Chapter 5. Electronic Commerce and Enterprise Systems

batch processing system

A form of data processing whereby business transactions are accumulated over a period of time and prepared for processing as a single unit or batch.

best practices

The most efficient and effective ways to complete a business process.

business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce

A subset of e-commerce in which all the participants are organizations.

business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce

A form of e-commerce in which customers deal directly with an organization and avoid intermediaries.

certificate authority (CA)

A trusted third-party organization or company that issues digital certificates.

computer-aided design (CAD)

The use of software to assist in the creation, analysis, and modification of the design of a component or product.

computer-aided engineering (CAE)

The use of software to analyze the robustness and performance of components and assemblies.

computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)

The use of software to control machine tools and related machinery in the manufacture of components and products.

consumer-to-consumer (C2C) e-commerce

A subset of e-commerce that involves electronic transactions between consumers using a third party to facilitate the process.

customer relationship management (CRM) system

A system that helps a company manage all aspects of customer encounters, including marketing, sales, distribution, accounting, and customer service.

data collection

Capturing and gathering all data necessary to complete the processing of transactions.

data correction

Reentering data that was not typed or scanned properly.

data editing

Checking data for validity and completeness to detect any problems.

data processing

Performing calculations and other data transformations related to business transactions.

data storage

Updating one or more databases with new transactions.

digital certificate

An attachment to an email message or data embedded in a Web site that verifies the identity of a sender or Web site.

document production

Generating output records, documents, and reports.

e-government

The use of information and communications technology to simplify the sharing of information, speed formerly paper-based processes, and improve the relationship between citizens and government.

electronic cash

An amount of money that is computerized, stored, and used as cash for e-commerce transactions.

electronic exchange

An electronic forum where manufacturers, suppliers, and competitors buy and sell goods, trade market information, and run back-office operations.

enterprise system

A system central to the organization that ensures information can be shared with authorized users across all business functions and at all levels of management to support the running and managing of a business.

market segmentation

The identification of specific markets to target them with tailored advertising messages.

online transaction processing (OLTP)

A form of data processing where each transaction is processed immediately without the delay of accumulating transactions into a batch.

personalization

The process of tailoring Web pages to specifically target individual consumers.

product lifecycle management (PLM)

An enterprise business strategy that creates a common repository of product information and processes to support the collaborative creation, management, dissemination, and use of product and packaging definition information.

product lifecycle management (PLM) software

Software that provides a means for managing the data and processes associated with the various phases of the product life cycle, including sales and marketing, research and development, concept development, product design, prototyping and testing, process design, production and assembly, delivery and product installation, service and support, and product retirement and replacement.

source data automation

Capturing data at its source and recording it accurately in a timely fashion, with minimal manual effort and in an electronic or digital form so that it can be directly entered into the computer.

supply chain management (SCM)

A system that includes planning, executing, and controlling all activities involved in raw material sourcing and procurement, the conversion of raw materials to finished products, and the warehousing and delivery of finished products to customers.

transaction processing cycle

The process of data collection, data editing, data correction, data processing, data storage, and document production.

Transport Layer Security (TLS)

A communications protocol or system of rules that ensures privacy between communicating applications and their users on the Internet.