Plain-English definitions of the technology, products and services used across retail and hospitality, from people counters and POS to cloud, cyber security and AI. 94 terms explained.
Foot traffic, conversion and in-store analytics terms explained.
A people counter is a sensor that tallies people entering and leaving a store or venue, giving accurate visitor numbers for traffic and conversion analysis.
Footfall is the number of people who enter a store, centre or venue over a period, the base measure for judging traffic, marketing impact and conversion.
Conversion rate in retail is the percentage of store visitors who make a purchase, calculated by dividing transactions by footfall over the same period.
Dwell time is how long a person stays in a store, zone or queue, a useful signal of engagement, congestion and how well layout and service are working.
Occupancy monitoring tracks how many people are inside a space in real time, helping venues manage capacity limits, comfort, safety and staffing.
Queue management uses sensors and software to measure waiting lines and times, so stores can open registers or redeploy staff before customers give up.
A stereoscopic 3D sensor uses two lenses to measure depth and count people from above, giving accurate directional counts without capturing identifying images.
Thermal sensor counting detects people by body heat from overhead, giving reliable counts in any lighting without capturing a visible image of the person.
Video analytics uses software and AI to interpret camera footage automatically, turning video into counts, queue lengths, dwell times and movement data.
A heat map is a colour-coded overlay on a floor plan that shows where shoppers walk and linger, revealing the hot and cold areas of a store.
Traffic flow analysis studies the routes shoppers take through a store or centre, showing common paths and bottlenecks to improve layout and service.
Zone analytics measures visitor numbers and dwell time within defined areas of a store, showing which departments or displays attract and hold attention.
Average transaction value is total sales divided by the number of transactions, showing how much customers spend per purchase and how upselling is working.
Sales per square metre divides revenue by trading floor area, a retail productivity measure used to compare stores, test layouts and assess the value of space.
Staff scheduling optimisation matches rostered hours to expected customer demand, using footfall and sales data to reduce both queues and idle labour time.
Point-of-sale, payments, loyalty and hospitality ordering terms explained.
A point of sale (POS) system records sales, takes payment and updates stock at the moment a customer buys. Learn how POS works and what to consider.
Cloud POS is point of sale software hosted online and accessed through a browser or app, giving real-time sales and stock data across every store.
Multi-store management runs pricing, stock, staff and reporting across several locations from one central system. Learn how it works and what to plan.
ERPLY is a cloud point of sale and retail management platform covering POS, inventory and reporting. See what it does and how RetailCare supports it.
Nomni is a cloud retail platform combining POS, ecommerce and customer engagement tools. See what the category does and how RetailCare supports it.
Restroworks is a cloud restaurant platform covering POS, ordering and operations. See what it does and how RetailCare supports hospitality venues.
VenueSumo is a venue management and POS platform for pubs, clubs and large hospitality sites. Learn what it does and how RetailCare supports it locally.
EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale) lets customers pay by debit card at a terminal. Learn how it works in Australia.
Integrated payments link the payment terminal to the POS so the sale total passes across automatically, cutting errors and speeding reconciliation.
A payment terminal is the device that reads a customer card or phone and securely processes a payment. Learn the types and what to consider.
Contactless payments let customers pay by tapping a card, phone or watch on a terminal. Learn how NFC payments work and what retailers should consider.
PCI DSS is the global security standard for businesses that store, process or transmit card data. Learn what it requires and how to reduce exposure.
Payment surcharging is an extra fee added for card payments. Australian rules are set by the RBA and ACCC, so check current requirements.
Payment reconciliation matches sales recorded in your POS with card settlements and bank deposits to confirm every dollar is accounted for.
A loyalty program rewards repeat customers with points, discounts or perks and gives retailers buying data. Learn how it works and how to set one up.
A gift card is a prepaid stored value card or code redeemable at a business. Learn how physical and digital gift cards work and what to consider.
Omnichannel retail joins stores, website, app and marketplaces into one connected customer experience with shared stock and customer data.
Click and collect lets customers order and pay online, then pick up the goods from a store or venue. Learn how it works and common operational pitfalls.
A kitchen display system (KDS) shows orders on kitchen screens instead of printed dockets, helping staff prepare and track orders accurately.
QR code ordering lets diners scan a code at their table to view the menu, order and often pay from their phone. Learn how it works and what to consider.
Inventory, RFID, electronic shelf labels, signage and loss prevention terms explained.
Inventory management is how a retailer tracks and controls stock so the right products are available when needed without tying up too much cash.
A stocktake is a physical count of the stock in a business, compared against system records to correct discrepancies and measure shrinkage and accuracy.
A SKU is a unique code a retailer assigns to each distinct product variant, such as size or colour, so stock and sales can be tracked precisely.
A barcode is a machine-readable pattern of lines or squares that encodes a product identifier, so scanners can look up items quickly at the counter.
RFID uses radio waves to identify tagged items without line of sight, letting retailers count stock quickly and track individual items with high accuracy.
An RFID tag is a small label with a chip and antenna that stores a unique code and replies to an RFID reader, identifying the item it is attached to.
An RFID reader is a device that sends radio signals and collects the codes returned by nearby RFID tags, passing them to software to update stock records.
Electronic shelf labels are small digital price displays that update wirelessly from a central system, keeping shelf and checkout prices consistent.
An e-ink display is a low-power screen that looks like printed paper and uses energy only when its image changes, which suits electronic shelf labels.
ZKONG is a supplier of electronic shelf label systems that RetailCare supplies, installs and supports for retailers across Australia.
