, 2026

AI-powered product content creation

Advanced

AI-powered product content creation is the use of AI models to write product titles, descriptions, attributes and translations from your existing product data.

Content and digital asset managementOctober 11, 2026

API (Application Programming Interface)

Intermediate

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.

Operations and workflow managementOctober 11, 2026

API-First PIM

Advanced

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.

Core concepts and strategyOctober 11, 2026

ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number)

Basic

An ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) is the unique 10-character code Amazon assigns to each product in its catalog.

Channel management and syndicationOctober 11, 2026

Access Control (PIM)

Advanced

Access control in a PIM sets who can view, edit, import or publish which product data, usually through user roles and permissions.

Data management and qualityOctober 11, 2026

Agentic commerce

Intermediate

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.

E-commerce strategy and analyticsOctober 10, 2026

Alt-Text Accessibility Management

Intermediate

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.

Content and digital asset managementOctober 11, 2026

Asset Transformation

Intermediate

Asset transformation converts a master image or video into the sizes, crops and formats each channel needs, without changing the original file.

Content and digital asset managementOctober 11, 2026

Attribute Collision

Intermediate

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.

Data managementOctober 11, 2026

Attribute Dependency Management

Intermediate

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.

Data management and qualityOctober 11, 2026

Attribute Group

Intermediate

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.

Product and catalog managementOctober 11, 2026

Attribute Inheritance

Intermediate

Attribute inheritance in a PIM means child products, variants or families automatically take attribute values or fields from their parent, unless you override them.

Data management and qualityOctober 11, 2026

Attribute Management

Intermediate

Product attribute management is defining, filling and maintaining the structured fields that describe products, such as color, size and material, for every channel.

Data management and qualityOctober 11, 2026

Attribute Scoping

Intermediate

Attribute scoping sets whether a product attribute holds one value everywhere or a different value per language, channel or market.

Data management and qualityOctober 11, 2026

Attribute Set

Intermediate

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.

Data management and qualityOctober 11, 2026

Attribute Value Normalization

Intermediate

Attribute value normalization is the process of standardizing the values within product attributes to ensure consistency, eliminate variations, and improve data quality.

Data management and qualityMarch 18, 2026

Attribute mapping

Intermediate

Attribute mapping links the product attributes in one system to the matching fields and values in another, such as a sales channel or marketplace.

Data management and qualityOctober 11, 2026

Attributization

Intermediate

Attributization is turning product information into structured attributes, such as color, size and material, so each fact sits in its own field.

Product and catalog managementOctober 11, 2026

Augmented Reality (AR) Product Visualization

Intermediate

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.

Content and digital asset managementOctober 11, 2026

Automated Translation Memory

Intermediate

Automated translation memory is a database of approved translated sentences that software reuses automatically when the same or similar text needs translating again.

Content and digital asset managementOctober 11, 2026

Average Order Value (AOV)

Basic

The average amount a customer spends per order: total revenue divided by the number of orders in the same period.

E-commerce strategy and analyticsOctober 11, 2026

B2B marketing

Intermediate

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.

Core concepts and strategyOctober 11, 2026

BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick Up in Store) Data

Intermediate

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.

Operations and workflow managementOctober 11, 2026

Base Product vs. SKU

Intermediate

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.

Product managementOctober 11, 2026

Brand Management

Intermediate

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.

Core concepts and strategyMarch 18, 2026

Brand consistency

Intermediate

Brand consistency means your brand looks, sounds and describes its products the same way on every channel, from webshop to marketplace.

Core concepts and strategyOctober 11, 2026

Bulk Edit

Basic

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.

Data management and qualityOctober 11, 2026

Business rules

Intermediate

Business rules are statements that define how a company handles data and decisions, written so software can check, fill or route information automatically.

Operations and workflow managementOctober 11, 2026

CGI (Computer Generated Imagery)

Intermediate

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.

Media managementOctober 11, 2026

CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) Integration

Intermediate

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.

Process managementOctober 11, 2026

Canonical Data Model

Intermediate

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.

Data managementOctober 11, 2026

Channel Adaptation

Intermediate

Channel adaptation is changing the same product data so titles, attributes, images and categories meet the rules of each sales channel.

Channel management and syndicationOctober 11, 2026

Channel Content Adaptability

Intermediate

Channel content adaptability is how easily your product content can be adapted for each sales channel without rebuilding it from scratch.

Channel management and syndicationOctober 11, 2026

Channel Content Optimization (CCO)

Intermediate

The continuous process of tailoring and refining product content specifically for each distribution channel to maximize engagement, conversion, and visibility.

Channel management and syndicationMarch 18, 2026

Channel Management

Intermediate

Channel management is planning, running and measuring the sales channels you sell through, from your webshop to marketplaces and social shops.

Channel management and syndicationOctober 11, 2026

Channel Readiness

Intermediate

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.

Operations and workflow managementOctober 11, 2026

Channel-Specific Attribute Requirements

Intermediate

Channel-specific attribute requirements are the product fields and value formats each marketplace or ad channel demands before it accepts a listing.

Channel management and syndicationOctober 11, 2026

Channel-Specific Content Adaptation

Intermediate

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 management and syndicationOctober 11, 2026

Channel-Specific Data Requirements

Intermediate

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 management and syndicationOctober 11, 2026

Channel-Specific Pricing

Advanced

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.

Core concepts and strategyOctober 11, 2026

Channel-specific content

Intermediate

Product content adapted to the rules and audience of one sales channel, such as a marketplace title, a feed field or a social caption.

Content and digital asset managementOctober 11, 2026

Circular Economy Data Model

Intermediate

A circular economy data model structures product data on materials, repair, disassembly and recycling so products and materials can stay in use longer.

Data managementOctober 11, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

An e-commerce dictionary is a glossary of terms, definitions, and concepts used in online retail and product information management (PIM). It helps professionals quickly understand industry language, from managing product data to connecting with marketplaces.

PIM stands for Product Information Management. It is a system that brings all your product data together in one place: descriptions, images, specifications, and pricing. A PIM like WISEPIM helps e-commerce businesses manage, enrich, and share consistent product information across every sales channel.

This dictionary is for e-commerce professionals, product managers, marketers, and anyone who wants to get up to speed on industry terms. Whether you are just starting out or have years of experience, you will find clear definitions and practical examples for every term.

Use this dictionary to onboard new team members, get everyone using the same language, and discover best practices for managing product data. Understanding concepts like product enrichment, channel distribution, and omnichannel commerce helps you make smarter decisions and keep your product information consistent.

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