Customer & Supplier Solution Terms

A party data domain represents people or companies that can be party to discussions, contracts, deliveries, etc. Examples of party data entities are customers, suppliers, contacts, and prospects in both B2B and B2C scenarios. While a location is not technically party data, it is often included when discussing 'party data' to recognize that location is often needed for customer and supplier solutions.

A location represents a physical place of importance.  Examples are Retails Site, offices, manufacturing plants, distribution centers, ports, depots, hotels, cell towers, well heads, sub stations, etc.

Business-to-Business indicates that a business organization is the customer. For example, a manufacturer that sells products to businesses (rather than individuals) has a B2B scenario. Typical B2B customer solutions have fewer customers of greater individual value and complexity compared to individual customers.

Business-to-Customer indicates that an individual is the customer. For example, a store that sells products to individuals (rather than to other businesses) has a B2C scenario.

Some data on a customer differs depending on which part of the organization is viewing the data. The same customer order placed in Germany may require export paperwork for one part of the organization, and be a domestic customer for other parts of business. Data like this can vary depending on division, sales area, company code, distribution channel and other dimensions of the business.