Reference Guide
A plain-English translation of technical shorthand — so you can evaluate payment solutions without getting lost in jargon.
Educational reference only — not an assertion that OdysseyPay currently provides or controls every service discussed.
Four high-value terms to learn first
Key term
The intermediary business model connecting merchants to payment networks.
Dealer Management System — the operational hub of an automotive dealership.
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard — the baseline for cardholder data protection.
Total Addressable Market — theoretical market size, not obtainable revenue.
37 terms found
An intermediary that sells or arranges card-processing services through agreements with processors or acquiring banks.
A sales organization working through a larger ISO or payments sponsor; the precise arrangement depends on the agreements.
A company making software that merchants use; payment services can be embedded in that software.
A Visa/network term used for certain third-party organizations supporting payment activities; registration rules depend on what the agent does.
The system where a transaction is completed: terminal, register, card reader and/or checkout software.
U.S. electronic transfers between bank accounts; commonly used for vendor payments, payroll and bill payments.
A defined software connection that allows systems to exchange data or invoke functions.
The payment-card industry; in these reports it usually refers to card-data security responsibilities and standards.
An industry-wide set of security requirements for environments handling payment card data. The precise scope depends on each entity's role.
The body that maintains PCI security standards and validation programs.
A formal PCI DSS assessment report used where the applicable validation program requires it.
A standardized PCI DSS attestation summarizing the assessment outcome and applicable scope.
A documented commitment about service expectations such as availability, response time or support, often with exclusions.
A registered trade or assumed name used by a company that may differ from its underlying legal entity.
U.S. federal consumer-protection and competition agency; cited regarding misleading merchant-services marketing.
A dealership's core business software for sales, service, parts, customer accounts and accounting.
The dealership function handling financing, leasing, protection plans and related products.
The U.S. association publishing dealership industry reports, data and market statistics.
A standardized industry classification used by U.S. agencies and business statistics.
Technology professionals, systems and functions that maintain software, computers, connectivity and security.
A company selling products or services to other businesses rather than directly to individual consumers.
A system or process for recording prospects, merchant interactions, opportunities and follow-ups.
A measurable result used to gauge performance against a specific goal.
A documented method that helps staff perform work consistently.
Cloud-delivered software typically paid for by subscription or usage.
The theoretical overall demand for a product in a defined market, not the share any one company can obtain.
Computer systems performing tasks involving prediction, pattern recognition or generation of content.
A relationship or account arrangement enabling a business to accept electronic payments; legal setup differs by model.
A provider handling transaction processing and associated network or bank connections.
The institution participating in card acceptance on the merchant side, with defined network and financial responsibilities.
A technology connection that securely routes payment details from checkout to the processing services.
The card-acceptance fee component generally paid to the card-issuing bank.
A card-network fee category, separate from processor markup and interchange.
All relevant card-processing costs divided by card volume for a comparable period.
A card-payment dispute that may reverse a merchant transaction and trigger a review and fees.
The movement or posting of funds after transactions have been cleared and processed.
Reviewing a merchant application to assess risk before approving a merchant account.
