Welcome to the Intershop E-Commerce Glossary – your one-stop resource for understanding key terms and concepts in digital commerce, B2B e-commerce, and omnichannel retail. Learn the terminology that powers the future of online business.
A
AI in B2B e-commerce
AI is revolutionizing e-commerce by personalizing customer experiences, optimizing operations, and driving business growth. AI-powered tools are transforming various aspects of the online shopping journey, from product discovery and personalized recommendations to customer service and logistics.
AI Agents & AI Copilots
AI agents and AI copilots are two distinct types of intelligent AI systems in B2B commerce: While an AI copilot assists users by guiding them through complex tasks and making suggestions, an AI agent operates autonomously – it makes decisions on its own and executes multi-step processes, such as in procurement, sales, or service. For B2B companies, both concepts offer enormous potential to increase efficiency, better serve customers, and automate routine tasks.
Aftermarket
The term “aftermarket” refers to the secondary market for products and services that are either complementary to primary products or directly related to their primary market goods, such as spare parts, modifications or accessories. While the primary market mostly comprises durable goods, the aftermarket focuses on recurring purchases of consumable or non-durable products and services. This makes the aftermarket a central component of many business models, particularly in the area of customer loyalty and additional sales.
Agentic AI
Agentic AI refers to autonomous AI systems that are capable of making decisions and taking action independently to achieve specific goals without the need for constant human supervision.
Agentic commerce
Agentic commerce describes a new era in e-commerce in which autonomous AI agents act on behalf of users or companies to manage key steps in the purchasing process, from product search to checkout. These agents make decisions independently and carry out transactions, taking into account the preferences, budgets, and goals of users.
Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP)
Learn how ACP works, what it means for B2B commerce, and how to integrate it into your existing commerce infrastructure.
Autonomous commerce
Autonomous Commerce is the use of various technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, and real-time data to streamline and optimize every aspect of digital commerce. The goal is to minimize manual intervention, allowing B2B companies to achieve greater efficiency, scalability, and growth.
B
B2B buying journey
The B2B buying journey describes the decision-making process that companies go through before purchasing a product or service. In contrast to B2C buying, the B2B journey is more complex and includes several phases such as needs identification, research, evaluation of providers, negotiations and the final purchase. Multiple stakeholders are often involved and the focus is on long-term added value, ROI and strategic partnerships. A deep understanding of this journey is crucial in order to specifically address the needs and challenges of B2B customers.
B2B commerce
B2B commerce, short for business-to-business commerce, refers to the online trade of products and services between companies. In contrast to B2C (business-to-consumer) commerce, which is aimed at end consumers, B2B refers to the business processes between two or more companies, such as manufacturers and wholesalers or wholesalers and retailers. B2B e-commerce encompasses the entire online sales process, from initial contact to order processing and payment.
Business intelligence
Business intelligence (BI) describes the analysis of data in order to inform business strategy. In the e-commerce field, digital solutions provide data about: demographic information, details on purchasing behavior, behavior in storefronts, and more. Business intelligence solutions, provide insights that help merchants evaluate this information and make business decisions based on data. Business intelligence is often the the anchor of a digital strategy.
B2B marketplaces
A B2B marketplace is a digital platform where multiple business suppliers offer products or services, and buyers can find, compare, and purchase them. Unlike a traditional B2B online store, a marketplace aggregates offers from various suppliers – providing greater choice, greater price transparency, and more efficient procurement processes.
B2B Self-Service Portal
A B2B self-service portal offers business customers 24/7 access to orders, invoices, and service processes - without any need to contact the sales team. Learn how manufacturers and wholesalers are using modern portal solutions to reduce costs and strengthen customer relationships.
C
Composable commerce
Composable commerce is a modern approach to e-commerce where companies flexibly and individually assemble their digital commerce platform from various modular building blocks. This approach combines microservices, APIs, cloud technologies and headless architecture to create a flexible technological basis on which companies can choose, build and combine best-of-breed solutions. In contrast to monolithic systems, composable commerce provides maximum adaptability to meet specific business requirements, high scalability and future-proofing – ideal for companies that want to react quickly to market changes.
Conversion rate optimization
Conversion rate optimization (CRO) is the structured process of increasing the percentage of website visitors who complete a desired action — such as placing an order or submitting a quote request. CRO combines data analysis, A/B testing, and UX improvements to reduce friction and increase buyer motivation across the digital buying journey. For B2B companies, a well-executed CRO strategy directly drives revenue growth without increasing marketing spend.
