Glossary

A

API vs EDI - API (Application Programming Interface) and EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) are two common methods businesses use to exchange data electronically. While both facilitate the automation of B2B transactions—like purchase orders and invoices—they differ in technology, speed, flexibility, and adoption.
Automated Price Validation - Automated price validation is the process of programmatically checking that the pricing on incoming sales or purchase orders matches approved pricing data—such as contracts, catalogs, or ERP records—without requiring manual review.

B

B2B Automation Platform - A B2B order automation platform is a software solution designed to automatically process sales and purchase orders between businesses—without manual data entry. It digitizes and validates incoming orders from customers, ensuring they are accurate, complete, and ready for fulfillment with minimal human intervention.
B2B Quote Automation - B2B quote automation is the process of using software to automatically generate, validate, and deliver price quotes for complex business-to-business transactions—without manual data entry or intervention. It replaces time-consuming quoting processes with real-time, AI-driven automation that ensures accuracy, consistency, and speed.
Business Process Automation - Business Process Automation (BPA) is the use of technology to streamline and automate repetitive business tasks, reducing manual effort, improving efficiency, and minimizing errors. BPA enhances workflows by integrating software, artificial intelligence, and robotic process automation (RPA) to optimize operations across departments such as finance, HR, supply chain, and customer service.

C

Cost of Processing - Cost of processing refers to the total expenses incurred by a business to complete a specific transaction, workflow, or operation. This cost includes labor, technology, administrative overhead, and resources required to process payments, invoices, orders, or other business functions.
Customer Order Discrepancy - A customer order discrepancy occurs when there is a mismatch between what a customer ordered and what is recorded, processed, shipped, or invoiced. These discrepancies can involve errors in product quantity, item numbers, pricing, delivery dates, shipping addresses, or units of measure.

D

Delivered In-Full, On-Time (DIFOT) - DIFOT (Delivered In-Full, On-Time) is a key performance metric used in supply chain and logistics to measure the efficiency of order fulfillment. It assesses whether customer orders are delivered with the correct quantity (in-full) and within the promised timeframe (on-time).
Digital Transformation - Digital transformation is the process of integrating digital technologies into all areas of a business to improve operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive innovation. It involves rethinking traditional business processes, adopting cloud computing, artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics to stay competitive in a fast-changing digital economy.

E

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) - Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the automated exchange of business documents in a standardized electronic format between trading partners. It replaces manual, paper-based transactions such as purchase orders, invoices, shipping notices, and payment instructions with structured digital data exchanges. EDI enables businesses to communicate seamlessly, reducing errors, improving processing speed, and enhancing operational efficiency.
ERP Data Accuracy - ERP data accuracy refers to the completeness, consistency, and correctness of the data stored in an organization’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. This includes critical information such as customer records, pricing, product SKUs, inventory levels, shipping terms, and payment conditions.
Exception-Based Processing - Exception-based processing is a workflow automation model where only problematic or non-standard transactions are flagged for human review. All other transactions that meet predefined criteria flow through automatically, without manual intervention.

F

Fill Rate - Fill rate is a key supply chain metric that measures the percentage of customer orders that are fulfilled from available stock without backorders or lost sales. It is an indicator of inventory efficiency, order fulfillment performance, and customer satisfaction. A high fill rate means that businesses can meet customer demand quickly, while a low fill rate suggests stock shortages, supply chain inefficiencies, or poor demand forecasting.

I

Intelligent Automation - Intelligent Automation (IA) is the combination of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), robotic process automation (RPA), and business process management (BPM) to automate complex tasks and workflows. It enhances traditional automation by enabling systems to analyze data, make decisions, and adapt to changes without human intervention.

L

Line Item Data Capture - Line item data capture is the process of extracting detailed, row-level information from transactional documents like purchase orders, sales orders, and invoices. This includes fields such as item numbers, quantities, unit prices, descriptions, delivery dates, and more.

