Terms, plainly explained.
Short, quotable definitions of the 41 most important terms from IT, integrations, automation, data and recruitment — without jargon about jargon.
How systems talk to each other.
API
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a standardised way for software systems to make data and functions available to each other.
Read explanation → TermREST API
A REST API is an API that works according to the REST architecture: data is accessed as 'resources' via standard HTTP requests such as GET (retrieve), POST (create), PUT (update) and DELETE (remove).
Read explanation → TermWebhook
A webhook is an automatic message that a system sends the moment something happens — for example a new order, a paid invoice or a changed candidate status.
Read explanation → TermAPI integration
An API integration is a connection between two software systems that automatically exchange data via their APIs — for example orders from a webshop to the accounting system, or placements from an ATS to invoicing.
Read explanation → TermiPaaS
iPaaS (integration Platform as a Service) is a cloud service that lets you connect software systems without building or hosting integration software yourself.
Read explanation → TermMiddleware
Middleware is software that sits between two or more systems and manages the traffic between them: retrieving data, translating it into the right format and delivering it to the target system.
Read explanation → TermETL
ETL stands for Extract, Transform, Load: pulling data from source systems (extract), reshaping it into a usable structure (transform) and writing it to a target system such as a database or dashboard (load).
Read explanation → TermJSON
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is the standard data format in which systems exchange information via APIs.
Read explanation → TermOAuth
OAuth is the open standard that lets you give an application access to your data in another system, without sharing your password.
Read explanation →Your digital workplace, identity and mail.
SSO
SSO (single sign-on) means that employees log in once — usually with their Microsoft or Google account — and thereby automatically gain access to all connected applications.
Read explanation → TermMFA
MFA (multi-factor authentication) is logging in with a second proof alongside your password — usually an approval or code in an app on your phone.
Read explanation → TermConditional access
Conditional access is a security mechanism that assesses per login attempt whether it is allowed, blocked or requires extra verification — based on who is logging in, from which device, from which location and at what risk.
Read explanation → TermTenant
A tenant is your own, isolated environment within a cloud service such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace: all your organisation's users, mailboxes, files, settings and security rules together.
Read explanation → TermDNS
DNS (Domain Name System) is the system that translates domain names to the servers behind them: it determines where your website is loaded and where email for your domain is delivered.
Read explanation → TermSPF
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is a DNS record that specifies which mail servers are allowed to send email on behalf of your domain.
Read explanation → TermDKIM
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) adds a digital signature to every outgoing email that recipients can verify via DNS.
Read explanation → TermDMARC
DMARC is the policy on top of SPF and DKIM: it tells receiving mail servers what to do with mail that fails the checks — simply deliver it (none), quarantine it or reject it — and sends reports about who is emailing on behalf of your domain.
Read explanation → TermSaaS
SaaS (Software as a Service) is software you use over the internet and pay for per user or per month, without managing servers yourself — think Microsoft 365, Exact Online, Shopify or your ATS.
Read explanation → TermData processing agreement
A data processing agreement is the contract the GDPR requires between an organisation (data controller) and every party that processes personal data on its behalf (processor) — such as your IT partner, your ATS supplier or an integration platform.
Read explanation → TermSLA
An SLA (Service Level Agreement) is the agreement between a service provider and client about the level of service: response times for incidents, system availability, helpdesk opening hours and what happens if the agreements are not met.
Read explanation →The systems your organisation runs on.
CRM
A CRM (Customer Relationship Management system) is the system in which an organisation records customers, contacts, leads and the associated interactions — from first contact to quote and aftercare.
Read explanation → TermERP
An ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning system) is one system that brings together a company's core administration: finance, purchasing, inventory, orders and often also projects or production.
Read explanation → TermATS
An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is the candidate tracking system of a recruitment organisation: vacancies, candidates, matches and the progress per procedure in one system.
Read explanation → TermWMS
A WMS (Warehouse Management System) is software that controls warehouse processes: stock locations, order picking, receiving and shipping.
Read explanation → TermPOS system
A POS system (point of sale, or till system) records sales in a physical shop or hospitality venue: checkout, payments, receipts and often also stock and turnover reporting.
Read explanation →From loose numbers to steering.
BI
BI (business intelligence) is the collecting, combining and visualising of business data to base decisions on — usually in the form of dashboards and reports.
Read explanation → TermKPI
A KPI (key performance indicator) is a measurable number that shows how an organisation or process is performing on something that really matters — revenue per customer, delivery time, time-to-fill, error rate.
Read explanation → TermDashboard
A dashboard is a visual overview of the most important numbers of an organisation or process, refreshed automatically from the source systems.
Read explanation → TermData model
A data model is the structure in which data and its mutual relationships are defined: which tables exist (customers, orders, products), which fields they contain and how they are linked to each other.
Read explanation → TermPower Query
Power Query is the tool in Excel and Power BI that lets you retrieve data from sources, clean it up and reshape it — without programming.
Read explanation → TermDAX
DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is the formula language of Power BI (and Excel Power Pivot) that lets you define calculations over the data model: revenue compared with last year, moving averages, margins per segment.
Read explanation → TermSingle source of truth
A single source of truth is the agreement that every piece of data has one leading source: customer data lives in the CRM, stock in the till system or WMS, invoices in the accounting system.
Read explanation →Less manual work, more process.
RPA
RPA (Robotic Process Automation) is software that mimics human actions in existing screens: logging in, clicking, copying and pasting — according to a fixed script.
Read explanation → TermWorkflow automation
Workflow automation is letting consecutive process steps run automatically based on an event: when an order comes in, the invoice is created, the customer is emailed and the stock is updated — without manual intermediate steps.
Read explanation → TermNo-code
No-code is building software or automating processes without programming: you click applications, flows or websites together in a visual environment.
Read explanation → TermLow-code
Low-code is developing software in a visual environment where you click most of it together, but add your own code where needed.
Read explanation → TermAI agent
An AI agent is an AI system that carries out tasks independently: it is given a goal, can determine steps itself and use tools — such as searching, calling an API or drafting an email — and delivers a result.
Read explanation →Terms from the agency process.
Multiposting
Multiposting is entering a vacancy once and automatically publishing it to multiple job boards, social channels and your own website at the same time — including withdrawing it as soon as the vacancy is filled.
Read explanation → TermCV parsing
CV parsing is software that automatically reads a CV and converts it into filled-in fields in an ATS: name, contact details, work experience, education and skills.
Read explanation → TermTime-to-fill
Time-to-fill is the number of days between opening a vacancy and the moment it is filled — the candidate has signed.
Read explanation →Rather go into depth?
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