Cooperative commerce
From a technical point of view, we could say that cooperative commerce is any form of multi-brand shared market system/platform.
Cloud commerce
Cloud commerce offers manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors the flexibility to expand their digital business without having to manage their own infrastructure. The most important terms, technologies, and concepts - summarized concisely to help you actively shape the transition to cloud-based B2B commerce.
CPQ (Configure, price, quote)
CPQ, which stands for Configure, Price, Quote, is a software solution used in manufacturing to streamline the process of creating and pricing quotes for complex, configurable products. It helps automate tasks like product configuration, price calculation, and quote generation, leading to faster and more accurate quotes for customers.
Customer portal for B2B
The digital customer portal is the next evolution of the B2B online shop. Covering a large part of the customer lifecycle, it provides a full spectrum of services during the various phases of the merchant-buyer relationship. It can replicate the buyer’s procurement process, digitize the vendor’s sales processes, and support after-sales activities and the development of digital services.
D
Digital transformation
Digital transformation refers to the profound change brought about by the integration of digital technologies into all areas of a company or organization. In addition to introducing the technologies themselves, companies typically also need to adapt business models, processes and corporate culture to meet the requirements of the digital age.
Digitalization in wholesale
Digitalization is reshaping wholesale from classic bulk trading to data‑driven, service‑oriented business models. The term covers new online sales channels, self‑service portals, and marketplace setups that help wholesalers increase efficiency, tap into new customer segments, and strengthen long‑term customer relationships.
E
E-commerce platform for B2B
A B2B e-commerce platform is a digital solution for businesses to sell products or services online to other companies. It simplifies processes like product display, ordering, payments, and customer management, often integrating with ERP systems to support digital transformation and drive sales efficiency.
ERP e-commerce
ERP e-commerce describes a solution that tightly integrates an e-commerce platform and an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. This connection exchanges data in real-time about inventory, pricing, orders, and customer information, so that businesses can automate processes, reduce errors, and enhance the customer experience across digital sales channels.
F
Fulfilment
E-commerce fulfillment refers to the entire process of handling a customer order in e-commerce. It includes all the steps required to process an online order, from taking the initial order, to managing inventory and warehouse logistics, to delivering the goods to the customer, and potentially handling returns.
G
Global e-commerce
Global e-commerce refers to the cross-border online sale of products or services. It allows companies to tap into new markets and reach international customers, while consumers benefit i.e. the content and design on from wider choices and often lower prices.
H
Headless commerce
Headless commerce is a flexible e-commerce approach in which the front-end and back-end systems of a platform are separated, or "decoupled" from each other. This architecture gives companies the freedom to design and adapt the frontend (a website, app or other touchpoints) independently of the back end (e.g. pricing and catalog management), helping them create more customized customer experiences and innovate faster. The two sides, frontend and backend, are integrated using APIs and microservices, which gives all touchpoints access to the same core functionalities and catalogs – ideal for omnichannel strategies.
I
Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 describes the fourth industrial revolution — the intelligent networking of machines, systems, and IT infrastructure through technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), artificial intelligence, and real-time data analytics. The goal is a smart, automated, and highly flexible production environment. For B2B companies, Industry 4.0 unlocks new opportunities across manufacturing, after-sales service, and digital commerce.
Invoice management system
An invoice management system automates the creation, tracking, and processing of invoices, ensuring accuracy and faster payment cycles. It helps e-commerce businesses simplify billing processes, reduce errors, and maintain compliance with financial regulations.
Inventory management system
An inventory management system tracks and manages stock levels, orders, and deliveries in real time. It helps e-commerce businesses optimize inventory, prevent stockouts or overstocking, and improve supply chain efficiency.
L
Localization in e-commerce
Localization in e-commerce means adapting content, currencies, payment methods and functions to the language, culture and specific needs of a target market. Localization allows companies to tap into international markets, improve the customer experience and increase the conversion rate in different regions.
M
Multi-channel commerce
Multi-channel commerce describes the sale of products or services via multiple channels, such as online stores, marketplaces, social media, mobile apps or brick-and-mortar stores. The aim is to reach customers where they are and offer them flexible shopping options. In contrast to omnichannel strategies, the channels are often separate from each other in multi-channel commerce, but still offer a broad reach and increase brand presence.
