Glossary

No jargon. Just definitions.

Plain-language explanations of AI and automation terms — written for business owners, not developers.

A

Agent Orchestration

Agent orchestration is the coordination of multiple AI agents within a single system, where each agent handles a specific task and passes outputs to the next agent according to a defined workflow.

A

Agentic AI

Agentic AI is an AI system that autonomously plans and executes sequences of actions to complete a goal, using tools and making decisions without step-by-step human direction.

A

AI Agent

An AI agent is a software system that uses a large language model to autonomously plan, execute, and adapt multi-step tasks, making decisions and using tools without requiring human input at every step.

A

AI OS (Operating System)

An AI OS is a layered product architecture that combines an AI-driven frontend, an agent-based logic layer, and a structured database into a single coordinated system — directed by human operators rather than fixed development cycles.

A

AI Triage and Classification

AI triage and classification is the automated sorting and prioritization of incoming data — such as leads, support tickets, or documents — using machine learning models to route each item to the right team or workflow.

A

API Integration

API integration is the process of connecting separate software applications to exchange data automatically through standardized programming interfaces, eliminating manual data transfer between systems.

A

Automated CRM Updates

Automated CRM updates use workflow automation to sync contact records, deal stages, and activity logs across systems in real time — eliminating manual data entry and keeping sales pipelines accurate without human intervention.

C

Context Engineering

Context engineering is the practice of designing, structuring, and curating the information given to an AI model to improve the quality, accuracy, and relevance of its outputs — beyond what prompt wording alone can achieve.

C

Context Window

A context window is the maximum amount of text an AI model can process in a single interaction, measured in tokens. It determines how much information — instructions, documents, conversation history, and data — the model can reference when generating a response.

D

Data Residency

Data residency is the requirement that specific data must be stored and processed within a defined geographic region or country, typically to comply with local privacy or data sovereignty laws.

E

Email Automation

Email automation is a system that sends targeted emails to specific recipients based on defined triggers, behaviours, or schedules, without requiring manual composition or sending for each message.

H

Hyperautomation

Hyperautomation is a business strategy that combines multiple automation technologies, including AI, machine learning, RPA, workflow automation, and integration platforms, to automate as many processes as possible across an organization.

L

Large Language Model (LLM)

A large language model (LLM) is an AI system trained on vast amounts of text that can understand and generate human language, code, and structured data across a wide range of tasks.

L

Lead Scoring

Lead scoring is a method of ranking sales prospects using a numerical score based on their fit for a product and their demonstrated interest, helping sales teams prioritise which contacts to pursue first.

L

Low-Code

Low-code is a software development approach that uses visual builders and pre-built components to create applications, with optional scripting for customization — reducing development time by 50–70% compared to traditional coding.

M

Make (Integromat)

Make, formerly known as Integromat, is a visual workflow automation platform that connects apps and services through a drag-and-drop scenario builder, handling multi-step automations with branching logic and data transformation.

M

Model Context Protocol (MCP)

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that defines how AI models connect to and interact with external tools, databases, and services in a structured, permission-controlled way.

M

Multi-Agent System

A multi-agent system is a collection of AI agents that each specialize in a distinct function and work together to complete tasks too complex or varied for a single agent to handle reliably on its own.

N

n8n

n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform that connects apps, APIs, and AI models through a visual node-based builder, available as a self-hosted or cloud service.

N

No-Code Automation

No-code automation is the use of visual, drag-and-drop tools to build automated workflows without writing code, allowing non-technical business users to connect apps, trigger actions, and eliminate manual tasks.

P

Prompt Engineering

Prompt engineering is the practice of designing and refining text instructions to reliably produce useful, accurate outputs from an AI language model, without modifying the model itself.

R

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is a technique that improves AI output accuracy by retrieving relevant documents from a knowledge base and including them in the model's context before generating a response.

R

Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Robotic process automation (RPA) is software that mimics human actions in digital interfaces to execute repetitive, rule-based tasks — such as copying data between systems, filling forms, and generating reports — without human involvement.

S

Semantic Search

Semantic search is a search technique that understands the meaning and intent behind a query — not just the keywords — using vector embeddings and natural language processing to return contextually relevant results.

T

Trigger-Action Automation

Trigger-action automation is a workflow pattern where a defined event automatically starts one or more tasks, removing the need for manual intervention in routine, rule-based processes.

W

Webhook

A webhook is an automated HTTP callback that sends real-time data from one application to another the instant a specific event occurs, without polling or manual triggers.

W

Workflow Automation

Workflow automation is the use of technology to execute a series of connected business tasks automatically — reducing manual effort, minimizing errors, and enabling teams to focus on higher-value work.

Z

Zapier

Zapier is a no-code automation platform that connects 7,000+ web applications through trigger-action workflows, allowing businesses to automate tasks between apps without writing code.