Digital signage uses screens to show managed content such as promotions, wayfinding or menus, and can be updated remotely across one or many locations.
A digital menu board is a screen that displays a venue's menu and prices, updated centrally so changes, specials and daypart menus go live instantly.
Loss prevention covers the policies, people and technology retailers use to reduce theft, fraud, error and other causes of lost stock and revenue.
Shrinkage is the difference between the stock a retailer should have and what it actually has, caused by theft, damage, error or fraud.
Electronic article surveillance uses tags on products and detection gates at exits to sound an alarm when unpaid items leave the store.
Video surveillance uses cameras and recording systems to monitor stores, deter theft and provide evidence when incidents occur.
Demand forecasting estimates how much of each product customers will buy over a future period, so retailers can plan stock, staffing and promotions.
AI inventory optimisation uses machine learning on sales and stock data to recommend what to order, where to hold it and when to move or mark down stock.
Overstock is holding more stock than demand justifies, while a stock-out is running out of an item customers want; both are costly inventory imbalances.
Replenishment is the process of topping up stock, from suppliers or other locations, so products stay available without ordering too much.
Managed IT, support, networking and cyber security terms explained.
A managed service provider (MSP) takes ongoing responsibility for an organisation's IT under a service agreement, covering monitoring, support, security.
A helpdesk is the single point of contact where staff report IT problems and requests, which are logged, prioritised and resolved by support technicians.
Remote support lets a technician diagnose and fix IT problems over a secure internet connection without travelling to site, often resolving faults quickly.
Onsite support is hands-on IT assistance where a technician attends a site in person to install, repair or replace equipment that cannot be fixed remotely.
A service level agreement (SLA) defines the measurable standards a provider commits to, such as response time, resolution time and availability.
Network infrastructure is the cabling, switches, routers, firewalls and Wi-Fi equipment that connect a business's devices to each other and the internet.
A Wi-Fi access point is a network device that connects wireless devices to a wired network, extending coverage across a store, venue or office.
SD-WAN is software that manages traffic across multiple internet links between sites, choosing the best path per application and simplifying networks.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) carries phone calls over the internet instead of traditional phone lines, enabling flexible cloud-based telephony.
A firewall is a security device or software that filters network traffic by rules, blocking unauthorised access while allowing legitimate communication.
Cyber security is the technologies, processes and habits that protect an organisation's systems, networks and data from attack, theft and disruption.
Endpoint protection is security software that defends computers, servers and mobile devices from malware, ransomware and suspicious activity.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) needs two or more proofs of identity to sign in, such as a password plus an app code, so a stolen password is not enough.
Backup and disaster recovery combines copies of data with a tested plan to restore systems quickly after failure, theft, ransomware or disaster.
Managed printer services outsource the supply, monitoring, maintenance and consumables of a business's printers for predictable cost and less downtime.
IT consulting is independent advice on planning, selecting, implementing and improving technology so it supports business goals, budgets and risk needs.
Patch management is the process of testing and applying software updates to devices and systems so known security flaws and bugs are fixed promptly.
A VPN (virtual private network) creates an encrypted connection across the internet so users or sites can reach a private network securely.
Ecommerce, integration, cloud, SEO and AI terms explained.
Ecommerce is the buying and selling of goods or services over the internet. Learn how online stores work and how they connect to POS and stock.
Headless commerce separates the customer-facing website from the ecommerce back end, linked by API, for flexible, fast and multi-channel experiences.
An API is a defined way for one software system to request data or actions from another. See how APIs connect POS, ecommerce and other retail systems.
System integration links separate business systems so they share data automatically. Learn how POS, ecommerce, stock and finance systems are connected.
A webhook is an automatic message one system sends to another when an event happens, such as a new order, removing the need to keep checking for updates.
Cloud computing delivers servers, storage, databases and software over the internet on demand, so businesses avoid owning and maintaining hardware.
Amazon Web Services is Amazon's cloud platform, offering hosting, databases, storage, security and AI services that retailers use to run applications.
SaaS, or software as a service, is software you access online by subscription instead of installing and maintaining it yourself on your own servers.
A mobile app is software built to run on smartphones or tablets. Retailers use apps for loyalty, ordering, staff tools and a direct channel to customers.
A progressive web app is a website built with modern web technology so it can be installed, work offline and feel like a native mobile app.
Digital marketing promotes a business through online channels such as search, social media, email and advertising, and measures results through data.
SEO, or search engine optimisation, improves a website so it appears higher in unpaid search results and attracts more relevant visitors.
Local SEO helps a business appear in map and search results for nearby customers, using listings, reviews and consistent location details.
GEO is the practice of shaping content so AI assistants and AI search tools can understand, trust and cite it when generating answers.
Structured data is standardised code on a web page that tells search engines and AI tools what the content describes, such as products or opening hours.
An AI agent is software that uses a language model to pursue a goal, deciding steps and using tools such as business systems to complete tasks.
A chatbot is software that converses with people by text or voice to answer questions or complete simple tasks, from rule-based scripts to AI models.
Virtual reality training uses headsets and simulated scenarios so staff can practise tasks safely and consistently without disrupting trading.
A digital wallet stores payment cards, passes, loyalty cards and tickets on a phone, letting customers pay or redeem offers without physical cards.
Google Analytics 4 is Google's event-based web and app analytics tool, showing how visitors find and use a site and which actions lead to sales.
A customer data platform collects customer data from many systems into one profile per person, so marketing and service use a consistent single view.
Tell us what you would like explained and our team will add it, or talk to us about your own retail technology.
Contact RetailCare