Abbreviation or Concept | Definition |
Accounting and Audit Vocabulary (AAV-model) | The Accounting and Audit Vocabulary encompasses a wide range of terms and concepts used in financial accounting, auditing, and related fields. It includes terminology related to financial statements, transactions, reporting, and regulatory compliance. |
AI | Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn like humans. The term can also be applied to any machine that exhibits traits associated with a human mind such as learning and problem-solving. The core functions of AI include programming computers for certain traits such as:
AI systems are used in various fields, from automated customer service to robot-assisted surgery, and they range from simple, single-task programs to complex, learning systems that can autonomously perform various tasks. AI can be categorised as either weak AI, which is designed and trained for a particular task (virtual personal assistants, such as Apple's Siri), or strong AI, which is an AI system with generalised human cognitive abilities so that when presented with an unfamiliar task, it has enough intelligence to find a solution. AI is a broad field of study that includes many theories, methods, and technologies, as well as the following major subfields:
The capabilities of AI are continuously expanding, impacting society in ways that require careful consideration to ensure its ethical use and integration into daily life. |
API | An API or application programming interface, from the English Application Programming Interface, is a specification of how different application programs can use and communicate with a specific software, which usually consists of a dynamically linked library and which thus becomes a software component in the application. The API is an interface between the application and the library. |
BI | Business Intelligence (BI) refers to the technologies, processes, and tools used to analyse business data and provide actionable insights. It involves collecting, transforming, and visualising data to support decision-making within an organisation. BI systems help organisations understand their performance, identify trends, and make informed choices based on data-driven evidence. |
Bookkeeping System | A bookkeeping system is a structured process used by organisations to record and manage their financial transactions. This system encompasses all the practices, procedures, and resources employed to systematically track the incomes and expenditures, assets and liabilities, and other financial changes that occur within a business over time. The primary purpose of a bookkeeping system is to ensure accurate and up-to-date financial records are maintained, which are essential for preparing financial statements, managing cash flow, supporting audit processes, and complying with tax regulations. Modern bookkeeping systems often utilise software to automate many of these processes, enhancing accuracy and efficiency. This allows businesses to monitor their financial health continuously and make informed decisions based on precise financial data. |
Bookkeeping Law in Denmark | The new bookkeeping law came into effect on 1st July 2022. The law includes a requirement for digital bookkeeping, which became mandatory for the first group of companies on 1st July 2024. The law can be seen here in English: Folketinget (Danish Parliament), 2022, https://danishbusinessauthority.dk/sites/default/files/2023-10/the-danish-bookkeeping-act-19052022_WA.pdf Danish Business Authority, 2024, https://danishbusinessauthority.dk/requirements-digital-standard-bookkeeping-systems |
BRIS | Business registers interconnection system |
Business event | A business event is something that happens, and when it happens it causes a pre-planned response by the business, or as we shall call it here, “the work”. One category of business events are the things that happen inside an adjacent system. The work is made aware that the business event has happened because each happening produces a flow of data to the work. A business event is a significant happening – it is not just a mouse click. It is often a request for a service that your business provides, and the outcome is the provision of the service or product. |
B2B | Business to Business |
B2G | Business to Government |
CEN | European Committee for Standardization |
CRM | Customer Relationship Management |
CSRD | The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is a legislative framework implemented by the European Union to enhance and standardise the sustainability reporting requirements for companies. Coming into effect from January 2023, the CSRD expands on the previous Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) by increasing the number of companies required to report and broadening the scope of what they need to disclose (Finance) (IBM - United States) (Carbon Trust). The CSRD aims to provide transparency in how companies impact social and environmental factors and is designed to help investors, consumers, and other stakeholders evaluate a company's sustainability practices more effectively. It introduces more detailed and stringent reporting requirements, including the novel concept of "double materiality," which requires companies to report not only how sustainability issues affect their business but also how their operations impact the environment and society at large. |
CTC | Continuous Transaction Control (CTC) is a concept in database management and information systems that refers to mechanisms designed to ensure data integrity, accuracy, and consistency over the course of transactions that may occur continuously or in real-time. CTC is particularly important in environments where high volumes of transactions are processed, such as financial trading systems, real-time analytics platforms, and high-traffic e-commerce sites. CTC systems are designed to monitor and validate transactions as they occur, ensuring each one adheres to predefined rules or parameters. This continuous checking helps prevent errors, fraud, and data loss, and can also aid in immediate error detection and correction. The goal of CTC is to maintain a consistent and correct state of the database or data store, even in the face of concurrent and possibly conflicting transaction requests. |
DESI | Digital Economy and Society Index |
Digital Business System | A digital business system refers to a collection of digital technologies and solutions that integrate data, processes, and people to enable and manage business activities online. These systems are designed to support companies in transforming and automating operations, engaging with customers through digital channels, and utilising data analytics for strategic decision-making. Essentially, a digital business system underpins a company’s digital transformation strategy, allowing it to be more agile, efficient, and competitive in a digital-first world.