O

Omnichannel Order Capture - Omnichannel order capture consolidates orders from email, EDI, and portals. See how Conexiom automates B2B order intake across every channel with AI.
On-Time Delivery - On-time delivery (OTD) is a key performance metric that measures the percentage of orders delivered to customers within the agreed-upon timeframe. It is a critical indicator of supply chain efficiency, logistics performance, and customer satisfaction. A high OTD rate reflects a company's ability to meet customer expectations, while a low OTD rate may indicate inefficiencies in production, inventory management, or transportation.
On-Time In-Full (OTIF) - On-Time In-Full (OTIF) is a key supply chain performance metric that measures the efficiency and reliability of deliveries. It evaluates whether a supplier delivers the correct quantity of goods (In-Full) at the agreed-upon time (On-Time). OTIF is widely used in retail, manufacturing, and logistics to assess supplier performance and ensure smooth supply chain operations.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Software - Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software is a technology that converts printed, handwritten, or scanned text into machine-readable data. It allows businesses to digitize physical documents, making text searchable, editable, and usable in digital workflows. OCR software is widely used in document management, data entry automation, and intelligent document processing.
Order Entry Error Prevention - Order entry error prevention refers to the proactive measures and technologies used to eliminate mistakes during the process of entering sales or purchase orders into business systems. These errors may include incorrect SKUs, quantities, pricing, delivery addresses, or missing data—all of which can disrupt fulfillment and customer satisfaction.
Order Fulfillment - Order fulfillment is the complete process of receiving, processing, and delivering customer orders. It includes inventory management, order processing, picking and packing, shipping, and post-delivery customer service. A well-optimized order fulfillment system ensures that customers receive their products quickly, accurately, and efficiently, enhancing customer satisfaction and business profitability.
Order Management - Order management is the process of tracking, processing, and fulfilling customer orders from the moment they are placed until delivery and post-purchase support. It ensures that orders are accurately recorded, inventory is updated, payments are processed, and products are shipped efficiently. Effective order management improves customer satisfaction, streamlines supply chain operations, and reduces errors.
Order Processing - Order processing is the workflow that ensures customer orders are received, verified, fulfilled, and delivered efficiently. It involves multiple steps, including order entry, inventory checks, payment processing, picking and packing, shipping, and tracking. A well-optimized order processing system improves operational efficiency, reduces errors, and enhances customer satisfaction.
Order Status Automation - Order status automation refers to the automatic tracking, updating, and sharing of order progress across systems and stakeholders—without requiring manual effort from Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) or supply chain teams.
Order to Cash (O2C) - Order to Cash (O2C) is the end-to-end process that manages customer orders from the moment they are placed to the time payment is received and recorded. This critical business function ensures a smooth transaction cycle, impacting cash flow, revenue recognition, and customer satisfaction.
Order-to-Cash Optimization - Order-to-cash (O2C) optimization is the strategic improvement of every step in the customer transaction lifecycle—from order receipt to payment collection. It aims to streamline operations, eliminate manual tasks, improve accuracy, and accelerate cash flow.
Order to Cash Process - The Order to Cash (O2C) process is the end-to-end business cycle that covers all activities from receiving customer orders to collecting payment and reconciling revenue. It is a critical workflow that directly impacts cash flow, revenue recognition, and customer satisfaction.
Order Verification Software - Order verification software is a digital solution that automatically reviews incoming sales or purchase orders to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with business rules before the order is accepted and processed.

R

Requisition-to-Order Process - The requisition-to-order process refers to the workflow that begins when a buyer identifies a need for goods or materials and ends when a purchase order (PO) is submitted to a supplier. In manufacturing and distribution, this process is critical to operational continuity, inventory control, and timely fulfillment.
RPA in Order Management - Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in order management refers to the use of bots or scripts to automate rule-based, repetitive tasks such as entering sales orders, copying data between systems, or sending confirmation emails.

S

Sales Automation - Sales automation is the use of technology to streamline and automate repetitive sales tasks, improving efficiency and allowing sales teams to focus on high-value activities such as building relationships and closing deals. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and workflow automation, businesses can optimize sales processes, reduce manual effort, and enhance revenue generation.
Sales Orders - A sales order is a commercial document generated by a business after a customer places an order for goods or services. It serves as a confirmation of the transaction, detailing the product or service specifications, quantity, price, payment terms, and delivery information. Sales orders help businesses manage inventory, track revenue, and ensure accurate order fulfillment.
Sales Order Entry Automation - Sales order entry automation is the digital transformation of manual order entry processes using AI and automation. Instead of relying on Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) to key in orders line by line, it converts incoming purchase orders into sales orders with speed, precision, and no human touch.
Sales Order Exception Handling - Sales order exception handling is the process of identifying, flagging, and resolving errors or inconsistencies in incoming sales orders that prevent them from being processed automatically. Exceptions can include incorrect pricing, invalid SKUs, missing delivery details, or formatting issues.
Straight-Through Processing (STP) - Straight-through processing (STP) is the end-to-end automation of business transactions without any manual intervention. In manufacturing and distribution, STP enables companies to process sales orders, purchase orders, and other transactional documents directly from receipt to system entry—accurately and at scale.
Supply Chain Digitization - Supply chain digitization is the process of converting manual, paper-based, or siloed workflows into automated, connected digital systems. It enables manufacturers and distributors to operate faster, more efficiently, and with greater visibility across procurement, order management, logistics, and fulfillment functions.
Supply Chain Problems - Supply chain problems refer to disruptions, inefficiencies, or obstacles that impact the smooth flow of goods, services, and information from suppliers to end customers. These issues can arise due to supplier delays, logistics failures, global crises, and inefficient internal processes. When not addressed, supply chain problems can result in higher operational costs, lost revenue, damaged customer relationships, and reduced market competitiveness.

T

Touchless Transaction Processing - Touchless transaction processing is the automation of business transactions—such as sales orders, purchase orders, or invoices—without any manual intervention. Once a document is received, it is automatically validated, processed, and entered into enterprise systems without a human needing to review or approve it.

U

Unit of Measure Conversion Automation - Unit of measure (UOM) conversion automation is the process of automatically translating and aligning different units of measurement between what a customer submits on an order and how it’s stored and processed in an internal system, such as an ERP.

W

Workflow Rules for Sales Orders - Workflow rules for sales orders are predefined sets of business logic that determine how incoming sales orders are reviewed, validated, routed, and processed. These rules help automate decision-making based on specific conditions—such as customer type, order value, pricing accuracy, or item availability—ensuring consistency and compliance at scale.