Every key term small businesses need to know

This comprehensive list of definitions helps you understand apps, ecommerce, cloud hosting, retail and ai from A-Z.

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    Mobile app glossary

    iOS App

    An iOS app is a mobile application developed specifically for devices including iPhone and iPad, which run on Apple's iOS operating system.

    Android App

    Android apps are software applications that run on devices powered by the Android OS and can be installed on smartphones, tablets + wearable devices.

    Native App

    Native apps are those that were designed to run on a particular operating system like Microsoft OS, Mac OS, Android OS and iOS.

    App

    An application is a type of software designed to perform specific functions on a mobile device, computer or digital platform. See benefits, examples & more.

    API

    An API is a collection of protocols and rules that connect different software applications and allows them to exchange information with each other.

    App builder

    An app builder is a platform that enables businesses to create and develop mobile applications without extensive coding knowledge or design experience.

    Cloud technology glossary

    Shared hosting

    Discover the benefits and limitations of shared hosting, an affordable and beginner-friendly web hosting solution for personal and small business websites.

    VPS Hosting

    VPS Hosting is a web hosting service that divides a single physical machine into multiple private servers, virtually providing dedicated resources and control.

    IP Address

    An Internet Protocol address is a unique number assigned to each device connected to a computer network that helps identify and locate devices.

    App server

    An app server is a software framework or platform that acts as an intermediary between users and back-end databases, handling business logic and data access.

    Cloud hosting

    Cloud hosting is a web hosting solution that leverages interconnected virtual and physical servers to provide flexibility, scalability and resource efficiency.

    Business glossary

    Assets

    Business assets are resources owned or controlled by a company that hold economic value and contribute to its operations and future earnings.

    Cash flow

    Cash flow is the net movement of money into and out of business from operations, investments and financing activities. Cash flow provides insights into the company’s financial viability and ability to grow.

    Break-even point

    The break-even point is the stage at which a business's total revenue equals its total expenses and is widely considered as a precursor to profitability.

    Margins

    Discover the significance of margins in business profitability. From gross to net margins, learn how they impact growth and financial success. Read more.

    Vendor Lock-in

    Vendor lock-in is a situation where you’re trapped in using a specific company's products or services, making it challenging for you to switch to alternatives.

    Ecommerce glossary

    Ecommerce

    Ecommerce is the process of buying and selling products & services online, allowing you to widen your reach, strengthen your brand and increase your profits.

    A/B testing

    A/B testing is a statistical method that compares two different versions of a web page, email, or ad to determine which one performs better.

    Online store

    An online store is a website, app or platform that helps businesses sell their products or services digitally.

    Average order value

    Average Order Value (AOV) refers to the average monetary amount spent by a customer in a single transaction with a business. See benefits, examples & more.

    Bounce rate

    Bounce rate calculates the percentage of users who leave – or bounce off – a webpage without viewing any additional pages. Discover how it’s calculated & more.

    Checkout

    Master the online shopping checkout: explore the standard steps, essential elements, and best practices for a seamless and satisfying experience.

    Retail glossary

    e-tailing

    E-tailing, also known as electronic retailing or e-retailing, is the process of selling online through digital channels like websites and apps.

    Mobile payments

    Mobile payments allow you to make secure transactions from your mobile device via near-field communication (NFC) technology, instead of using cash or card.

    Contactless payments

    Contactless payment is a secure and wireless way to complete transactions without physically inserting credit or debit cards into payment terminals.

    Deadstock

    Deadstock refers to unsold products that remain in inventory, often unused or untouched for an extended period, including items that are out of season, discontinued or no longer in demand.

    Click and Collect

    Click and collect is a convenient shopping model that enables customers to purchase products online and conveniently collect them from a physical store location.

    AI glossary

    Conversational AI

    Conversational AI refers to a form of Artificial Intelligence that enables natural and seamless interactions between humans and machines through conversation.

    Generative AI

    Generative AI refers to a form of AI that enables you to create original content automatically, like images, text, videos and music in a matter of seconds.

    Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT)

    A generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) is an AI model developed by Open AI that processes and generates text based on human inputs.

    Large Language Model (LLM)

    A large language model (LLM) is a type of Artificial Intelligence system designed to generate human language. It can generate text, images and content.

    Machine Learning (ML)

    Machine Learning (ML) is a subset of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that involves training algorithms to learn from and make decisions based on data. Learn more.

    Artificial Intelligence

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the technology that allows machines to mimic human intelligence. They can learn from experiences and perform human-like tasks.

    Artificial Superintelligence

    Artificial Superintelligence is advanced Artificial Intelligence that surpasses human intelligence in all aspects, including problem-solving and creativity.

    Deepfake technology

    Deepfakes are AI-generated media that convincingly replaces one person's likeness with another. While, it can also spread misinformation and violate privacy.

    Responsible AI

    Responsible AI ensures ethical and fair use of AI technologies, prioritising safety, accountability and privacy. It ensures that AI doesn't perpetuate biases.

    Reinforcement Learning

    Reinforcement Learning is a Machine Learning technique where an agent learns to make decisions through trial and error, based on rewards to achieve an outcome.

    Computer Vision

    Computer Vision is like a human sight, which facilitates the technology that enables computers to interpret and understand visual data from images and video.‌

    Image Recognition

    Image Recognition technology is a Computer Vision task that involves identifying and categorising the main content or subject of an entire image. Learn more.

    Frontier AI

    Frontier AI is an advanced, innovative technology that pushes the current boundaries of the most advanced AI models.

    Big Data

    Big data refers to huge amounts of complex data that grow exponentially over time and can't be handled by conventional data management systems. ‌

    Supervised learning

    Supervised learning is a Machine Learning method where a model learns from labelled data to make predictions on new, unseen data. Read on to learn more.

    Unsupervised learning

    Unsupervised Learning is a Machine Learning method where a model learns from unlabelled data to make predictions on new, unseen data. ‌

    Semi-supervised learning

    Semi-supervised learning is a Machine Learning method where a model learns from labelled and unlabelled data to make predictions on new, unseen data. ‌

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