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Digitalisation | Digitalisation, also spelled digitalization, refers to the use of digital technologies to change a business model and provide new revenue and value-producing opportunities. It is the process of moving to a digital business. Unlike digitalisation, which focuses on converting analog information into digital form, digitalisation involves leveraging digitised data and digital technologies to transform business operations, processes, and models. Key aspects of digitalisation include:
Digitalisation is a broader concept that encompasses the overall impact of digital technology on society, business, and the economy, leading to significant changes in how organisations operate and compete. |
Digitisation | Digitisation, also spelled digitization, refers to the process of converting information into a digital format. In this format, information is organised into bits or binary data that computers and other digital devices can process. This process involves converting analog signals, such as sounds, images, or documents, into digital signals that can be stored, manipulated, and transmitted by electronic devices. Key aspects of digitisation include:
Digitisation is a crucial step towards digital transformation, enabling businesses and individuals to leverage digital technologies for enhanced efficiency, accessibility, and innovation. |
DPP | The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a concept developed under the European Union's framework for enhancing product sustainability and transparency across their lifecycle. The DPP serves as a digital twin of physical products, encapsulating detailed data about the product's manufacturing, usage, maintenance, and recycling processes. This digital record is linked to the physical product through identifiers like QR codes, allowing consumers and stakeholders to access a wide range of data including the product’s origin, materials used, environmental impact, and instructions for repair and recycling. |
EDIFACT | EDIFACT, which stands for Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce, and Transport, is an international standard for electronic data interchange (EDI). It was developed by the United Nations and approved and published by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) |
eIDAS2 | eIDAS 2, or eIDAS 2.0, is an update to the original eIDAS regulation, which stands for "electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services." This updated regulation aims to enhance the digital identity framework across the European Union, making it more accessible and functional for citizens and businesses. Introduced by the European Commission, eIDAS 2.0 focuses on expanding the use of digital identities across the EU. One of its key components is the introduction of a European Digital Identity Wallet, which allows EU citizens to store and manage their identity data securely. This wallet will enable individuals to access public and private services across the EU with greater ease. The update intends to provide a unified and secure identification service that introduces new authentication methods and improves interoperability across services. eIDAS 2.0 will cover not just public services but also extend to the private sector, aiming to significantly boost the digital economy by facilitating seamless and secure electronic transactions across member states. The regulation also aims to foster innovation and competition by allowing more flexibility in the services that digital identity providers can offer, thus enhancing the overall user experience and efficiency of digital services across the EU. |
ERP-system | An ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system is a type of software used by organisations to manage and integrate the essential parts of their businesses. An ERP software system can integrate planning, purchasing inventory, sales, marketing, finance, human resources, and more. The purpose of ERP is to facilitate the flow of information between all business functions inside the boundaries of the organisation and manage the connections to outside stakeholders. ERP systems automate processes by centralising data, which can help companies make informed decisions, decrease operational costs, and improve efficiency and productivity. |
EU | European Union |
EWC | The European Wallet Consortium |
G2B | Government to Business |
JSON | JSON, which stands for JavaScript Object Notation, is a lightweight data-interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write and easy for machines to parse and generate. JSON is based on a subset of the JavaScript Programming Language, Standard ECMA-262 3rd Edition - December 1999. JSON is a text format that is completely language independent but uses conventions that are familiar to programmers of the C-family of languages, including C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, Perl, Python, and many others. This format is widely used to transmit data in web applications between clients and servers. One of its advantages is that it integrates seamlessly with JavaScript, which is commonly used in web development. JSON is also used for storing data and configuration settings across various software applications due to its ease of use and human-readable format. |
KPI | Key Performance Indicator |
MVP | Minimum Viable Product |
NACE codes | NACE stands for the Nomenclature statistique des activités économiques dans la Communauté européenne, which translates to the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community. It’s a classification system used to categorise economic activities within the European Union (EU) |
NSG&B | Nordic Smart Government and Business |
Peppol | Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement Online) is a set of standards and specifications designed to facilitate cross-border electronic procurement and document exchange among businesses and government entities within Europe and beyond. It enables the standardised communication for procurement processes such as electronic invoicing, purchase orders, and other business documents. The aim of Peppol is to increase efficiency and reduce the barriers in the public procurement process, allowing for easier interaction between organisations regardless of their location or the systems they use. It operates through a secure network known as the Peppol network, which connects various participants such as suppliers, buyers, and government agencies, ensuring that all can exchange documents in a common format. This system promotes transparency, accessibility, and interoperability in public procurement, thereby enhancing economic activity and streamlining administrative processes. |
