Operator's manual

Business terms, explained without the lecture.

Plain-English definitions for the software, data, automation, and field-service concepts that show up when a small business starts rebuilding its systems.

A

API IntegrationConnecting two software systems so they can share data automatically through their programming interfaces.

AI AutomationUsing artificial intelligence to handle tasks that previously required human judgment or effort.

B

Business Intelligence (BI)The practice of using data analysis and visualization to make better business decisions.

Bronze/Silver/Gold Data ArchitectureA three-layer approach to organizing data from raw ingestion through to business-ready reporting.

C

Close RateThe percentage of estimates or proposals that convert into sold jobs.

Custom SoftwareSoftware built specifically for your business workflow instead of a generic off-the-shelf product.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management)Software that manages your company's interactions and relationships with customers and leads.

D

Data WarehouseA central system that stores structured business data from multiple sources for analysis and reporting.

Data PipelineAn automated process that moves data from one system to another, transforming it along the way.

DashboardA visual display of key business metrics updated automatically from your data sources.

Data PortabilityThe ability to export your business data from one software system and move it to another.

Data LakeA storage system that holds large amounts of raw data in its original format until it is needed.

Dispatch OptimizationUsing data and algorithms to assign the right technician to the right job at the right time.

E

ETL (Extract, Transform, Load)A three-step process for pulling data from sources, reshaping it, and loading it into a destination system.

F

Field Service Management (FSM)Software that coordinates field workers, scheduling, dispatching, and job tracking for service businesses.

I

Internal ToolSoftware built for your team's use rather than for external customers.

K

KPI (Key Performance Indicator)A measurable value that shows how effectively a business is achieving its objectives.

L

LLM (Large Language Model)An AI system trained on text data that can understand and generate human language.

M

MCP (Model Context Protocol)A standard protocol that lets AI assistants connect to and query external business tools and data sources.

S

SaaS (Software as a Service)Software you rent monthly instead of owning, typically accessed through a web browser.

ServiceTitanA field service management platform used by HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other home services companies.

U

Unsold PipelineThe total value of estimates, proposals, or quotes that have not yet converted to sold work.

V

Vendor Lock-InThe situation where switching away from a software vendor becomes prohibitively difficult or expensive.

W

Workflow AutomationUsing software to handle repetitive business processes that would otherwise require manual effort.

WebhookAn automated message sent from one application to another when a specific event occurs.

Put the term to work

A definition should lead somewhere useful.

If a term here connects to a real problem in your business, bring the problem. We'll talk through what the practical next step looks like.

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