MVP (minimum viable product)
A minimum viable product (MVP) is the first functional version of a product, typically with a limited initial scope of functionalities. In is developed quickly and with limited invested effort, with the goal of testing the core functions and collecting early customer feedback. The aim of the MVP is to validate quickly and cost-effectively whether a product idea is viable on the market before further investment is made in development and features. It is a central approach in agile development processes and start-up strategies.
O
Omnichannel e-commerce
Omnichannel e-commerce refers to an integrated retail strategy in which customers can interact seamlessly across different channels, for example online, offline and mobile. The aim is to create a consistent shopping experience, regardless of whether the customer is shopping in an online store, an app or a physical store. Linking channels and data not only improves the customer experience, but also strengthens customer loyalty and increases sales.
Order management system
An order management system (OMS) is a central software solution that handles all processes related to fulfilling customer orders, from the initial process to warehouse management and delivery. It lets companies to coordinate orders from different channels and, monitor stock levels in real time making an OMS a key technology for omnichannel strategies.
P
Personalization
Personalization in e-commerce means tailoring content, product recommendations and marketing messages to the individual needs, preferences and behavior of each customer. Data such as purchase history, browsing behavior or location is used to create personalized experiences that not only improve the customer experience, but also increase conversions and customer loyalty. Modern technologies such as AI and machine learning play a central role in personalization.
Predictive maintenance
Manufacturers, but also suppliers of spare parts, wears or consumables are constantly looking for new services designed to strengthen their customer loyalty and to support their unique position. Those who are digitally mature can leverage the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and machine-to-machine communication to create predictive maintenance services.
Progressive Web App (PWA)
A Progressive Web App (PWA) combines the best features of websites and native apps. PWAs are accessible via through a browser but offer app-like features such as offline use, push notifications and fast loading times. They do not require a download from an app store and are platform-independent, making them a cost-effective and user-friendly solution for companies that want to offer an optimal customer experience.
Q
Quick commerce (Q-commerce)
Quick commerce stands for ultra-fast deliveries, often within 10-30 minutes of ordering, and is a growing trend in e-commerce. Often used for food, medicines, or other urgent goods.
Quote-to-cash (QTC)
Quote-to-cash (QTC) refers to the end-to-end business process that starts with a customer’s request for a quote and ends with the receipt of payment for delivered goods or services. It includes all steps involved in selling, delivering, invoicing, and collecting payment, such as quoting, contract management, order processing, and revenue recognition.
R
Replatforming in e-commerce
E-commerce replatforming means swapping out the technology that powers online stores. Often these are so-called “legacy systems” that were developed years ago by the IT team themselves and are hosted and operated on their own on-premises servers. These technologies have long met the most important needs, but are struggling to keep up with modern requirements. Additionally, legacy systems make security updates, new feature development and integrations expensive, making replatforming a long-term positive investment.
S
SaaS
Software as a Service (SaaS) is a cloud-based model in which software is provided via the internet without the need for a local installation. Users can access applications such as CRM systems, e-commerce platforms or collaboration tools via a browser, often on a subscription model. SaaS solutions offer advantages such as scalability, regular updates and lower IT costs, which makes them particularly attractive for companies of all sizes.
Servitization
In its core concept, servitization is to sell your company or brand services as if they were your products. In a broader – and more accurate with real-life – definition servitization normally involves bundling products and services to create shared value for the company and its customers.
Sustainability in e-commerce
Sustainability in e-commerce refers to environmentally friendly and socially responsible practices along the entire value chain – from production and shipping to the disposal of products. This includes measures such as CO₂-neutral shipping, plastic-free packaging, circular economy models and the promotion of sustainable products. Companies that focus on sustainability not only strengthen their brand, but also gain the trust of environmentally conscious customers.
T
Taxonomy
Taxonomy in e-commerce is a structured way to organize products, categories, and attributes in online store, enabling efficient navigation, accurate search results, and streamlined product management.
Third-party integration
Third-party integration refers to connecting external software, platforms, or services to your e-commerce system in order to expand functionality, automate processes, and exchange data.
U
Unified commerce
Unified commerce is a retail strategy that aims to seamlessly connect all of a company's sales channels and customer interfaces, managing all customer data centrally on one platform. The aim is to create a fully connected shopping experience for customers, regardless of whether they interact online, in-store or via social media.
V
Voice commerce
Voice commerce is revolutionizing the way customers shop in e-commerce. By using voice commands and voice-controlled technologies such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri, users can search for and order products and even receive personalized recommendations. This innovative form of shopping offers convenience, speed and a whole new dimension of user-friendliness.