Peppol BIS | Peppol BIS (Business Interoperability Specifications) are a set of standards developed to facilitate the electronic exchange of business documents within the Peppol network. These specifications standardise the formats and protocols for exchanging documents such as invoices and purchase orders, ensuring seamless and interoperable communication between different systems across borders. The Peppol BIS utilises the Universal Business Language (UBL) ISO/IEC 19845 standards, which provide a universally accepted method of communicating business data electronically. This allows for the efficient and accurate transmission of data in e-procurement processes, both pre-award and post-award, across various industries and countries participating in the Peppol network. The four-corner model of Peppol encapsulates this interoperability by allowing entities (buyers and suppliers) to connect via Peppol-certified service providers, known as Access Points. These Access Points handle the secure transmission of documents to and from other Access Points within the network, ensuring that all data meets the required specifications and security standards. |
Peppol Network | The Peppol Network is an international framework designed to simplify the electronic exchange of standardised business documents such as invoices, purchase orders, and shipping notices between companies. It allows for secure and uniform communication across different e-procurement systems and business sectors globally. Here's how it works:
The Peppol Network's structure and specifications make it a robust tool for businesses looking to streamline their procurement processes and improve efficiency across borders. |
PDF | PDF stands for Portable Document Format. It is a file format developed by Adobe in the 1990s to present documents, including text formatting and images, in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. Each PDF file encapsulates a complete description of a fixed-layout flat document, including the text, fonts, vector graphics, raster images, and other information needed to display it. |
POS | POS stands for "Point of Sale." It refers to the system used in retail and hospitality environments where transactions occur when customers make a purchase. This can include the hardware and software used for checkouts—the physical and digital environments where sales are finalised. A POS system typically includes capabilities such as scanning items, processing payments, and generating receipts. It can also integrate inventory management, customer management, and sales reporting tools to help businesses operate more efficiently and effectively. This system is crucial for managing sales data, tracking customer orders, and handling financial transactions, making it an essential component of modern business operations. |
PSD2 | PSD2 stands for the Payment Services Directive 2. It’s an EU directive that aims to increase transparency and innovation within the financial industry. One of its key provisions is enabling other banks and third-party providers to offer payment and account information services. In essence, PSD2 facilitates cross-border payments and promotes new, innovative payment methods. |
RTE | The Real-Time Economy (RTE) refers to an economic environment where transactions and business processes are conducted digitally and executed instantly, without any delay. This concept means that all activities from the initiation of a business transaction, like placing orders or sending invoices, to completing financial obligations, are handled electronically and in real time. The key attributes of the RTE include automated data exchanges, immediate transaction processing, and the use of digital formats for all business communications and records. One of the primary advantages of the RTE is the increase in efficiency and the reduction of the time lag in business processes and decision-making. This can lead to cost savings, improved competitiveness, and enhanced transparency for businesses and governments alike. For governments, RTE can streamline processes such as tax collection and regulatory compliance by using real-time data, which also allows for more dynamic economic forecasting and planning. The transition to a real-time economy is supported by various technologies, including cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain, which facilitate the instant exchange and reliable processing of vast amounts of data across different platforms and stakeholders. As the RTE evolves, it presents challenges such as the need for standardisation across different systems, ensuring data security and privacy, and managing the technological and organisational changes required to implement real-time systems. |
RTE project in Finland | The Finnish RTE (Real-Time Economy) Project started in 2020 and is a national initiative aimed at promoting real-time digital transactions and the automated exchange of financial data between businesses, public authorities, and other stakeholders. The goal of the programme is to enable a "real-time economy" where financial and administrative processes, such as invoicing, payments, reporting, and compliance, happen instantly and automatically, reducing the need for manual intervention. |
SA | Solution Area |
SAF-T | SAF-T (Standard Audit File for Tax) is an international standard for the electronic exchange of reliable accounting data from organisations to a national tax authority or external auditors. This standard is defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It allows businesses to provide accurate financial and accounting information in an electronic format, facilitating efficient communication with tax authorities. VAT taxpayers use SAF-T to document their transactions related to the trade of goods and services. |
SBR project in Sweden | Standard Business Reporting (SBR) is a joint government project which focuses on efficiently and securely exchanging structured data between companies and authorities to simplify the process. In early 2024, two preliminary studies were conducted: one on digital advisory tools for automating reporting and reducing errors, and the other on legal issues to harmonize the submission of annual reports, tax returns, and statistics. |
