E-commerce Dictionary

Product information architecture is the structure behind your product data: categories, families, attributes, variants and how they relate.

Product information centralization means keeping all product data in one system, so every channel uses the same up-to-date version of each product.

Product Information Delivery refers to the process of effectively transmitting product data from a PIM system to various sales channels and customer touchpoints. It ensures consistent and accurate product content reaches the right audience at the right time.

A product information ecosystem is the set of sources, systems, people and channels through which product data is collected, managed and published.

Standardized formats and protocols for exchanging product data between businesses and systems, ensuring interoperability and data consistency.

Product information flow optimization is improving how product data moves from its sources through enrichment and checks to every sales channel, faster and with fewer errors.

Product Information Governance (PIG) is the overarching framework of policies, processes, roles, and standards for managing the quality, security, and lifecycle of all product information.

The product information lifecycle is the sequence of stages product data goes through, from creation and enrichment to publishing, updating and retirement.

PILM (product information lifecycle management) is managing product data through every stage, from creation and enrichment to publication, updates and phase-out.

A product information master record is the single, complete and approved version of a product's data that every channel and system takes its information from.

A product information maturity model is a framework that rates how well a company manages its product data, from scattered spreadsheets to a governed, automated process.

Product information overload is when a product page or catalog shows more data than a shopper can process, so the information that matters gets lost.

A product information portal (PIP) is a login-protected website where resellers, partners and internal teams find approved product data, images and documents.

Product information sharing is sending accurate product data, such as specs, prices and images, to retailers, distributors and marketplaces in the format each one needs.

A product information strategy is a plan for how you collect, manage, improve and publish product data so every channel shows correct, complete details.

Product information structure is how product data is organized into categories, attribute groups, typed attributes and variants, so every product is described the same way.

Product information usability is how easily shoppers can find, read and act on the descriptions, specs and images on a product page.

A product information workflow is the fixed sequence of steps, owners and checks a product passes from first data to a live listing on every channel.

Product launch management is the planning and coordination of everything a new product needs to go live on time, from product data and channel listings to marketing.

A product launch workflow is the fixed sequence of steps that takes a new product from first data to live listings, with an owner and a check for each step.

Product liability data is the safety, compliance and manufacturer information a seller must keep and show for a product, such as warnings, certificates and contact details.

Product lifecycle management (PLM) is the process and software for managing a product from idea, design and engineering through production and launch to retirement.

Product marketing data is the customer-facing part of your product data for e-commerce: titles, descriptions, benefits, images and selling points that help a shopper decide.

Product merchandising is the work of selecting, grouping and displaying products to help shoppers buy. Placing compatible filters beside a coffee machine is one example in a store or on a product page.

Product merchandising rules are automated logic applied to product listings to optimize visibility, promotions, and presentation based on defined criteria.

Product onboarding is the process of collecting, checking, enriching and publishing a new product's data so it is ready to sell on every sales channel.

A product recommendation engine is software that suggests relevant products to each shopper based on behavior data and product attributes.

Product relationship management (PRM) is defining and maintaining links between products, such as accessories, spare parts, alternatives, bundles and variants.

Product relationships are links between products in a catalog, such as accessories, cross-sells, upsells, substitutes, spare parts, bundles and variants.

A retired product has been taken out of the active range. Marking it as retired stops new offers while preserving its specifications and order history for returns, spare parts and support.

Product scarcity signals are messages on a product page, such as "Only 3 left" or "Limited edition", that tell shoppers a product may sell out.

Product search facets are attribute-based filters, such as brand, size, color and price, that let shoppers narrow ecommerce search and category results step by step.

Product storytelling is writing product content as a short story about who the product is for, what problem it solves and how it is used, backed by accurate product data.

Product sustainability data is the information about a product's environmental and social impact, such as materials, carbon footprint, repairability and certifications.

Product sustainability scoring rates a product's environmental and social impact, often from life cycle data, and shows it as one score or label.

A product taxonomy is the category tree used to organize a catalog. In Home > Lighting > Desk Lamps, each level narrows the product type. Color and wattage can then serve as filters within Desk Lamps.

A product template defines the standardized set of attributes and data fields required for a specific product type, ensuring consistency and efficiency in product information management.

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.

A product variant is a sellable version of one model, such as a navy shirt in size M. It shares the model’s description but can have its own SKU, barcode, price and stock level.

Product configuration is building one specific version of a product from set options and rules, so only valid combinations can be ordered, priced and made.

A product content localization workflow is the repeatable process for translating and adapting product content to each market, from source text to published pages.