SDGR | The Single Digital Gateway Regulation (SDGR), established by Regulation (EU) 2018/17242, aims to simplify online access to a wide range of information, administrative procedures, and assistance and problem-solving services for EU citizens and businesses engaging in cross-border activities within the EU. This regulation supports the EU's efforts to create a Digital Single Market by improving the interaction between public administrations and users and ensuring that important administrative procedures are available online, both domestically and across borders. Key features of the SDGR include:
The regulation mandates that by December 2023, a set of 21 key administrative procedures must be digitised and made available online to facilitate business, work, and residency activities within the EU. |
SME | Small and Medium Enterprise |
UNSPSC | The UNSPSC, or United Nations Standard Products and Services Code, is a hierarchical classification system for products and services. This coding system is used globally to facilitate the efficient, accurate, and transparent procurement and supply chain management across different industries and countries. The UNSPSC system is organised into a five-level hierarchy with a logical structure that categorises goods and services from the broadest description to more detailed classifications. Each product or service is assigned a unique eight-digit code, which helps in standardising the description of products and services across various platforms and databases, improving data management and analysis. This coding system is developed and managed by GS1 US for the UN Development Programme (UNDP). It is widely used in e-commerce, procurement, and supply chain management systems to help organisations manage their spending and inventory more efficiently by standardising terminology and providing detailed product classifications. |
VAT | VAT, or Value Added Tax, is a consumption tax levied on the value added to goods and services at each stage of production or distribution. It is typically imposed on the sale of goods or services within many countries and is included in the price paid by the final consumer. The tax is charged as a percentage of price, which means that the actual tax burden is visible at each step in the production and distribution chain. Businesses collect and account for the tax on behalf of the government and can reclaim VAT they have paid on goods and services. This mechanism ensures that the tax is neutral regardless of how many transactions are involved. VAT is used in over 160 countries around the world as a major source of government revenue. |
ViDA | The ViDA (VAT in the Digital Age) initiative proposed by the European Commission is a comprehensive reform aimed at modernising and streamlining VAT processes across the European Union to address the challenges posed by digitalization and the platform economy. The main objectives of ViDA include: Introduction of Digital Reporting Requirements (DRR): This will standardise the information that must be submitted electronically by businesses on each transaction to the tax authorities. It includes mandatory e-invoicing for cross-border transactions to improve transparency and reduce fraud. Addressing the Platform Economy: ViDA aims to update VAT rules for platform economies like short-term accommodation and passenger transport services. It clarifies rules and enhances the role of platforms in collecting VAT, ensuring fair competition and simplified compliance for businesses operating in these sectors. Simplification of VAT Registration: By expanding the scope of systems like the One-Stop Shop (OSS) and the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS), ViDA seeks to reduce the need for businesses to have multiple VAT registrations across the EU. This will be achieved by allowing businesses to manage their VAT obligations through a single registration and reporting mechanism. The ViDA proposals are designed to reduce VAT fraud, lower compliance costs for businesses, and ensure a more consistent application of VAT across member states. These changes are scheduled to be implemented in stages, with some measures set to begin as early as 2024 and others by 2028 |
XBRL | XBRL, or eXtensible Business Reporting Language, is an open international standard for digital business reporting. It is used to communicate information between businesses and on the internet in a language that can be processed automatically by software, ensuring that the data is accessible and usable. The key features of XBRL include:
XBRL is widely used for financial reporting by public companies and regulators in many countries around the world, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the HM Revenue and Customs in the UK. The adoption of XBRL has been driven by its potential to improve the speed, accuracy, and usability of financial reporting, which benefits all parties involved in financial information consumption and analysis. |
XBRL-JSON | XBRL-JSON is a format for representing XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) data in JSON (JavaScript Object Notation), which is a lightweight data interchange format. XBRL is widely used for digital business reporting, such as financial statements, regulatory filings, and other structured business information, while JSON is a popular format for transmitting data between web servers and browsers. The XBRL-JSON format was developed to make XBRL data easier to work with in modern web technologies and applications. |
xEBR | The xEBR core reference taxonomy is a standardized framework developed as part of the xEBR (European Business Register) initiative. It provides a common structure for defining and exchanging business and financial data across European business registers. |
XML | XML, or Extensible Markup Language, is a flexible text format derived from SGML (Standard Generalised Markup Language) widely used to store and transport data. XML provides a framework for tagging structured data that allows both humans and machines to read and understand the information. The design goals of XML emphasise simplicity, generality, and usability across the Internet. |